This category is ONLY for published poems appearing in online or print magazines in 2025. 

Unpublished work or poems published prior to 2025 will be rejected unread.

The best poetry in the world isn’t just buried in books and drawers (I mean, sure, it’s there also, but like, not just there) – it’s also in the pages of lit mags alive and being printed right now! We want to recognize that. The only authority we purport to have is being people who love to read good poems.

Selected poems will be published on ONLY POEMS DAILY, our brand new Substack, as part of our "Best New Poems" feature.

Submissions are free. At the moment, we do not pay for reprints.

Send us ONE POEM only and indicate in the document where it was previously published and when (if possible, please provide a link to original publication). 

There's an optional $5 Tip Jar. As a fully volunteer-run publication, we’re always grateful for your support.

If you’d like insight into your work, we offer editorial feedback for a fee.

You may have one active submission in the “Best New Poems” category at a time. Once you’ve received a response, you’re welcome to submit again. 

You’re free to submit to other categories alongside this one.

Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please withdraw your submission immediately if accepted elsewhere.

You'll hear back within three months.