Anonymous poets

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I decided to start this online journal after having read the anonymous work of a homeless man selling his poetry on the streets of Bath. When I can; since I know someone he sold (what I hope are) copies of his work to; I will have these published here in an inaugural post. The tradition of anonymous poets has encompassed, and often passed over, the lives of some of the most disadvantaged in this country. The poignance of what is probably our best known ‘anonymous’ work of poetry, ‘Tom O’Bedlam’s Song’, derives from the fact that this poem is not strictly, for an obvious reason, anonymous. That said, we know next to nothing about its author, except that he was a patient at the infamous Bethlehem Hospital (also known as ‘Bedlam’).

In that spirit, I intend to dedicate this online repository to voices coming from the margins of society. The poetry accepted to this journal may, or may not, be submitted anonymously. For various reasons, in writing, one may wish to remain anonymous. To submit, you must be resident in the United Kingdom (I may start another site at some point dealing on a more international level, but that’s beyond my capabilities for the moment), you must be over 18, and you must have work fitting with the general ethical rubric of this journal. Have you been marginalised? If so, how? We should like to know your story in either the cover letter or the poem itself. However, please don’t feel the need to write about terrible experiences if you have something joyous to share. Happy moments can be had even in the most difficult circumstances.

We will, of course, never reveal any information (compromising or otherwise) about you without your consent. And we will not be running this journal for profit.