The hottest Poetry Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

J.R.R. Tolkien the poet in search of lost time.

The Common Reader • 1736 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. J.R.R. Tolkien's poetry often explores the theme of lost time, reflecting on beauty and grief during the First World War.
  2. Despite being a poet with unique style, Tolkien's work shows connections to his contemporaries and the literary trends of his time.
  3. The recent collection of his poems is a valuable insight into his development as a writer and offers interesting historical context.

Zanzibar

Cosmographia • 1138 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. The post is about Zanzibar and is part of the Atlas' Notes series on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography.
  2. The content is available to paid subscribers only.
  3. Readers can subscribe to access the full post and content on Cosmographia.

York

Cosmographia • 1118 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. This post is part of the Atlas’ Notes series on Cosmographia, centered around a specific place with a mix of art, poetry, and literature.
  2. The content in the post is exclusive for paid subscribers of Cosmographia, offering a deeper dive into a particular topic.
  3. The post features work by M. E. Rothwell and provides a link for interested readers to subscribe to access more content.

Songs on the Death of Children

Something to Consider • 99 implied HN points • 05 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Poetry
  1. Friedrich Rückert wrote hundreds of poems after losing his children, showing how deeply grief can affect a parent. It's a powerful reminder of how loss can inspire profound creativity.
  2. People in the past faced death more regularly, especially with children. It's important to recognize that they felt grief just as strongly as we do today.
  3. The loss of children is still a significant issue today, as illustrated by the high number of child deaths from preventable causes like malaria. It's crucial to address and care for these vulnerable lives.

Little Children Riding Dogs

Opaque Hourglass • 359 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. The image of little children riding dogs is interesting to imagine - like a nostalgic and whimsical idea where kids bond with their pets in a unique way.
  2. The concept of 'Elementalism' in poetry is highlighted, showing how simple yet powerful imagery can leave a lasting impact on the reader.
  3. The poem captures a sense of innocence and beauty, portraying a lovely scene of children and dogs in a school setting, evoking a feeling of nostalgia and wonder.
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Learning to love. How the poet Dana Gioia discovered his vocation through music.

The Common Reader • 1701 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Poetry
  1. Dana Gioia discovered his love for poetry while being exposed to opera. He found that experiencing opera deeply influenced his understanding of music and poetry.
  2. His time in Vienna showed him the value of spontaneity. He went there to study music but ended up realizing he wanted to be a poet instead.
  3. The experience taught him that sometimes things don’t go as planned, but unexpected gifts can lead to new passions, like how losing relationships led him to find inspiration in the arts.

Eclipse Poem

Opaque Hourglass • 279 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. An eclipse can be seen with fresh perspective and is just a natural way of moistening our eyes.
  2. Eclipses can serve as a way to refresh and renew, much like a baptism from the origins of life.
  3. The act of blinking could be compared to a mini eclipse, contributing to moistness and clarity in our vision.

Vague Blue

gen yeet • 491 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The newsletter has a new name and will feature weekly reviews for subscribers.
  2. The author reflects on a poem by Frank O'Hara and its relevance to their life in New York.
  3. The author discusses influences and mentions relevant reporters and writers in internet culture.

Pardon the egg salad stains

Crow & Colophon • 159 implied HN points • 31 May 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Reading for a literary magazine involves editors wading through numerous submissions to select the few that stand out, which can be a challenging yet rewarding process.
  2. The beginning of a story in a literary magazine is crucial, often marked by an efficient and intriguing introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the narrative.
  3. Literary magazine editors look for clear, engaging beginnings that promise to captivate readers, preferring simplicity over convoluted prose to maintain reader interest.

Happy New Year, Dear Readers!

Kristina God's Online Writing Club • 619 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The author feels hopeful for the new year and appreciates the support of readers in 2023 and 2024.
  2. Watching her young daughter learn and get excited brings her joy and optimism.
  3. She shares a personal moment about her daughter reading one of her romance novels, connecting family and creativity.

Souvenirs that outlive us

Austin Kleon • 1978 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. Creating art is often messy and unpredictable. It's not always as straightforward as the end result might suggest.
  2. Inspiration can come from the most mundane things, like everyday objects. Even clothespins can spark creativity and lead to new artistic ideas.
  3. Blackout poetry doesn't have to come from traditional sources like books. Using unusual materials can make the process fun and unique.

“I am the century’s decay”

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet • 432 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Julia Ostrowski is a new poet whose work reflects on the challenges of being a contemporary poet, especially while dealing with personal relationships and societal issues.
  2. Her poems touch on deep feelings and themes of decay, love, and history, showing a connection to the past while addressing current struggles.
  3. The discussion around 'contemporary poetry' suggests that it's often misunderstood and that poetry is a way of expressing rich meanings rather than just simple emotions.

Shakespeare's stirring world.

The Common Reader • 1204 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The plays in Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy are often seen as dull and filled with excessive speeches that could be shortened.
  2. Characters in these plays rarely show deep self-reflection, which is a hallmark of Shakespeare's more famous works.
  3. Despite some poetic moments, the writing in Henry VI lacks the emotional depth seen in Shakespeare's later plays.

