The hottest Poetry Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

The Intimacies of Mechanical Things

Cybernetic Forests • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. Bani Haykal's work explores human-machine intimacies through interfaces, poetry, and sound, using a mechanical keyboard to encrypt text into languages like Jawi and MIDI values, creating encoded poetry and sound work.
  2. The encryption process in Bani's work is influenced by historical instances like the crypto-Muslim practice during the Spanish Inquisition, showcasing how encryption embodies privacy and secrecy in different cultures.
  3. Bani's exploration of intimacy with devices like mechanical keyboards goes beyond physical proximity to consider transformation and blending, reflecting on how human-machine relationships impact us and our environments.

Abbey Pusz: Ruth Bader Ginsberg is Dead

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Ruth Bader Ginsberg's death was discussed in a class in a unique way, with students comparing it to a black square and questioning representation.
  2. The students reflected on the importance of recycling and digitizing paper, symbolizing a broader theme of freedom and inclusivity.
  3. The story highlighted the power of education and how individuals like Emma can inspire change and build a better future.

The "spark" in Rik's Sparky Little Substack Space

Rik’s Sparky Little Substack Space • 0 implied HN points • 17 May 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Poetry is essentially a form of deception, with every poem being a crafted machine that triggers specific responses in its readers.
  2. Engaging in new endeavors often brings a mix of excitement and fear, a balance many people can relate to.
  3. Writing poetry can be a personal journey of self-discovery and growth, leading to insights through sharing and feedback from others.
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Sumer is icumen in?

The Jolly Contrarian • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 21
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Meaning doesn’t live in words. It exists beyond the form and is created through shared cultural conventions. Interpretation is a creative act.
  2. The value of informal interactions in organizations often outweighs formal structures. The real potential emerges at the edges of the present state, known as the adjacent possible.
  3. Interactions, rather than structure or composition, determine outcomes in organizations. It's the informal interactions that lead to unforeseen possibilities and successes.

Coming soon

Boltzmann Soul • 0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The post is about a subscription service called Boltzmann Soul.
  2. The service is associated with William Lee.
  3. The launch date for Boltzmann Soul is December 16, 2023.

The Joeliad

Outlandish Claims • 0 implied HN points • 15 May 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The Treaty of Tripoli's Article 11, which states that the US is not founded on the Christian religion, was written by American poet Joel Barlow and ratified by John Adams, emphasizing separation of church and state since the founding of the nation.
  2. Joel Barlow, an American poet, started his career selling fraudulent land deeds but later became a key figure in advocating for freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.
  3. Barlow's writings, like 'The Columbiad,' reflect his vision of a federated and diverse religious landscape in the United States, advocating for a unity of religion that respects individual faiths.

An Ode to Restlessness

An Ode to Restlessness • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Restlessness is a powerful feeling that pushes us to explore and seek new experiences. It can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
  2. In moments of quiet, restlessness can bring forth dreams and desires that drive us forward. It's like a whisper encouraging us to keep going.
  3. The journey of restlessness holds meaning and beauty. It's not just about the end goal, but the discoveries we make along the way.

Retalings

Something to Consider • 0 implied HN points • 15 Jun 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The story creatively blends elements of sports and classic literature, highlighting the struggles of the character James Finnican as a football player.
  2. Finnican faces harsh criticism and scrutiny from the media after a significant mistake on the field, reflecting the pressures athletes often endure.
  3. The tale emphasizes themes of failure, reputation, and the impact of public opinion, as Finnican's life and identity are largely shaped by his performance and the reactions to it.

Translation: Addendum

Logos • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 20
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Feedback is very helpful when translating poetry. It can highlight mistakes and suggest better wording.
  2. Choosing the right words in translation is important for keeping the original meaning and feeling. Small changes, like using 'melodies' instead of 'music', can make a difference.
  3. Each translation can be unique, and comparing different versions gives new insights. It's good to learn from others to improve your work.

God Abandons Anthony - a translation

Logos • 0 implied HN points • 18 May 20
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Translation is a tough job that needs creativity. It's not just about changing words; it's about keeping the feeling and rhythm of the original text.
  2. Turning poetry into another language is tricky but fun. Short poems highlight the challenges and decisions translators make.
  3. When translating, choices about words and their order can change the meaning. It's essential to carefully consider each option to stay true to the original intent.

