About Poet Lore

OUR MISSION

Publishing two print issues of poetry annually and translations annually, our mission is one of discovery. We read poems with regard only to merit, rather than reputation: a poet’s first published poem stands beside a poet’s 100th. We champion innovative and experimental poetic forms, from prose sequences to poems that utilize negative space on the page.

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity and highly encourage submissions from marginalized voices. In support of all of our contributors, we nominate select works each year for both The Pushcart Prize and Best New Poets.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1889 by scholars Charlotte Porter and Helen Clarke, Poet Lore has had its hand in shaping decades of our literary landscape. Many renowned American poets published their early work (sometimes their very first poems) in Poet Lore—Kim Addonizio, David Baker, John Balaban, Carolyn Forché, Alice Fulton, Dana Gioia, Sharon Olds, Carl Phillips, R.T. Smith, and Mary Oliver among them.

More recently, we’ve published work from contemporary poets including Jose Hernandez Diaz, Erika Meitner, Leah Umansky, Terrance Hayes, Aldo Amparán, Felicia Zamora, and Nome Emeka Patrick.