In-Between #10 - Emily Strauss

Found Poem: “Submission Guidelines”

(with apologies to the Editors)

We are happy to read

though we don't believe

in non-fiction in any

existential sense

we seek voicework

totems

slowness

withholdings

we do believe that less

is more

we seek writing that

centers

with a premium

on freshness

we have no interest

in the pedantic

dogmatic

sophomoric

rather we look for

conspicious brilliance

in an otherwise non-

descript room without

limitations

on the sublime and surreal.

Sometimes it's sad

but necessary

to grapple with the subtleties

of our own poetics

though you should assume

the worst if you

don't hear from us

in six months

since we receive plenty

of subpar, pointless

rants and preachy writing

which we may make

the subject of mockery

since most writers try

to hide their stupidity

and given the asininity

of most people we can

only say we look forward

to your unbecoming.

We will apply our theoretical

properties and complex

algorithms to determining

subject bias

and if we find your poem

musical when read

character-focused

artistic

emotive

creative

you may hear from us.

You retain your own rights.

Biography: No one knew I wrote poems for many years after I started in college. I finally found someone to read my notebooks and since he didn't laugh too much, I decided I could call myself a writer.