Coming soon

What the Blurb • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Stay tuned for a new project called 'What the Blurb'.
  2. You can subscribe to get updates on the upcoming content.
  3. More details will be available soon, so keep an eye out!

The Book of Ǵenh: Reimagining our Origin Story for a Life-Centric Reorientation

As If We Were Staying • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Our origin stories shape how we see the world. Different cultures tell different stories about where we come from, and those stories influence our actions and beliefs.
  2. Life on Earth is special and rare. The unique conditions and events that allowed life to flourish here emphasize how precious our existence is.
  3. We have a responsibility to cherish and protect life. By recognizing our position as fortunate caretakers of Earth, we can find purpose and hope in our lives.

A Chance to Occur

Orbis Tertius • 0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Reading a big book like _Infinite Jest_ can be a form of meditation. It trains you to focus your attention and be less distracted by quick entertainment like social media.
  2. The book's length and complexity aren't meant to entertain you immediately but to engage you deeply over time. Your experience of reading is what matters, not just the ending.
  3. All media exists on a spectrum of attention, from mindless scrolling on TikTok to thoughtful reading. Choosing to read can help improve your focus and make even simple experiences feel special.

Bodies Bodies [7]

The Author Is Dumb • 0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. David feels empty and struggles to find something engaging to watch on TV. The constant change of images and sounds adds to his sense of distraction.
  2. He is worried about his job and feels uncertain about his direction in life, especially after a complaint from a student.
  3. There is tension in his personal life, as he communicates with Anna about worries for their family and friends, showing a longing for connection and understanding.

A look back at the year

Something interesting • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. This year, there were a lot of poetry publications, with ten poems published in total. Starting with three poems in a magazine, the author continued to share their work throughout the year.
  2. For fiction, two excerpts from a novel were published as short stories. Despite the challenges in finding representation for the novel, the author is still sharing segments of it.
  3. The author has a website where they highlight their favorite books and other enjoyable things from the past year. It's a space for reflecting on their experiences and sharing their work.

Bodies Bodies [8]

The Author Is Dumb • 0 implied HN points • 05 Jan 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The story shows a man who feels watched and can't look away from the sky. He seems stuck in his thoughts, not paying attention to anyone around him.
  2. As he stares, a crowd gathers, confused and frustrated, trying to get his attention. They want to know what he's looking at and why he won't respond.
  3. In the end, the man finally speaks, telling the crowd they're being watched too. This makes everyone turn their gaze to the sky together, creating a shared moment of curiosity.

The bursting of a little dam

Devansh’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Writing without filters is freeing and can help express feelings. It's easy to get caught up in structured work, but sometimes you just need to let creativity flow.
  2. Physical activity like working out or playing golf can bring a sense of accomplishment and balance to life outside of work. It's important to explore interests that make you feel good.
  3. There's a desire to share personal insights through a book, but fear and impatience can hold you back. Writing can be a way to leave a lasting impact, so focusing on it might be the right move.

मंज़िल से आगे

Poems, Short stories and other things.. • 0 implied HN points • 23 Aug 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The joy of the journey is often more important than reaching the destination. Enjoying the ride can be more fulfilling than just focusing on the end goal.
  2. Looking back at memories can be painful because some people may no longer be with us. Time changes our relationships and the way we remember them.
  3. New dreams and goals are always on the horizon, and we just need to keep looking ahead, even if obstacles come in our way. Staying hopeful and persistent can help us reach new heights.

My 2025 Reflections

Minor Musings • 0 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Poetry
  1. Publishing a serious poetry collection and performing publicly opened up deeper creative authenticity and stronger emotional connection with audiences.
  2. Work moved into large, cross-team engineering projects where coordination, trust, and leadership matter more than raw coding, while tools like observability and agentic coding expanded technical impact.
  3. New coaching and workshop formats supported others' transformation, and clear 2026 plans aim to scale artistic performances, a poetry reading tour, more coaching cohorts, and refined consulting and technical focus.