2026 News

[Angeline]

Hiya poets. As you see I've posted the 2026 Poem-a-Week thread. It's not active yet because I have a few more edits to tighten it up. I know some folks could probably start posting in it now but I'll wait till closer to the 31st to unlock it. Also there's a week left (till the 28th) for the current challenge. And there's still surprises there. Will I reach 70 poems? Will Tzara hit 100? _Land a gazillion?

Seriously you all rock. This has been a great year, spammers notwithstanding. I love you all! SpermFactory, consider that gentle pressure on your ahem nethers.

Have I forgotten anything for the 2026 challenge? I think we can just keep the current discussion thread going. I'll just fix the title. If I need to add or fix anything else let me know.

I'll work on the Revise-a-Poem challenge soon. I appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions on that. If you've more let me know.

Again thank you all for being here and happy, merry everything. Oh look: it's mistletoe!

 

[42BelowsBack]

Most excellent.

 

[Angeline]

Happy Sunday Poets! How are y'all doing? Are you sick of being festive yet? Has the combination of rich food, trying to find a parking place in a crowded shopping center, and listening to All I Want for Christmas is Youuuu or some relative cornering you at the ugly sweater party making you bilious? I understand. The crescendo of good cheer reaches its tipping point for me about now.

As you see I've drafted the Revise-a-Poem challenge. It's mostly finished: I just need to add some links and maybe a very brief summary. How does it look to you? Is there anything I need to fix, anything to change or add? I don't want to go overboard with blah blah about giving feedback but it's (imho) so important. Some people don't have a lot of experience with it or don't feel they know how to give (or receive) it. I was thinking of adding a few links: there are some articles online that share advice on the subject. Would that be helpful? Would it be better to have a separate (maybe sticky) thread about feedback? If you have thoughts to share please let me know! Meanwhile I'll be overdosing on peppermint and snickerdoodles here in Jersey.




ETA: I'm planning on unlocking both challenge threads on the 29th which will give early starters a few days to post before the new year commences.

 

[SmilingLez]

Should we go ahead and use only one post in the revision thread?. By that I mean post the original poem and then all the other edits (in that same post) until it is the chef's kiss? This way the work will be in one place instead of scattered in the thread

 

[Angeline]

Should we go ahead and use only one post in the revision thread?. By that I mean post the original poem and then all the other edits (in that same post) until it is the chef's kiss? This way the work will be in one place instead of scattered in the thread

It would make it easier for you to keep your revision history together but would probably limit the opportunities for feedback. For example, if your poem and all its revisions are on page 3 and the thread has progressed beyond that page (or even on the same page when a bunch of posts follow yours), others won't see the new revised versions you're adding...not unless they scroll back and how often do people do that? But of course there's no guarantee of feedback so I imagine it'll be different depending on one's priorities.

If it were me I'd probably make a new post each time, but I wouldn't post at all unless I'm making extensive revisions.

Just my opinions. Hoping others will weigh in.

 

[SmilingLez]

It would make it easier for you to keep your revision history together but would probably limit the opportunities for feedback. For example, if your poem and all its revisions are on page 3 and the thread has progressed beyond that page (or even on the same page when a bunch of posts follow yours), others won't see the new revised versions you're adding...not unless they scroll back and how often do people do that? But of course there's no guarantee of feedback so I imagine it'll be different depending on one's priorities.

If it were me I'd probably make a new post each time, but I wouldn't post at all unless I'm making extensive revisions.

Just my opinions. Hoping others will weigh in.

You are right and what I will do is just hit the reply thread to the last edit I made and the reader will be able to see everything.

 

[42BelowsBack]

It would make it easier for you to keep your revision history together but would probably limit the opportunities for feedback. For example, if your poem and all its revisions are on page 3 and the thread has progressed beyond that page (or even on the same page when a bunch of posts follow yours), others won't see the new revised versions you're adding...not unless they scroll back and how often do people do that? But of course there's no guarantee of feedback so I imagine it'll be different depending on one's priorities.

If it were me I'd probably make a new post each time, but I wouldn't post at all unless I'm making extensive revisions.

Just my opinions. Hoping others will weigh in.

You are right and what I will do is just hit the reply thread to the last edit I made and the reader will be able to see everything.

I think @SmilingLez has nailed it.

 

[42BelowsBack]

it. I was thinking of adding a few links: there are some articles online that share advice on the subject. Would that be helpful?

