i thought that this name was appropriate for this zine for two reasons. first the name itself serves as a progression from the previous incarnation of this page. from the bench, to the benchmark. also, the name itself has meaning to me. with each poem that i write, it is almost like i set a new benchmark for myself. each chapter is representation of the progession of my skill as a writer, as a person as well.

i feel. i live. i breathe. i write. i think that my writing lacks the eloquence of my peers- lack the timeless tone of greatness. still, i write because it helps me deal with the many things in life that i experience. the war of attrition that i call my life. for every two steps forward, there is one step back. sometimes you lose perspective and you forget that you moved forward at all. then, i need to remember to step back, breathe, and appreciate.