#25 Texas Odes

ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE

The purpose of this assignment is to invite poets to compose lyrical poems that celebrate some aspect of Texas life, such as its people or an individual (contemporary or historical), its places or a place, its food or a meal, any aspect of its who, what, when, where, how, and why.

Poets might also consider this assignment in the context of countering how others in the world or country or media narrowly conceive of the Lone Star State.

EXAMPLES

Poems published so far in this series will be linked here.

FORMAL INTERESTS

We are specifically interested in poems that demonstrate careful attention to the elements of shape, line, music, comparison, and balance, and especially how those choices contribute to the cooperative harmony of structure and sentiment in the poem.

Poems that do not meet these interests may be declined. For more on this perspective, see the five formal causes of beauty in poetry.

We also challenge you to consider new choices you might take in audience and poetic form as it pertains to aspects of narrative perspective, shape, sound, repetition, and enjambment.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Poetry submissions should be saved in Microsoft Word document format and composed in Times New Roman, 12-point font. They should be attached to an email to editor@texaspoetryassignment.org and include within the body of the email a brief cover letter and a 50-word biography.

ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION

This brief call is open through June 5, 2022. Poems will be published upon acceptance. A reading dedicated to this assignment will be scheduled for the same date.

PUBLICATION RIGHTS

Writers will retain all rights to their work published on this site.