Genre: Poetry

Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined

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In this trailer for PBS’s American Masters documentary Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined, the life and work of the acclaimed Dominican American poet and novelist is explored through interviews, photographs, and archives. A profile of Alvarez about her new poetry collection, Visitations (Knopf, 2026), appears in the May/June 2026 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

Just the Right Distance

4.14.26

In an essay recently published in the Evergreen Review, Eric Dean Wilson writes about discovering the playful use of metaphors in Robert Glück’s 1985 debut novel, Jack the Modernist. While considering what makes one work, Wilson recalls another writer teaching him about metaphor with a metaphor. “A metaphor, the writer said, is like a spark plug,” he says. “At just the right distance, the electrodes cause a spark to arc across the open air, igniting an explosion. The distance between the electrodes matters.” This week compose a poem that cycles through the process of creating an effective metaphor. You might start with the words, “A metaphor is like….” Allow yourself the freedom to play with language that might feel too convoluted as you gradually move toward the right combination to ignite a spark.

Annie Wenstrup and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

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In this event at the University of Arizona Poetry Center, Annie Wenstrup reads from her debut collection, The Museum of Unnatural Histories (Wesleyan University Press, 2025), and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha reads from her latest collection, Something About Living (University of Akron Press, 2024).

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A Celebration of Arab American Heritage and National Poetry Month

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In this New York Public Library event celebrating Arab American Heritage Month and National Poetry Month hosted in partnership with the Radius of Arab American Writers, poets Maha Hashwi, Ghinwa Jawhari, Lawrence Joseph, and Kamelya Omayma Youssef read from their work and discuss their writing in a conversation with senior librarian Reuben Gelley Newman.

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Anthology Poetry Competition

Anthology Magazine
Entry Fee: 
$18
Deadline: 
June 30, 2026
A prize of €1,000 (approximately $1,169) and publication in Anthology Magazine is given annually for a single poem. Rachael Hegarty will judge. Submit a poem of no more than 40 lines with a €15 (approximately $18) entry fee by the early bird deadline of June 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Joe W. Bratcher Prize

Host Publications
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
June 1, 2026
A prize of $8,000, publication by Host Publications, and 25 author copies will be given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a poetry manuscript of 60 to 90 pages with a $15 entry fee by June 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Akron Poetry Prize

University of Akron Press
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
June 15, 2026
A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Brenda Shaughnessy will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 90 pages with a $25 entry fee by June 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

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