Hi Stranger,

It’s been a minute. How’s 2026 been treating you?

I know it’s been a doozy for me, hence why you haven’t heard from me in quite some time.

I want to start by expressing how truly grateful I am for your patience (and for not unsubscribing while I was MIA). I even had someone email to ask if they had missed it, which was a really heartwarming reminder that what I’m doing here matters to someone other than me! 🥰 

Full transparency: I took a necessary break at the start of the new year to focus on my mental health, entering an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in January to seek extra support. Now that I’m approaching discharge day, and feeling more aligned than ever before with my values (vulnerability, creativity, & confidence), I figured it was about time I reached out with an explanation!

Re-engaging super intentionally with myself as a human being (and remembering I need food, sunlight, and exercise to be well 🙃) has just reinforced my belief that my well-being is essential to my destiny: as a poet, as a person, and as a changemaker. I came to the conclusion (however hippy dippy it may sound) that the most effective change starts from within, and I am committed to nurturing myself so I can make an impact.

Throughout this time, I've been appreciating the addition of new meds & new skills to my arsenal of health. I’ve even managed to incorporate a daily practice of restorative & yin yoga into my routine (perhaps the most consistent thing I’ve ever done, like ever 🫡).

These changes have helped me regain my footing and prepare to re-engage with you. I am excited to bring this renewed energy & focus to our community, and I hope you'll find value in what I have in store…

Looking ahead, I'm eager to experiment with a new newsletter cadence of sending 2 distinct editions each month:

• The first edition every month (such as this) would feature the familiar format of curated content (the usual round-up of resources, events, & updates you’ll see as you read on).

• The second would be a bit more personal: featuring an essay, a guest post (perhaps written by you?), or a book review (to tie in with our monthly book club), along with a writing prompt & a featured poem—could be one I've written, one I love, or perhaps one selected from your submissions. Because what’s a poetry newsletter without a poem?!

I’m hoping this new format & cadence will offer a richer, more engaging experience for all of us…but I want to know what you think:

🗳️ Spill the Tea

Thanks as always for your input; it is so important to me that the time & energy I do spend on TPP is purposeful & fulfilling of a want/need…not just me wanting to call myself a newsletter creator or needing to feel a part of something bigger. 😊

Anyway, thank you so much again for your unwavering support & understanding. Your patience has been such a gift, and I am so grateful to be a part of a compassionate & engaged community. I am looking forward to reconnecting and enjoying this next chapter of this journey together.

Now, on to the good stuff ⏩️

Ready…Set…POUR!

Polish Your Poems — Wednesday, March 4th 2026

A brand new FREE monthly gathering starts this week & will be held every 1st Wednesday of the month in partnership with Casandra (Cas) Inez, local poet/artist/community builder who owns Public Shop and Gallery in Olneyville with her husband. Now, this is NOT your typical open mic; instead, it’s meant to be an intimate night of revisions & practice for poets to get feedback on their work & test out new pieces. Make sure to bring at least 3 printed copies of your poem & plan ahead to arrive promptly since there’s no entry after 6:30pm to prevent interruptions. All levels and styles are welcome so I hope to see you there!

Poetry Book Club — Sunday, March 29th 2026

Will from now on be held in-person on the last Sunday of each month at Riffraff Bookstore & Bar, but was postponed for February till 3/1 out of an abundance of caution before the historic blizzard of 2026. 🥶

In January, we read Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay—that meeting was postponed because of snow too & I rode it out as a party of 1, sipping & reading solo. 😎

For February, we read Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, and I was joined this past weekend by two AU-mazing poetry pals (no that’s not a typo—ifykyk 😉) who engaged in a very thoughtful discussion about what it means to be a citizen. Timely & touchy, I know, but that’s what made it an even more important & impactful conversation.

I plan to always reveal what we’re reading each month to the Fable crew first and save the public announcement on IG till the end of every first week. So if you want in to read and chat with us this time around, join us on Fable to be one of the first to find out what we're reading in March.

Hint: Color me purple, it’ll warm your heart! 😉

Here’s a few things I found that might help you tap in to your creativity and help you stay committed to your craft this month:

• I am an artist (feat. iLLEST) by Upside Down Smilie — my go-to affirmation song when I need a bit of encouragement to return to my poems or sit down to write this newsletter 🫢

• Writing at Night Drop-In - Virtual Sessions on Zoom with Corey Nuffer — late night accountability sessions are a godsend for the night owl creatives like me who can’t seem to focus until the rest of the world is quiet 🦉

• Sub Sesh: Strategy, Empowerment, Support + How-To with Talicha J. — Want to get your work out there but intimidated about where to even start? Look no further! ⛲️

Here’s a few places to consider along your quest for the right home for your poems:

• 2026 Poetry Manuscript Opportunities — compiled by Emily Stoddard, a writer and artist from northern Michigan. Make a copy & save it to your drive for when that poetry book you've been procrastinating on is ready for the world to see!

• Redacted - March 2026 Challenge from Glossy Planet —seeking pieces that interrogate erasure, exposure, and the dangerous space between truth and what we’re allowed to see. (Timely, I know.) Erasure pieces are welcomed and I thought that was super cool because I usually don't see publications explicitly encouraging that poetry form! The deadline is March 15th.

• Anomaly Poetry - Rituals — local bi-annual anthology from New Bedford local, Sarah Mulvey. Submissions for the summer anthology should focus on themes of nostalgia and memory, the things that connect us across time, space and history, and the deadline is May 24th. You’ve got plenty of time, but why not get a head start?

I was lucky enough to receive a digital advanced reader copy (ARC) of her beautiful poetry collection when it first came out, and although life initially got in the way, I finally found the time to immerse myself in it over the past two months during my IOP program. The poems have been a source of comfort during this challenging period, offering a deeply moving exploration of the tender spaces between longing & loss, and the balance between the hope we carry & the disappointments that shape us. This debut poet, a local talent, has crafted a collection that resonates with heartfelt emotion & insight. Although we haven't met in person yet, her kindness shines through her work, and she truly deserves your praise, engagement, and support!

P.S. — Feel free to send poetry-related content on Instagram or Threads via DMs to @thepoetrypour—the algorithm sucks sometimes so I could use your help to make sure I see it & can share it. And of course, returning the favor is much appreciated! As always, my inboxes are open, so slide away if you feel so inclined. 📥️ I’d love to get to know you (especially if you actually read all the way to the end of this 😝) so don’t be afraid to say hi!