M. R. Defibaugh is a Virginia-based poet and haiku enthusiast. Diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, he started experimenting with poetry not long before he began relying on a wheelchair. His work is influenced by love, loss, disability, and his compassion for others and the environment. His poetry is as matter-of-fact as it is romantic, employing imagery that is plain yet sometimes provocative. He has degrees in mathematical sciences (BA, University of Illinois at Springfield) and operations management (MS, University of Arkansas).
Frogpond,
Modern Haiku,
Wales Haiku Journal, The Nick Virgilio Haiku Association, and The Haiku Foundation (THF) have most recently featured his writing. You can follow him on Instagram @mrdefibaugh.
Penney L. Mellen is a Michigan-based self-taught artist. A Speech/Language Pathologist by profession, she blends her love of art with 30 years of work in the field of Communication Disorders. She creates art that connects people with the events in their daily lives and believes taking time for oneself provides the space needed to celebrate life’s highs while managing the lows. Being a part of creating space for self-reflection is a motivation for her art and journal images. Penney values ideas, multiple perspectives, helping others, and making products that honor, solve, and serve. Check out her art and more at penneymellenart.com!
