Dear Reader,

As we amble toward the blooming phase of spring here in Chicago, I'm delighted to present to you, Issue no. 2: Mystics & Saints. The direction to head after our debut felt clear—we had begun with a general issue developing the notions of Sabr, Tooth, and Tiger, and here we further explore Sabr (spiritual patience) through pilgrimage, devotion, meditation, transformation, sacrifice, finding the divine in the mundane or the strange. Within these works of desire, grief, family, ecology, prayer, self-actualization, and existentialism, the connecting thread, I think you may find, is of strength.

Anne Sexton, the oracle she was, must have known that I too would be a poet of no moderation, all exuberance, in the delight of this magazine's second coming. Our team grew across four continents, we received roughly seven times the amount of submissions of our debut issue, and the increase in contributors of works allowed for such a lush arc to be told within their arrangement in this issue. I also had the pleasure of working with my dear friend Jaia to conduct the magazine's inaugural poetry contest and award a modest sum to three brilliant writers. From a mere sapling, what a tree we have grown in such a short time!

I'm filled with immense gratitude for each and every submitter and contributor who has entrusted us with their work, and it is my greatest honor to have the opportunity to posthumously publish Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore's poetry on the tenth anniversary of his death (rahimahullah). He was the cardinal Sufi Beat poet, blending divinely-inspired mysticism with 60s avant-garde, so his work was perfect of course to bookend this issue with. I give my eternal thanks to the Ecstatic Exchange.

That being said, you'll want to read this collection in order, from front cover to the back. The conversation that unfolds between each piece is a marvelous one. I couldn't be happier with what we have accomplished thus far, and I can't wait to see where the tiger roams next.

Yours in ardor,