submit your poems

The Muse coordinates and edits poetry submissions for Port Folio Weekly. In each mid-month issue, they will publish one poem from a Hampton Roads poet along with a brief bio and picture in their Arts & Culture section. In addition, each January, they will publish multiple poems (with and without bios/pictures) in their annual poetry issue. Submission is open to all Hampton Roads poets. Please read the guidelines and information below before submitting work.

guidelines/information for submission

1. No more than two (2) unpublished, original poems may be submitted at one time. We respond within two to three months.

2. We are very selective and are seeking high-quality, image-driven poetry that is fresh and original. We generally do not consider poems longer than 40 lines, although we do make exceptions. We hope to bring Port Folio's readers a diverse selection of quality work.

3. Neither Port Folio Weekly nor The Muse offers payment for publication, but with a broad circulation, this is a great opportunity to let Hampton Roads hear your voice.

4. We will not publish work from one poet more than once in a calendar year. However, poets are eligible to have their work appear twice in one year if they are selected to appear in the January poetry issue.

5. Once accepted, poets can expect their work to appear within two to twelve months, depending on the current number of accepted poems.

4. E-mail submissions are encouraged. Please attach your poems to an e-mail as either a text-only document or a Microsoft Word (2000 version or earlier) document. You can also paste poems into the main text of an e-mail. If you wish to submit via postal mail, please include a self-addressed-stamped-envelope (SASE) and mail your submission to: Port Folio Poetry Submissions, 635 W. Princess Anne Rd., Norfolk, VA, 23517. Submissions through the postal mail that do not include a SASE will not be considered. Regardless of which way you submit your work, please include contact information and a one-line biography (e.g.: Mary Jones is a plumber living in Smithfield.) in your cover letter.

Submit your poems to Port Folio by e-mail.

current issue

"Garage Wrens," by Carol Saul Bayma appears in the June 24, 2008 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 26.

"The Old Lie," by Jane Ellen Glasser appears in the May 27, 2008 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 75.

"Virtue," by Michael Blumenthal appears in the April 22, 2008 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 40.

"Sharing First Figs in Your Backyard," by Kindra McDonald appears in the March 18, 2008 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 30.

"The Danger of John Donne to Young Women," by Kathy Sarosdy appears in the March 4, 2008 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 31.

The special poetry issue of Port Folio Weekly, January 15, 2008. Muse poet, Deb Markham, is on the cover. Featuring: "Goin' to Church in the Lower Ninth Ward," by Mac McKinney; "Sharing First Figs in Your Backyard," by Kindra McDonald; "'T' is for Tapia," by Nathan M. Richardson; "Cradled in the Past of our Wanton Desire," by Deb Markham; "Waiting for Atticus," by Christy Lumm; "Tomorrow," by Terry Cox-Joseph; "The Krispy Kreme Spelling Bee," by Daniel Pravda; "Suicide in A Second Floor Walk-Up," by Michael Jemal; "Grace," by Luisa Igloria; "Ananda," by Zida Ash; "Vision in the Shake," by Maxwell Despard; "Fathers, Gods and Lovers," by Mirabai Boykin; and "Absent possibility," by Patti Hinson. Begins on page 16.

"John Coltrane Replies, after Pursuance," by Jonathan Dillion appears in the December 25, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 30.

"Soul Train," by Fred Foote appears in the November 20, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 42.

"Hershey Kisses and Elvis," by Ann Falcone Shalaski appears in the October 16, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 58.

"The Cool Season" (After Mary Whyte's Painting, Summer Solstice, by Eddie Dowe appears in the September 18, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 38.

"Cutting," by Bill Glose appears in the August 15, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 35.

"Propheta: Final Solution: Poland: December 1943," by Jason Lester Atkins appears in the July 17, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly on page 67.

"Captain Velcro," by Beth Bilderback appears in the May 29, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly in its Back Pages.

"Transformation of the Ovary (into Fruit)," by Patrick Flynn appears in the May 1, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly in its Back Pages.

"The Life That Is Hidden," by Luisa A. Igloria appears in the March 27, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly in its Back Pages.

"So Skin," by Mirabai Boykin appears in the February 27, 2007 issue of Port Folio Weekly in its Back Pages.

The special poetry issue of Port Folio Weekly, January 8, 2007. Muse poet, Zida Ash, is on the cover. Includes poems written for the By the Sea exhibition at the Mariners' Museum and other poems written by Hampton Roads poets. Featuring: "Emigrant," by Michael Jon Khandelwal; "Theories of Navigation," by Patti Hinson; "Unframed," by Zida Ash; "Looking for Whitman in New York City," by Michael Jemal; "There Are No Bridges to This Place," by Lisa Hartz; "Cold Storage," by Abbie McGee; "Hour of..." by Robert P. Arthur; "Begin Again," by Ruth A. Lewis; "Contemplation: the River Below," by Steve Fuller; "Distinction," by Daniel Pravda; and "Importadas," by Nan Byrne.