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We have come a long way since Issue One was panned by a disdainful American as being nothing more than too many Brits struggling with pentameters – a disdainful American who was, nonetheless, quick to add Lighten Up Online to his own publishing credits before returning to the dizzy heights of the molehill that is his own self-build Mount Olympus.

In the seven years since his pronouncement we have featured the work of almost one hundred and fifty poets – including many highly acclaimed ones -- chiefly from Britain and the USA. But Lighten Up Online has also sought to offer a first chance of publication to new poets who might otherwise have starved to death, unpublished, in their garrets. To have had the chance to encourage newcomers has been a privilege and a delight.

My original goal was to provide a home for light verse and lighter poetry in a world where they are too often under-rated, if not belittled, and in which they are given too few chances to shine as they deserve.  Entertainment, I believe, is not a minor art form; nor is writing intelligibly for a wider audience an inferior occupation. Poetry is a broad church of which we are a proper part and light verse, often much less light than it may first appear to be, is well capable of tackling the most weighty of subjects. Thank you all who have helped me wave the flag for this cause. Please continue to wave it as you fall in behind our new Editor.

At Jerome's request I shall not be disappearing altogether but recycling myself into a sort of Dogsbody Emeritus responsible, in the immediate future, for getting each Issue up on to the website.  I shall also continue as part of the Editorial Group and in case of need help decide on acceptances. Hopefully, these will include the occasional piece of my own!

Thank you for much friendship, joy and laughter. Long may it all continue.

Martin Parker.