Feed the Crow: Submissions Call for Issue 58

Crow & Colophon • 219 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Genres sought include poetry, fiction, translated poetry & fiction, and graphic fiction for Issue 58 submissions.
  2. The editors emphasize the importance of courage, sincerity, and creating exceptional writing.
  3. Editors discuss the responsibility and perspective needed when dealing with rejection in the literary world.

A Second Year with Douglas Murray

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3524 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Good journalism involves highlighting things that work beautifully in the world, not just what's broken.
  2. Memorizing great literature allows for personal growth and different insights over time.
  3. Memories and philosophical insights of great artists live on when memorized, representing a form of freedom.

Yeh Pal

Poems, Short stories and other things.. • 43 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Moments are fleeting and pass quickly whether they bring joy, sorrow, calm, or fear.
  2. You cannot stop or hold onto these moments; they come and go on their own.
  3. The best response is to live fully in each moment, enjoying it while it lasts.

CROSSPOST: PHIL H: What Does Corruption Look Like?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 15 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Corruption often works by pretending everyone follows the same rules while quietly giving the powerful exemptions, so public austerity turns into private privilege for elites.
  2. Poetic images like petals, willows, and candle-smoke can show how favor and privilege replace duty and fairness, making systemic injustice visible in ordinary scenes.
  3. Every age has its own choreography of corruption and rulers will try to make you doubt your own eyes, but once you spot the pattern you can’t unsee it.

Subscriber Writing, December 2024

Freddie deBoer • 1330 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. There are many interesting blog posts from different writers. These posts cover a wide range of topics that might capture your interest.
  2. The email roundup indicates that reader engagement is important, as more entries mean more chances for quality writing to be discovered.
  3. Subscribing allows you to participate and share your own writing, offering an opportunity to reach a wider audience.

"The space between me and me is you"

Five’s Substack • 139 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The narrator in the novel grapples with loss and hunger, representing a deep yearning for something unattainable. This desire leads to a cycle of violence towards the living, as she substitutes each victim for what she's truly searching for.
  2. Hunger is described not just as a physical need, but as a longing for hope and connection that can never be fully satisfied. Each meal offers a temporary escape, yet the true craving remains unfulfilled.
  3. The journey of the narrator shows that her ultimate goal is not to regain what she lost but to revisit a single perfect memory from her past. This reflects how memories shape our identities and the complex relationship we have with loss.

a love absurd I poem

Tumbleweed Words • 24 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Love becomes an uncontrollable, impulsive force that overcomes reason and restraint.
  2. Her absence turns ordinary objects and memories into aching reminders that deepen the speaker’s longing.
  3. The speaker willingly surrenders to that longing and drifts into peril, with ocean and drowning images showing emotional loss and self-destruction.

Spell

Microanimism • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. The post discusses using old words and imagery to paint a vivid end-of-the-world scene.
  2. It hints at themes of connection and intimacy in a desolate setting.
  3. The writing style appears poetic and thought-provoking, prompting readers to engage with deeper meanings.

Church and State

As Ever • 7 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The speaker feels torn: they crave someone or something to tell them what to do, but they also hate being ordered and value their freedom.
  2. People want different moral things—some want to be innocent, some want to be worse, and some even want punishment; the longing here is for cleansing and clarity, pictured as cold, clear water.
  3. Simple, peaceful hopes and small rituals—like praying in the sun and imagining a sea—help them endure and make each day bearable.

Winter

That Damn Optimist • 87 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Winter in the city is physically brutal — cold, biting wind, and numb fingers make life sharp and uncomfortable.
  2. Despite overcrowding, insults, and high costs, the small public pleasures like hydrants, fire-escape hangs, and movies on the lawn make staying worth it.
  3. There’s a tension with authority and hostility, but the city’s stubborn, communal energy refuses to be silenced and seems ready to wake up.

Links and Tingz (May '25)

Secretum Secretorum • 530 implied HN points • 29 May 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Poetry often reflects deep feelings about life and existence. It can make us think more about our thoughts and emotions.
  2. The history of marginalized groups, like the Cagots, shows how society can exclude and discriminate. Understanding these stories helps us learn about empathy and acceptance.
  3. Time can feel powerful and transforming, blending our experiences. Thinking about time can change how we perceive ourselves and our surroundings.

Hidden Open Thread 381.5

Astral Codex Ten • 619 implied HN points • 15 May 25
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The post is part of a ongoing discussion space for paid subscribers, encouraging shared conversations.
  2. It emphasizes the value of community interaction and exchange of ideas.
  3. Subscribers are offered opportunities to engage more deeply through the thread's content.

