I happened to marry a scientist—wise? it’s hard to say—who harbours deep resentment toward the lack of specificity inherent to words, “because everything is numbers anyway.” I said that may be true, and as soon as he’s able to invent a method of teaching math without language, I’d be happy to entertain the idea of doing away with letters altogether.
If they’re going to find a way free of us, machines have a ways to go yet—because, at least in my world, it’s poems all the way down. And OnlyPoems delivers a good reminder.
Checking in from Central Minnesota. I am a river girl and feel out of sorts when I am not near water. Except if I am in Santa Fe, I am "enchanted" by Santa Fe. Poet, reader, INFP.
A friend pointed me to the group, which I'm currently a free member of. I started writing after I retired from the working world five years ago, and I started writing poetry this year. I've had novellas, short stories, and poetry accepted, but not much has been published at this point. However, it is on its way.
I'd love to share a poem or two with the group.
My website is www.dreamingauthor.com. It is still under construction, but I have links to most of what has been published.
I have never felt more empowered and cherished and understood than stumbling upon the existence of Only Poems. And realizing we have a space that is ours and we are not alone!
I already subscribe to all that you do so it’s great that you’re moving here where I can easily find you 🤗 Like Sara, I’m not sure whether I’m a paid member? I was once, then you stopped as for a while, and maybe my membership continued? Did I pay for a year? I hope so because your content is awesome 🤩
Thank you for providing this great space. I love your logo, the idea of providing a different daily poem and theme and am delighted and looking forward to poetry in my inbox daily. I also plan to submit some pieces in the future.
Hard to understand or support the choice to start a substack now, given everything we know about their support (financial and otherwise) for right wing clients who use it to disseminate and monetize racist and dehumanizing content. To the editors: you could have used an alternative platform. To readers: please reconsider giving your money to this platform and entrusting your work to editors who do.
Oh, I agree to some extent. It is a tough world to do the right thing we live in. Late stage capitalism give us no perfect choices. I once did an analysis of how compromised my life is: The lumber in my house was the product of a clear cut, my gas powered car has, indirectly, funded forever wars and killed sea-life. My 401k is, though invested in "the right" SRI portfolio, inevitably exploitative, the computer I type on has conflict minerals, I just bought an appliance (after our old one of 50 years broke) at frigging HomeDepot. I use Facebook to organize.
I am 100% confident that Shannan and Karan have lovingly and thoughtfully weighed the difficult trade-offs of using all the platforms they employ to promote the poets and poetry and all the gifts of ONLY POEMS in selecting platforms. Aren't we lucky to have folks like them in our lives who are willing to put the 1000s of hours into a platform that raises all of us up!
Hi Chiara, I recall you emailed us last week with your concerns, and Karan sent you a very thoughtful reply. Since you'd like to have this conversation in public, I'll repost that reply here:
"Hi Chiara,
Thank you for taking the time to write with such care and clarity. You’re right that platform choices matter. We share your discomfort with Substack—not just for the content it permits and profits from, but also for many other broader problems it represents, and how it’s turning into just another social media platform that rewards the most easily exploited parts of us. The truth is, every platform we use, from Instagram to email services to PayPal to the internet itself as it is today, is all part of the same capitalist machinery: profit-driven, ethically compromised, and ultimately indifferent to the communities that give it life.
