Poetry Matters

Poetry Matters is an exciting on-line poetry magazine which provides a fresh, dynamic perspective on poetry issues through a mix of news, reviews and comment. It should appeal to students in the final stages of their secondary education, but its content and scope will also be of interest and relevance to the wider poetry community.

News and Events

The News and Events section gives a snapshot of key poetry issues and activities each month. This section will also include an incisive, and some times acerbic, look at current trends in poetry. Go to news and events >

Reviews

Each month, Poetry Matters will include reviews of some of the most recent books of poetry. The reviews are written with an eye to introducing readers to contemporary verse, and allowing them to choose for themselves from among the different styles and voices of new poetry in Britain and Ireland. They will also introduce readers to some of the key debates about modern verse, and its production and reception, by representing a number of contrasting critical positions and preferences. Go to Reviews >

Poetry

The last section, Poetry, will give new and established poets the opportunity to showcase their work, and, through an accompanying commentary, offer an insight into their individual approaches to writing. Go to poetry >

Your Views

We would very much welcome your feedback on Poetry Matters, and we would like this section to become a creative forum for the expression of news, views and poetry by students and teachers. Perhaps you strongly disagree with a book review and would like the chance to express your critical opinion of the work. You may know of a poetry event to be held in your school, college or community which you would like to publicise.

We would also like to receive your own reviews of recently-published poetry books and pamphlets. So often, curriculum pressures mean that poetry reading in schools can be restricted to set texts, but if you have something to say about a book you have encountered through your own independent reading, we would like to hear about it.

The overwhelming number of entries we receive each year in the Christopher Tower poetry competition is proof that there are many of you who enjoy writing as well as reading poetry. If you have written a poem that you think deserves attention, send it to us and we will consider it for publication on this website.

Please send all your submissions via e-mail to info@towerpoetry.org.uk. We will give all material serious consideration, but we cannot promise publication. In all matters, the final editorial decision regarding publication rests with the Editor of Poetry Matters, and correspondence regarding non-publication of submissions will not be entered into.