Sure would. Great idea. I vote links for heavy lifting.

 

[42BelowsBack]

Regarding feedback; be concise. Deep dives for DM’s.

Self reviews. Practice your craft as a writer. Share a single aspect. Something vital. Sharpen your steel.

 

[42BelowsBack]

Lol. Expert advice I don’t follow.

 

[Angeline]

Hi poets. Hope you're all having a good start to the week as we near the end (whew!) of 2025. FYI both the 2026 Poem-a-Week and Revise-a-Poem challenge threads are now unlocked, so if anyone wants to get a head start on posting in them please do.

 

[SpermFactory]

Seriously you all rock. This has been a great year, spammers notwithstanding. I love you all! SpermFactory, consider that gentle pressure on your ahem nethers.

18

Morning light fades
head under the duvet,
sheets rustle hands ablaze,

coaxing the wood
via the flowering limb,
Cupid’s arrow flows

fingers branched
this man’s hands
were his first lover.

(A coaxed poem ).

 

[SapioSexual9]

18

Morning light fades
head under the duvet,
sheets rustle hands ablaze,

coaxing the wood
via the flowering limb,
Cupid’s arrow flows

fingers branched
this man’s hands
were his first lover.

(A coaxed poem ).

SF at his irreverent best!

 

[Angeline]

Happy New Year Poets! Outside, the world lurches into 2026, shivers and tries not to slip on the ice. In here it's warm, safe (sort of) and we're writing poems. 2025 was a horrible year in many ways but here on the forum we had a great year. Thank you all for the poems, for bringing new forms and revisiting old ones and mostly for being the delightful bunch of lunatics you are.

If you're new here, welcome! (Nice villanelle Waeponwifestre!) If you've been away, welcome back!

Ok that's all the exclamation points I can stand till at least March.

I hope the muse is good to us all this year and that we continue to inspire each other.

 

[Waeponwifestre]

If you're new here, welcome! (Nice villanelle Waeponwifestre!)

Thank you for the welcome - I like the poetry here I’ve seen while poking around and hope a little community helps me improve the quality and quantity of my writing in 2026.

 

[Angeline]

Thank you for the welcome - I like the poetry here I’ve seen while poking around and hope a little community helps me improve the quality and quantity of my writing in 2026.

Glad to have you aboard. Try some of the challenges if they interest you. If you want feedback the Revise-a-Poem challenge is a good one. This is a very supportive kinda place.

 

[calmlikeabomb]

Happy New Year Poets! Outside, the world lurches into 2026, shivers and tries not to slip on the ice. In here it's warm, safe (sort of) and we're writing poems. 2025 was a horrible year in many ways but here on the forum we had a great year. Thank you all for the poems, for bringing new forms and revisiting old ones and mostly for being the delightful bunch of lunatics you are.

If you're new here, welcome! (Nice villanelle Waeponwifestre!) If you've been away, welcome back!

Ok that's all the exclamation points I can stand till at least March.

I hope the muse is good to us all this year and that we continue to inspire each other.

Can I just say how much I love being on the poetry forum? I don't post much, but I read a lot. And some of the things I have read have been so enriching!

Case in point, the following line in the Sijo thread:

A comet moving away from me may return

It's such an evocative, heart rending line! Especially in the broader context of the poem and Sijo. I kinda feel like a better person every time when I read things like this.

Thank you so much, my fellow poets.

 

[SapioSexual9]

Can I just say how much I love being on the poetry forum?

Say it again “What!”

Ahem. I think @Waeponwifestre should write that Chess poem. Because only she can write it in the way it deserves. She can see it, every sound in the way it moves.

Waeponwifestre, I know 42 would love you to do it. Of course it is only my opinion based solely on 42 seems like that. Write it babe.

 

[Waeponwifestre]

Ahem. I think @Waeponwifestre should write that Chess poem. Because only she can write it in the way it deserves. She can see it, every sound in the way it moves.

I gotta say as soon as I had the thought it was in the back of my mind. There is a high likelihood it’s going to happen soon - currently tormenting myself with a rondeau redoublé since I’ve had nothing to do all weekend but once I’ve wrestled with that maybe I’ll start banging my head against the rook’s walls.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I think @Waeponwifestre should write that Chess poem. Because only she can write it in the way it deserves. She can see it, every sound in the way it moves.

There is a high likelihood it’s going to happen soon

I agree. Off the hook!