Nonprofit Publisher Releases Book-Length Poem Celebrating National Poetry Month

AIM Higher, Inc., a nonprofit publisher dedicated to elevating powerful and transformative voices, has announced the release of 'Mercury Hour,' a book-length poem by acclaimed poet and writer Maureen Alsop. Released in celebration of National Poetry Month, the book is inspired by Juana de Ibarbourou's La Pasajera and enriched by the author's own hand-drawn sigils. 'Mercury Hour' is the sixth title published by AIM Higher, Inc., marking another milestone in the organization's mission to amplify literary works that challenge, inspire, and heal.

In this book-length poem, Alsop writes beautifully distilled stanzas that intertwine passion and grief for the worlds within our world that are disappearing. Amplifying the book's graceful four-line stanzas are Alsop's drawings—moon phases, concentric circles, and astronomical diagrams—that deepen the collection's atmosphere of dream and meditation. For all its attention to brokenness and counterpoint, 'Mercury Hour' ultimately affirms poetry's power—through dream, trance, and mystical vision—to restore what has vanished.

"There is a spirit [in these poems]," writes poet Ruben Quesada, "that is resilient and thriving. 'Mercury Hour' evokes a central question: Can loss be a guiding light across time, space, and the fractured landscape of the heart?" "These poems," adds Eartha Davis, "are an internal rain rivering toward light, then more light, then even more. Yet they are filled by the silence that comes when there is internal singing."

Maureen Alsop, PhD, is a psychologist and writer who is the author of seven poetry collections, including the visual poetry collection 'Tender to Empress,' and an experimental hybrid novel, 'Today Yesterday After My Death.' Her poems and short stories have appeared in numerous journals, including AGNI, The Kenyon Review, South Dakota Review, and The Lincoln Review, among others. She is the winner of several poetry prizes, including those from Harpur Palate and Bitter Oleander, and a recent Roderick Centre Fellowship.

The publication matters because it represents a significant contribution to contemporary poetry during National Poetry Month, highlighting how literary art can address pressing environmental and emotional themes. The book's exploration of loss and restoration through poetic form demonstrates the enduring relevance of poetry as a medium for processing complex human experiences. By combining traditional verse with visual elements, Alsop creates a multidimensional work that engages readers on multiple sensory levels.

The implications of this announcement extend beyond the literary community, as 'Mercury Hour' addresses universal concerns about environmental change and personal loss that resonate with broader societal conversations. The book's publication by a nonprofit organization underscores the importance of supporting artistic voices that might not find space in commercial publishing. This release also contributes to the growing recognition of hybrid literary forms that combine poetry with visual art, expanding what is possible within the genre.

'Mercury Hour' is now available through AIM Higher, Inc. and select independent booksellers, making this innovative work accessible to readers seeking poetry that bridges the personal and planetary. The timing during National Poetry Month ensures maximum visibility for a work that exemplifies the transformative power of poetic expression.