A Week In Substack Poetry #14
Let's dive into 10 poems published from the 14th to the 20th of April 2025!
This newsletter connects you with the vibrant world of independent poetry! Consider subscribing to the authors whose words resonate with you and gives them plenty of likes! If you would like to receive more new poetry, subscribe to this free newsletter.
In any case, have fun discovering 10 new poems!
Changes to this Newsletter
This Week in Substack Poetry is an incredible success for you and me. I received many messages from people who earned likes and new subscribers—nothing will change about this. Instead, I want to provide you with a deeper insight into how poetry is made, directly from the source.
To enable this, This Week In Substack Poetry will change slightly.
From this week on, TWISP will be published on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.
And you will also receive an episode of my new podcast every second Thursday. In this podcast, I will talk to poets from Substack about Substack, poetry and their approach to it.
That's it, you will find more details in the actual first newsletter next week! I hope the podcast inspires you, gives you a sense of community, and gives you insights into our struggles as poets. I lined up some lovely people, so stay tuned!
Let's now go to the main course, the poems!
Pledge of Allegiance
by James Crews
I love the idea behind this poem. The world looks dire, but in the end, it's just the world of us humans—not even that. It's the world of digital media that wants us to stare at screens and buy trash on Amazon.
Indeed, you can pledge your allegiance to everything else in the world.
A Bud of Innocence
by Zeta Ferrer
a poem full of innocent joys, child's play, and the way peace can exist along with worry
The Silent Architect of Love
by Mymy Khan
If you followed my notes, you know this is a topic I struggle with and want to write about. Your mother might be the most important person in your life, and she should be. As architects of love, they also have the burden of not failing. It’s complicated, but this poem is beautiful and powerful.
Homeschool
by Boo Pfeiffer
As the ignorant son I am, I never thought about it, but it's pretty obvious. Mothers are poets of life and have to let go of their efforts to see how they fit into the world. Luckily Boo is both a mother, a poet, and the opener of my mind.
a sweet addiction to feeling unwell
by A.J. Grant
This is one of those "me too" moments, but when I think I have it good, the response is: "Are you sure?" We have to find our own answers. All I know is that I found a poem that touched something inside me—thank you!
Little Secret.
by Atom
Whimsical in the best sense of the word. Happy, funny, and with a point. Plus, the illustration just hits a nerve inside of me. Atom brings elements together that poetry should be much more about. I'm in love with this gem!
Targeted (War on Autism)
by Dustin
Many of my friends on Substack brought up this topic, and it's pretty disturbing. In the last years, it felt like Autism was becoming more and more understood and accepted. Not to the degree it should, but there was progress.
I personally have ADHD, which is different, but I can see the world from a perspective where I can't interact with it like people expect, and at the same time, many think I'm like this because I chose it.
I picked this poem because it is direct, which is what is needed now. Don't be scared by old men, but don't bank on this being a problem time will solve. This is not a political topic; it's about humans.
Jitters
by Melanie Cole
This poem reminds me of “The Mess Inside” by the Mountain Goats.
I wanted you to love me like you used to do
I suggest reading the poem, listening to the song, and doing this once or twice.
How have we grown used to it?
by 26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)
I like the idea of finding inspiration in stained glass windows. These windows were meant to be beautiful, in the same way poems are intended to be beautiful. Their beauty sells their lesson and is something to remember them by. I must also say this attracted me, as I feel like we live in times where crosses might be planted once again.
We Married In a Chapel Called Our Lady of Good Voyage
by Julie Barton
Sometimes, things should grow together, but we are too scared to combine them. This poem is a wonderful send-off for this newsletter; it gives hope and perspective.
More from “A Week In Substack Poetry”
Thank you!
If you know a talented poet (I might be you!) message me or comment the Substacks you want to see featured! If you have any other feedback, I’m happy to receive it too!
How poems are chosen
I researched a rather long list of poets from Substack and will choose five to ten of them at more or less random while aiming at a diverse collection. The only other qualifying measurement is that the poem must be published in the last seven days. It is a weekly roundup, after all!
Godspeed, Tim
This is wonderful - for the poets and for those of us lucky to read their work and your thoughtful reflections and prompts. Thanks so much for taking the trouble to put it together!
What a lovely thing for you to do for these poets, I'm subscribed! I love discovering new poetry and new voices. God's work lol