The Journal

‘Few publications deliver consistently good issues — The Journal is among them. Filled with well-written poems from some of the best contemporary poets I’ve ever read, The Journal is the definitive showpiece of the small press. Each issue also contains thorough book and journal reviews composed by writers whose love of literature is evident.’ Hyacinthe L. Raven Via Dolorosa Press (USA)

‘…interesting and experimental while avoiding the obscure and unnecessarily difficult. Add to the excellent selection of poetry, some interesting and insightful reviews and The Journal is a must for anyone who loves poetry and is not afraid of a bit of experimentation and the new insights that this can bring.‘ Juliet Wilson

‘…plenty of different styles of poetry in each issue. The result is that, whilst The Journal will never have that sense of comforting familiarity that some ‘zine have developed, it will always stretch your boundaries.‘ The Supplement #73

‘…an international magazine in the tradition of Poesie Europe, Ecuatorial, and Labrys. It publishes poems in English, in particular by English-language poets in exile, translations into English alongside the originals, interviews with poets, and appraisals of current poetry scenes…’ Wolfgang Görtschacher

‘A plainly elegant layout, making the most of its size to incorporate sequences and longer poems, articles and plenty of reviews …. The contents are global … all saying what has to be said, in ways and words you wish you’d imagined. Shining intelligence, to brighten and inspire serious poetry lovers.’ Orbis

closed to submissions

current issue

#70 will be the last issue until such times as I get my finances on a more even keel or until such time as The Royal Mail reduces their charges. Meanwhile #70 The Journal has poetry by these estimable folk – Ken Anderson / Annemarie Austin / Christopher Barnes / Robin Brumby / Claire Booker / Marc Carver / Agamenón Castrillón / Laura Chalar / Julian Colton / Belinda Cooke / Gareth Culshaw / Richard Dinges / Philip Dunkerley / Matthew Friday / Dan Grote / Alice Harrison / Michael Lee Johnson / Siobhan Logan / Phil Knight / Emma Lee / Ian Mullins / Andy Murray / James B. Nicola / Gordon Scapens / Andrew Taylor / Wendy Webb / Merryn Williams / Rodney Wood / Eve Margaret Young

Meanwhile The Journal‘s team of reviewers – Emma Lee, Steve Spence, Andrew Taylor and myself – have reveiewed in #70 collections by these folk – Tim Allen, Jasmina Bolfek-Radovani, Clive Gresswell, Dan R. Grote, Gram Joel Davies, Laura Cesargo Eglin, Kenny Knight, David Miller, Alan Morrison, Vic Pickup, Alan Price, Paul Sutton, Antoni Sachez-Day, Jocelyn Simms, Emma Storr, Cherrie Taylor, Wendy Ann Webb, Merryn Williams & Geoffrey Winch. I also reviewed the Madness anthology. Collections that didn’t get selected for review in #70, or arrived too late, I will try to get reviewed online over the next few months.

Front cover

#70’s front cover poem is by Annemarie Austin (England)

Pirate Jenny

She turned away from us

and into the solitude of

her own big final concern

that lived in the air just

in front of her nose where

she sat square on the floor

waiting for it to come closer.

Sometime in the night it came

and left her with open mouth

and back legs trailing as though

downed on the way to somewhere.

There it had been. Expected but

not expected quite like that.

You left your coat by the door,

thrown down, and went away,

a little alien even more

now you’re undressed.

closed to submissions

To submit

editorial policy is ‘…to try to publish those poems — from wheresoever they may come — written with thought to what the poem is saying and to how it is being said. Also welcomed are poems that can travel, that can cross boundaries, that do not assume in their readers a shared knowledge nor a shared set of beliefs. And it will be a rare day when I take a poem about being a poet or about the writing of poems. Also, because my aim is to keep The Journal secular, any poem containing religious terminology will not be considered for publication….’

To save The Journal becoming another safe poetry corner we will allow 2 issues to pass before using any poet’s work again. Which means that you can submit at any time but, if accepted, your work will not appear until 2 issues after your last appearance in The Journal.

* poems in English please, or translations into English (about 6 at a time) within the email – asamsmith@hotmail.com – or in a Word Doc file.
* also welcome are interviews with poets, reviews, appreciations or appraisals of current poetry scenes
* if, within UK, a reply is desired, enclose SAE
* payment will be one complimentary copy to each author
* copyright will remain with author

To subscribe

To subscribe to The Journal annual subscription (3 issues) £17.00

Buy Now This is a new Stripe button. However if it doesn’t work payment can be made through PayPal by going directly to the PayPal website and making payment to The Journal via asamsmith@hotmail.com . If you do this please also email me your name and address so that I can send you copies.

Failing that you can send me a cheque, made payable to ‘Sam Smith’ at The Journal, 38 Pwllcarn Terrace, Blaengarw, Bridgend, CF32 8AS

Within the UK a single copy, current issue, £6.00

Buy Now This is a new Stripe button. However if it doesn’t work payment can still be made by going directly to the PayPal website and making payment to The Journal via asamsmith@hotmail.com . If you do this please also email me your name and address so I can send you your copy.

Failing that you can send me a cheque, made payable to ‘Sam Smith’ at The Journal, 38 Pwllcarn Terrace, Blaengarw, Bridgend, CF32 8AS