#31 Here and Now

ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE

The purpose of this assignment is to invite newly composed poems written in the present tense that capture an elevated insight, epiphany, or moment of truth as a result of the poet’s calm and mindful attention to a memory, person, event, place, or thing.

Please review the formal interests section below. Also, consider options for narrative perspective.

EXAMPLES

Here are some examples by Ada Limón, James Wright, and Gary Snyder.

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 call is open until September 30, 2022. A reading event related to this assignment and others will be scheduled for October 2022.

PUBLICATION RIGHTS

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