We’ve chosen to move forward with Substack not because we endorse its values, but because it’s currently the only viable tool for us to reach the people we want to reach—and to create something that resists the noise with care, beauty, and poetry. And also one that allows us to archive our daily emails. We believe in building spaces of meaning within flawed systems, not retreating from them entirely. Otherwise, we risk ceding that ground to the very people and ideologies we oppose. Which is also why we’ve remained on Twitter despite despising what the platform is turning into. Using Instagram or really any other social media poses the same ethical challenges. They’re owned by people who care first and foremost about building an empire. Same with Squarespace where the website is hosted (though we’re moving away from that soon), or Submittable (their annual revenue is 67 million!!!) — all of these platforms thrive on extraction, and it’s sad how little we can do about it. Shunning these systems, in many cases, is simplistic (unlike in the case of fast fashion or fast food) and we wish we could but don’t think we have the privilege to, at least as of now. The mission at the moment is to provide some sources of comfort and hope and beauty in a world that is burning..... [continued in second comment]
... [continued] We do not take your readership or support for granted. That said, we completely respect your choice. If your ethics ask you to step back from ONLY POEMS or to speak out against us—we understand, and support your right to take the stand you feel is necessary to live and fight well in this world.
‘We believe in building spaces of meaning within flawed systems, not retreating from them entirely.’ Isn’t this what life’s about? If we disappear, we’re opening the floor for the toxic voices to spread wider, louder. I say, let’s take over SS, Twitter, Instagram … dilute the caustic with our infinite wisdom, compassion, poetry! 💪🏻 Let the mutiny commence 🤗 🎉
Yes. I was chagrined to see "there is no perfect option" deployed as an excuse to just throw in the towel and use... the worst option. To me it signals that Only Poems is not a safe home for marginalized writers, and isn't a publication interested in taking a principled stand.
May you find beauty and poetry throughout your life and continue to encourage everyone with your exemplary choices. Many good wishes, friend and farewell 💙
You’re doing fine work here, my friends.
I happened to marry a scientist—wise? it’s hard to say—who harbours deep resentment toward the lack of specificity inherent to words, “because everything is numbers anyway.” I said that may be true, and as soon as he’s able to invent a method of teaching math without language, I’d be happy to entertain the idea of doing away with letters altogether.
If they’re going to find a way free of us, machines have a ways to go yet—because, at least in my world, it’s poems all the way down. And OnlyPoems delivers a good reminder.
I believe that we heal in community and Only Poems deserves an Oscar for your warm and innovative approaches!
🥹🥹 Thank you, Lucy🌻❤️
Checking in from Central Minnesota. I am a river girl and feel out of sorts when I am not near water. Except if I am in Santa Fe, I am "enchanted" by Santa Fe. Poet, reader, INFP.
A friend pointed me to the group, which I'm currently a free member of. I started writing after I retired from the working world five years ago, and I started writing poetry this year. I've had novellas, short stories, and poetry accepted, but not much has been published at this point. However, it is on its way.
I'd love to share a poem or two with the group.
My website is www.dreamingauthor.com. It is still under construction, but I have links to most of what has been published.
I have never felt more empowered and cherished and understood than stumbling upon the existence of Only Poems. And realizing we have a space that is ours and we are not alone!
This is so wonderful to hear, Kim. Thank you for your readership ❤️
Can relate! So glad we're all here.
https://hyperfollow.com/maxywaxywell
Yay!
I squealed when I saw this in my email box!
Happy to be here <3
I already subscribe to all that you do so it’s great that you’re moving here where I can easily find you 🤗 Like Sara, I’m not sure whether I’m a paid member? I was once, then you stopped as for a while, and maybe my membership continued? Did I pay for a year? I hope so because your content is awesome 🤩
That is very kind of you 🌻
stopped substack
Brilliant! Love a snackable :)
Yayyy!
I'm looking forward to reading all of these poems!! Thanks for putting this together.
Thank YOU for loving and reading poetry
I wonder if Bert GIick has made it to anyone's attention here?
I just read up on him and he seems like a fascinating character. Will look into getting a hold of his work!
I have two autographed books by him. We go to the same infusion center.
Thank you for providing this great space. I love your logo, the idea of providing a different daily poem and theme and am delighted and looking forward to poetry in my inbox daily. I also plan to submit some pieces in the future.
Our logo and all our art is thanks to our wonderful illustrator Mariam! Thank youu friend
I love the nod to Buffy Sainte-Marie in your title! She's a fantastic poet and musician.
