2 December 2005 | Vol. 5, No. 4

To 42opus Editors on August 27, 2005

by TONY EVANS

----- Original Message -----
From: Tony Evans
To: poetry@42opus.com
Sent: August 27, 2005 10:15:24 AM PDT
Subject: Tony Evans Poetry Submission

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Tony Evans and I am a junior at Northwestern University. A year and a half ago I discovered 42opus through the listserv of the campus literary magazine Helicon. I have occasionally browsed your publication and I would like to submit several poems for your consideration.

During my freshman year at Northwestern my poetry was accepted and published by Helicon. Then as a sophomore, I wrote a weekly newspaper column for the student newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, for which I received hate mail from eleven different states. I realize that I am relatively inexperienced compared to your other contributors, but there are many reasons why you should still consider my work.

I am not a typical college poet: I am majoring in Economics and Mathematics. Sometimes I take literature classes, but in general I feel that the English and Writing majors at my school are trendy and unapproachable. In my spare time I am a frat boy, a journalist, and a statistical clerk for the United States Census Bureau. My nickname at school is Tony the All-Night Pony. When I read a poem that I like I will write it down in one of my black leather journals. When I graduate I would like to be an insurance actuary; I have already failed my first exam twice. Another reason that you should publish my poetry is that I am an albino.

I am submitting five poems: "7," "20," "The Secret Lives of Our Fathers," "Drunk Dial," and "My New Clothes." Out of these poems "20" is my favorite, but I predict that you will like "The Secret Lives of Our Fathers" the best. I write poems about the experiences that my friends and I share but never talk about. I hope you enjoy them.

I look forward to hearing back from you,

Tony Evans
Northwestern University, Class of 2007