Raleigh Review is a literary magazine that positions poetry at the center of its editorial inquiry. For this reading period, the journal seeks work that demonstrates what it calls 'novel language and images,' a 'skilled awareness of sound,' and the capacity to provoke 'visceral reactions.' The editors articulate a dual appreciation for the lyric and the narrative modes, signaling that neither hermetic compression nor expansive storytelling is privileged over the other. What unites the desired submissions is memorability: lines that persist 'days later,' and a quality of surprise that borders on envy. This is not a call for thematic coherence around a single subject; it is a call for poems that justify their own existence through linguistic precision and emotional resonance. The submission parameters are deliberately constrained. Up to five poems must be sent in one file, in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format. A $3 fee applies. The deadline is exact: November 1, 2026. There is no prize attached to this call; it is a standard reading period for publication. Upon acceptance, the journal will request an audio recording of the poet reading their work—optional but 'highly encouraged.' This detail reveals an editorial interest in the poem as a spoken artifact, not merely a textual one. Additionally, submitters may optionally upload proof of authorship, such as early drafts or notes, a provision that suggests the editors value process and provenance as part of the poem's context. The curatorial vision here is one of discernment rather than volume. Raleigh Review does not promise broad exposure or a transformative career leap; it offers a place for poems that meet a high standard of craft and linger in the mind. The optional audio component and the invitation to share drafts indicate a respect for the poet's labor and a willingness to engage with the work's genesis. For the serious poet, this is an opportunity to place work with editors who read closely and remember what they read.