Caucasus Journal of Milton Studies

Editor’s Note

Welcome to the first issue of year five of our Journal; how quickly the years fly by. We extend our sincerest thanks to both our contributors and our readers. Our connections to you have enriched our lives.  As we publish this issue, we offer our sincere condolences to all the Georgians who mourn the loss of Ilia II, the beloved Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Ilia was a good man, held in high esteem, and his death does feel like the loss of a father, a spiritual father, a guiding light. When that light is extinguished and the darkness envelops us, we need to remember that this good man will always live in our memory. May he rest in peace.

Professor Raupp’s article on verb tenses originated when I was editing a presentation to be given at a conference in Oxford. If the author you’re writing about is long dead, is any reference to him always in the past tense? Of course not; that would be too easy. Read on.

In the Translation Section, we welcome back Davit Darbaidze, Gori’s own Knight of Georgian Poetry.  His loving tribute to his hometown, Hugs to Gori, is masterfully translated by the very accomplished Mzia Lawrence.

Eter Churadze graces us with the translation of two small poems by Ana Kalandadze, one of Georgia’s foremost women poets. These poems showcase her passion for the natural world.

In our Poetry Section, we feature two young Nigerian poets. Zaynah Ibrahim Barje gives us a glimpse of what it is like to live in Shades of Chaos. In Et tu, Brute? Abdulrazaq Godwin Omeiza conveys the essence of betrayal.

Thanks to each of our contributors for sharing their work with us; it is much appreciated.

Warm regards,
Danna Raupp
Editor-in-Chief