Literary Journal
Tar River Poetry
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About the magazine
Tar River Poetry is a literary journal founded in 1962 at East Carolina University, making it one of the oldest continuously published poetry magazines in the United States. Established with a commitment to showcasing both emerging and established voices, the journal has long been a home for formal and free verse that values clarity, craft, and emotional resonance. Its mission is to publish poems that engage with the human experience in accessible yet nuanced ways, avoiding fleeting trends in favor of work that endures.
Submitting your work
Reading periodVaries
Poets should submit 3-5 poems of any style, though the journal favors work that demonstrates a strong command of language and a clear emotional or narrative core. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify immediately if work is taken elsewhere. Reading periods are typically September through May; check the website for current guidelines. Include a brief cover letter and SASE for response. The editors appreciate poems that balance accessibility with complexity, and they are open to both traditional and contemporary forms.
Submission calls
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