It happens.
You spend your time to create a poem and then more time to find someone who likes your creation as much as you do to publish your crafted words.
I believed I had found that place, but alas, I did not.
For most publishers, a writer submits, gets accepted/rejected, if accepted then published. Most of the rules are on the submission page. Unfortunately, more hoops had to be jumped and I was unaware. So the publisher did not publish my poem.
Since the hoops felt contrived, I figured the problem really stemmed from my political articles then did any copyright form. I submitted my poem and to me, that pretty much is the copyright agreement and acceptance of those terms. That is why the angle appeared not so earnest.
One of these days, I will post Dreams in a Classical Detail on one of the poetry forums I frequent. You can then see if my poem needed "punctuation" as the editor claimed, yet never sent me any edited version to approve or reject.
Seriously, punctuation isn't necessary. I am a seasoned poet with many years on both sides of the isle: editor, writer, publisher.
So if you are a poetry publisher: stay out of politics. If the poem is good, and not distasteful, then what is the real issue here? My poem was about mythology.
You will see on my Poetry Credits page where I marked my credit as accepted but not published. Sorry I was out doing real research, investigations, and positive action. I don't just create wonderful works and words; I create policy. I instigate national conversations. I save lives.
That is real social justice: the kind that puts positive action and words into solutions for everyone. Because if everyone is not benefiting from your work, then maybe you should rethink your stance.
Someday I will tell you about my real life, but what fun would that be?
Have a great and wonderful day.
