The mission of RockPaperPoem is to publish the finest contemporary poetry available in English in an attractive, easily accessible, online platform for readers in the U.S. and around the world. We seek work from all individuals, especially historically underrepresented voices in poetry communities—BIPOC persons, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, persons of any ability, and individuals of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Our goal is to become a leading U.S. online poetry journal recognized for its high-quality content, attractive design, reader accessibility, and contributor friendliness. We want our publication to be known for promoting a wide variety of poetic styles, diversity in poetic voices, and a welcoming, inclusive community of poets.
RockPaperPoem is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. If you would like to help support us, please click on the button below.
2026 Best of the Net Nominations
“Leaning In to the Body’s Failing” — Zoe Boyer
“Зной” — Yev Gelman
“lipstick” — Robin Gow
“A Brief History of Greed” — Diane LeBlanc
“Post Anthropocene” — Dion O’Reilly
“Fuse” — Tori Grant Welhouse
2026 Pushcart Prize Nominations
“Okay, Okay” — Zoe Boyer
“Calligraphy with Ants” — Charity Everitt
“Зной” — Yev Gelman
“Rehab” — David Graham
“Meditation While Waiting” — Adrian S. Potter
“Fuse” — Tori Grant Welhouse
Issue 14 arrives at a time of strain and rapid change here in the US and all around the world. The poetry within this issue speaks to the fear and grief that so many of us feel in this moment, but also the strength and light that will see us through to the other side.
These poems bear witness. From airport parking garages, the Garden of Eden, the California freeway, and everywhere in-between, these poems ask to be seen and heard. We invite you to join us in listening.
This issue features poems by Abby Kusmin, Amy Riddle, Hilary King, Amber Hope, May Garner, Annie Dade, Viola Lee, Margaret Hasse, Angela Cummings, Jonathan B. Aibel, Beth Kanell, Sarah Carleton, Bruce McRae, Michelle Patton, Sascha Cohen, Annette Sisson, Jennifer L. Freed, Melody Wilson, David Lee Garrison, Amanda Conover, Veronica Tucker, Elizabeth Joy Levinson, Shawn Aveningo-Sanders, and Kimberly Gibson-Tran.
THE ROCKPAPERPOEM POETRY PRIZE
Winter is easing into spring, and literary contest season is upon us. We are excited to announce that the 2026 RockPaperPoem Poetry Prize is officially open for submissions now through Friday, June 5, 2026.
We seek the poems that you hold closest to your heart: the gritty, the delicate, the challenging, the cherished. Poems asking to be read at this particular point in time. Poems that you couldn’t bear not to write. Send us up to three of these poems with a $10 submission fee for the chance to win a $300 cash prize. Two runners-up will also win $150 each.
Learn more and submit your work here. We eagerly await your poetry!
MICHAEL KLEBER-DIGGS
This year, we are honored to welcome Michael Kleber-Diggs as our guest judge for the RockPaperPoem Poetry Prize. Michael is an acclaimed poet, essayist, literary critic, and arts educator. He is the author of Worldly Things, which won the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize in 2021. Michael is a 2023–2025 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow in Literature, and he teaches creative writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at universities in the Twin Cities.
Click here to learn more about Michael’s work.
