Falling Into Place
Though our submissions were closed, our hearts were open.
Hello dear ones.
OK, OK - you may have been wondering, in your less patient moments, where in the hell we've been. A fair question. Because for the first time in 4 years, our submissions have been closed. We haven't been on social media as much. We've been scarcer here, too. It's been a critical and historic time, with Black Lives Matter protests, COVID-19, (un)natural disasters, and the lead-up to the United States presidential election, including the loss this past weekend of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We know masterful language is rising from these painful convergences.
It's not that we haven't published any poetry. Below, you'll find incredible recent pieces from the likes of Laura Hogan, Hilary King, Jed Meyers, Ed Granger, Megan Merchant, Lenore Balliro and Lola Stansbury-Jones, all submitted before the poetry shutdown.
In all honesty, this has been a very challenging time for Elle and I. We've had to take a step back for our health and our families. Like many people around the world, we've had to choose our well-being over productivity. Elle came down with an intense case of COVID-19 in April, and the road to recovery was rocky and uncharted. Luckily, she is a natural adventurer, and is very nearly home. In the meantime we've had to slow down and reëvaluate how our energy is irrigated into the many fields we tend. Our bodies, minds, families. Our homes and working lives. Our activism. Our rest.
And though our submissions may be closed, our hearts are open. We know something has to change so that we can stay consistent for you, our community, and so that we can honor our own energy and limitations. We've had the chance to reflect on this organization, our position within the wider social justice and digital publishing worlds, and what actions we want to take in and toward the future we desire. We are excited to share with you our cultural equity framework and the specific action items we are taking - expect an email on that in the coming days.
A part of our future vision is bringing in more incredible people to make the machine hum. We have just received over 100 applications (!!) for our next team of volunteer assistant editors, and have just wrapped interviewing folks from this wonderful crowd. Once we've gathered our crew, together with our gifted managing editor Michel Krug, we will reopen our submissions - and we are electrified that we'll be able to read your poetry soon! We really, really miss that part.
Lastly, we're planning to expand our leadership team, and will soon be soliciting your nominations for our very first board of directors. With the benefit of their wisdom and energy, and with this new direction, we're ready to see what great things Poets Reading the News will do. We have a feeling that in the coming months, poetry will be more essential than ever before. ("I can't wait to find out if Poets Reading the News is still legal in November," Elle adds).
Thankfully, for this reopening, you don't have to wear a mask. And hugs, of the digital kind, are more than welcome.
All our love,
J Spagnolo & Elle Aviv Newton
PS: A huge thank you for the notes of support we have received during our down time. It has meant the world.
