We’d very much like to highlight poet, editor and professor, Antonio Vallone whose work was featured in Indie Blu(e)’s But You Don’t Look Sick anthology last year. Vallone’s work impressed the editors so much we nominated him for a Pushcart. When you read Vallone’s work you’ll see why this wasn’t a hard decision but a natural one.

Maybe his years as an educator, and editor, or perhaps a combination of natural talent and life experience, have lent Vallone’s work a brevity and succinct emotionality that cuts right to the core of subjects. It takes a lot for a poem to grow those kinds of roots but much of Vallone’s work has that gravitas and unflinching insight into the human condition. How perfect for an anthology discussing invisible physical illness? Though we are certain, Vallone can write on any subject with the same intoxication in his approach. It’s no wonder this…