Bonus: The Not-So-Funny Valentine

The Recovering Academic • 356 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Pranks are about power dynamics, either making someone feel powerless or including them, so it's important to know your audience to ensure pranks are taken in good spirit.
  2. Pranking can be a way to compensate for insecurity or trauma, and sometimes it can be used as a means of establishing dominance rather than fostering intimacy.
  3. Traditionally, pranks have been associated with men while women often dislike them due to past negative experiences, but humor is still largely attractive in men, with a balance needed to ensure pranks do not lead to feelings of shame or betrayal.

she’s on her period I poem

Tumbleweed Words • 10 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Her monthly period lasts several days and brings new waves of feeling and personal revelation that change how she is for a stretch of time.
  2. Men often don’t fully understand this and respond with awkward restraint, offering soothing fixes like tea, lemon, honey, ginger, or even vodka.
  3. Those monthly shifts can make her withdraw into close solitude and shape how relationships are negotiated, making conversations feel like they’re about the future.

It’s Harder than You Think Not to Think Like This

Opaque Hourglass • 319 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The struggle to balance work, money, leisure, and family time is highlighted in the poems.
  2. Exploring the irony of idolizing guns using the Second Amendment instead of focusing on the Second Commandment.
  3. The idea of a 'skip button' for thoughts is introduced, allowing a way to fast-forward through one's own mental processes.

Lord of Light

Opaque Hourglass • 299 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Poetry
  1. The author recounts a personal moment involving his wife's pregnancy and a memorable scene from Game of Thrones, highlighting the emotional connection to a TV show.
  2. The description delves into the characters of The Hound and Beric Dondarrion, reflecting on their roles, actions, and the impact of their duel.
  3. The narrative ties the intense fight scene to the author's real-life experience of feeling his baby kick for the first time, showcasing a powerful and emotional connection.

It's ok to live in a fantasyland

The Novelleist • 1303 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Living in a fantasyland allows us to add magic to our everyday lives, helping us cope with reality. Stories, myths, and legends enrich our experiences and make the world feel more enchanting.
  2. Imagination is powerful; it helps us see extraordinary things in ordinary places. We can transform a simple book or a familiar place into a magical experience just by believing in the stories connected to them.
  3. Sometimes knowing too much can take away the magic. Holding onto myths and stories helps keep the wonder alive in our lives, letting us cherish imagination alongside reality.

The Fig Tree

Subtle Digressions • 119 implied HN points • 30 May 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Life offers many choices and opportunities, much like the figs on a tree. Each choice can lead to different futures and experiences.
  2. Not making a choice can lead to missed opportunities, just like the figs that fall and rot. It's important to decide on a path.
  3. Desiring too many things at once can be overwhelming. To find fulfillment, we need to pick one goal or dream to focus on.

some days feel heavier than other days I poem

Tumbleweed Words • 24 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Some days feel heavy because focus slips and the mind fills with emptiness, even when surrounded by people and ordinary scenes.
  2. Presence or absence of love becomes the way time is measured, leaving a quiet torment and an inability to fully describe how love has been experienced.
  3. Senses and time seem to pause around the person, creating a feeling of dissociation, and literary influences shape how they think about being with or without love.

Talking to ravens

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 1697 implied HN points • 27 Aug 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Poetry
  1. The book 'Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life' by Dr. Sharon Blackie explores the significance of storytelling in shaping our perceptions of aging and elderhood.
  2. The power of myths and stories lies in their ability to help us understand life, dream of a better existence, and inspire personal growth and change.
  3. Dr. Sharon Blackie emphasizes the importance of respecting and valuing older women, highlighting their wisdom, roles, and contributions to community.

Things to Call Water

Opaque Hourglass • 359 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. The post explores amusing names for water, like 'idiot's vodka' and 'tap wine'.
  2. Water is playfully personified in various ways such as 'Dances with Eels' and 'The Artist Formerly Known as Ice'.
  3. The text showcases creative and whimsical descriptions for water that evoke vivid imagery and humor.

The Wintering Sky

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 1178 implied HN points • 03 Dec 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Poetry
  1. Winter brings the gift of the night sky, which holds importance and rituals for the author, celebrating the return of darkness and stars.
  2. The author values ceremonies that emerge naturally and mark the rising and setting of the sun during the winter season.
  3. The author shares research on stars possibly being 'minded' entities, emphasizing the importance of celebrating the sky and the cosmos around us.

Christmas, science, context, suicide, E.B. White, Bear, Piranesi, James, reading, epigraphs?, Murdoch, selfish, X, smells, Potter, gpt philosophy, PhD, rating Austen, American fantasy?, Art job

The Common Reader • 992 implied HN points • 25 Dec 24
📚 Literature Poetry
  1. Ben Jonson played a role in shaping the modern concept of Father Christmas, but it's unclear if he truly invented the character. He helped create the idea of a cheerful, fatherly figure for the holiday season.
  2. Critics argue that the scientific study of literature can't fully capture its value, suggesting that some truths about reading can't be easily tested. This raises questions about the reliability of many academic studies in this field.
  3. The review of 'Context Collapse' highlights its complex writing style and the author's impressive range of knowledge. While the book might feel like a mix of random facts, it aims to convey deeper insights through its collage-like structure.