Tips: Poetry

These are whimsical, meandering thoughts about the kind of poems we might like to publish. For practical advice on how to actually submit poems, see Submissions.

Before sending us poems, please make sure you have read the rule in bold (‘NB’) on our submissions page.

The Little Review welcomes new poetry in English from writers around the world. We are particularly interested in short lyric poems, but open to longer pieces, sequences and formal experiments within the constraints of what we can print. (The Little Review is printed in black and white on A6 pages.) 

These are a few of our favourite things: sonnets; poems in prose; poems in which sound plays a important role; experiments with voices and personae; experiments with rhythm; realism; surrealism; wit; elegy; panegyric; parody; invective; ekphrasis; brown paper packages tied up with strings; poems as acts of criticism; poems that show an interest in people (other than the poet); poems that show an interest in animals (other than the poet); poems in which – cheers, Frank O’Hara – ‘there’s a subway handy, or a record store or some other sign that people do not totally regret life.’

Most of all, though, we are looking for poems that surprise and challenge us – poems which may fall into none of the categories above.

We are willing to consider publishing poems, reviews and essays anonymously.

We are very keen to read English translations, versions and imitations of poems from other languages. If you are submitting a translation, feel free to include a short note about the original author and/or your approach to the translation. If the work you are translating is currently in copyright in the UK, please ensure you have the permission of the original author (or their representatives).

More Tips

For advice about the kind of reviews and features we like to receive, see Tips: Reviews and Tips: Features.