What I Look for in a Poem

It’s normal for Tributaries to receive hundreds of submissions over the course of a year. With that many submissions, vetting each piece carefully can be overwhelming. As the Editor-in-Chief and Poetry Editor, there are times when I have to ask myself what I’m looking for in a poem. 

At the most basic level, I look for a poet’s ability to write something that needs to be a poem—something that couldn’t exist in any other form. If elements like lineation, meter, form, tone, and image aren’t handled with careful attention, then it can be impossible to appreciate the other things a poem might have to offer. For instance, a poem may express a powerful and insightful idea, but if it feels like nothing more than an essay with line breaks, then it’s hard to appreciate the idea it’s expressing.

When I’m looking at the poetic elements within a poem, there are certain things that I am drawn to as a matter of personal preference. I find the use of established forms, like sonnets, sestinas, pantoums, and villanelles, especially impressive. Few things in poetry bring me as much joy as the innovative use of meter. At the same time, I also notice that free-verse poetry contains some of my favorite uses of imagery. Without the restraints of traditional verse, my favorite imagist poets, like William Carlos Williams, have the freedom to make linguistic choices that focus on developing a precise image without filler or fluff.

Ultimately, I find that, while I have stylistic preferences, they don’t dictate much about whether or not I believe a poem should be published. As a creative journal focused on publishing the work of students, the number one thing I look for in a poet is potential. Potential may not be easy to identify because it’s not concrete, but it’s usually one of those things you just recognize. When a poet is experimenting with their work, taking intelligent chances, and exploring daring ideas, it stands out in every line they write. Above all, that’s what I look for in a poem.