Overture

Why Overture? Because every movement needs a beginning, that first swell of sound that hints at what’s to come. In an orchestra, the overture is the piece at the beginning of an opera, play, etc, that gathers everything: tension, melody, anticipation. It opens the curtain. That’s what this issue feels like—a collective first note. Each poem, essay, and story carries something new. A search, a rediscovery, a refusal to be reduced to a single story. In editing these pieces, my team of Editors and I were reminded that beginnings are not always easy, but despite all the challenges we faced, together we have achieved something remarkable that we can be proud of. And it only gets better from here. Overture is our beginning. Our first flight. We intend to fly as high as we can. If you’re reading this, thank you for being part of this. Stay with us. The music has only just begun.