YES YOU NOTICED
Hard to understand or support the choice to start a substack now, given everything we know about their support (financial and otherwise) for right wing clients who use it to disseminate and monetize racist and dehumanizing content. To the editors: you could have used an alternative platform. To readers: please reconsider giving your money to this platform and entrusting your work to editors who do.
Oh, I agree to some extent. It is a tough world to do the right thing we live in. Late stage capitalism give us no perfect choices. I once did an analysis of how compromised my life is: The lumber in my house was the product of a clear cut, my gas powered car has, indirectly, funded forever wars and killed sea-life. My 401k is, though invested in "the right" SRI portfolio, inevitably exploitative, the computer I type on has conflict minerals, I just bought an appliance (after our old one of 50 years broke) at frigging HomeDepot. I use Facebook to organize.
I am 100% confident that Shannan and Karan have lovingly and thoughtfully weighed the difficult trade-offs of using all the platforms they employ to promote the poets and poetry and all the gifts of ONLY POEMS in selecting platforms. Aren't we lucky to have folks like them in our lives who are willing to put the 1000s of hours into a platform that raises all of us up!
Thank you so much for this message, Dick. It means the whole damn world to us.
Hi Chiara, I recall you emailed us last week with your concerns, and Karan sent you a very thoughtful reply. Since you'd like to have this conversation in public, I'll repost that reply here:
"Hi Chiara,
Thank you for taking the time to write with such care and clarity. You’re right that platform choices matter. We share your discomfort with Substack—not just for the content it permits and profits from, but also for many other broader problems it represents, and how it’s turning into just another social media platform that rewards the most easily exploited parts of us. The truth is, every platform we use, from Instagram to email services to PayPal to the internet itself as it is today, is all part of the same capitalist machinery: profit-driven, ethically compromised, and ultimately indifferent to the communities that give it life.
We’ve chosen to move forward with Substack not because we endorse its values, but because it’s currently the only viable tool for us to reach the people we want to reach—and to create something that resists the noise with care, beauty, and poetry. And also one that allows us to archive our daily emails. We believe in building spaces of meaning within flawed systems, not retreating from them entirely. Otherwise, we risk ceding that ground to the very people and ideologies we oppose. Which is also why we’ve remained on Twitter despite despising what the platform is turning into. Using Instagram or really any other social media poses the same ethical challenges. They’re owned by people who care first and foremost about building an empire. Same with Squarespace where the website is hosted (though we’re moving away from that soon), or Submittable (their annual revenue is 67 million!!!) — all of these platforms thrive on extraction, and it’s sad how little we can do about it. Shunning these systems, in many cases, is simplistic (unlike in the case of fast fashion or fast food) and we wish we could but don’t think we have the privilege to, at least as of now. The mission at the moment is to provide some sources of comfort and hope and beauty in a world that is burning..... [continued in second comment]
... [continued] We do not take your readership or support for granted. That said, we completely respect your choice. If your ethics ask you to step back from ONLY POEMS or to speak out against us—we understand, and support your right to take the stand you feel is necessary to live and fight well in this world.
All good wishes and more power to you,
Karan"
‘We believe in building spaces of meaning within flawed systems, not retreating from them entirely.’ Isn’t this what life’s about? If we disappear, we’re opening the floor for the toxic voices to spread wider, louder. I say, let’s take over SS, Twitter, Instagram … dilute the caustic with our infinite wisdom, compassion, poetry! 💪🏻 Let the mutiny commence 🤗 🎉
Yes, precisely. Thank you, my friend 🌻
Yes. I was chagrined to see "there is no perfect option" deployed as an excuse to just throw in the towel and use... the worst option. To me it signals that Only Poems is not a safe home for marginalized writers, and isn't a publication interested in taking a principled stand.
May you find beauty and poetry throughout your life and continue to encourage everyone with your exemplary choices. Many good wishes, friend and farewell 💙