"Through vivid imagery and a quietly assured narrative voice, Patricia Caspers’ “Daughter of a Dead Addict Learns to Brine Olives” explores grief, inheritance, and survival with restraint and care," writes Arc's Kayla Calder. Read more about why this poem is Kayla's Editor's Choice: buff.ly/XtuLQ5o

There is just 1 WEEK LEFT to submit your poems to the Diana Brebner Prize! Ottawa poets without a full-length book, don't miss this opportunity to have Tawahum Bige read your work!

Arc Poetry Magazine@arcpoetry.bsky.social · 4w ago

Attention Ottawa writers who are unpublished in book form! Submissions for the 2026 Diana Brebner Prize officially open August 1! This year's judge is Tawahum Bige. With a $35 entry fee, submit 1-2 poems and receive a 1-year subscription to Arc Poetry Magazine. Details here: buff.ly/2bnlsdc

The time has come and Arc Poetry Magazine is very pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 Archibald Lampman Award. Congratulations to Nina Berkhout, Vera Hadzic, and rob mclennan! More details about these excellent books and the Lampman Award can be found here: buff.ly/2Hwugva

Jenna Butler selected “P’S & Q’S” by Faust B as her Editor's Choice from this year's Poem of the Year Contest. "This intelligently crafted poem roams widely within the constraints of its brief lines, opening into a vital discussion of linguistic acquisition and loss." Read more here: buff.ly/OQnuIlb

“Sgroi’s collection of poems reminded me of the cycle of life, of regeneration.” In her intimate review, Carolyne Van Der Meer reflects on how Renée M. Sgroi’s In a Tension of Leaves and Binding accompanied her through grief, personal loss, renewal, and the search for meaning: buff.ly/6nR6G0Y

Nancy Jo Cullen says that “A Place Both Inside and Out” by Vinita Agrawal "is a dense consideration of the natural complexities of geography in these days of disruptive climate change." Read more about why this poem is Nancy's Editor's Choice here: buff.ly/hPH9GFb

Attention Ottawa writers who are unpublished in book form! Submissions for the 2026 Diana Brebner Prize officially open August 1! This year's judge is Tawahum Bige. With a $35 entry fee, submit 1-2 poems and receive a 1-year subscription to Arc Poetry Magazine. Details here: buff.ly/2bnlsdc

We're recruiting an Ottawa-based Secretary to join our volunteer Board of Directors! Join our team to help coordinate meetings, maintain records, strengthen governance, and support Canadian poetry. Send expressions of interest to kayla@arcpoetry.ca by July 31. More detail here: buff.ly/PDV3xbu

“Chiron’s placement in one’s birth chart represents a core wound that may take a lifetime to heal.” Remedies for Chiron by m. patchwork monoceros explores chronic pain and the search for healing. Amanda Jeysing finds a collection that channels raw emotion in pursuit of truth. buff.ly/uW2tz9r

“Each poem reads like Amber Dawn is trying to reconstruct herself." In Amber Dawn’s Buzzkill Clamshell the body is a studied object capturing different stages of Eros, torment, and pleasure. Meg Collins perceives the collection as a construction of new language to express desire: buff.ly/IH2XnIm

Attention to all Ottawa-base poetry appreciators, Arc is looking forward to having a table at tomorrow's Ottawa Small Press Book Fair. This iteration of the fair will be held on Saturday, June 20, in the Main Hall of the Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue (at Lyon St. S), from noon until 5pm.

“Against the time but with the music.” In Fugue Body, Bridget Huh's debut moves through language, race, beauty, and music in intricate rhythm. Reviewer Sarah Burgoyne finds a work of striking virtuosity that asks what it means to live within the fractures and beauty of the world. buff.ly/VgbB3dX

Applications for Arc’s 19th virtual Poet-in-Residence program are open until June 15. This national mentorship residency connects an influential Canadian poet with writers across the country through one-on-one virtual mentorships. One week left to apply! More info can be found here: buff.ly/bqoKyKW

“Where Elston shines is in his ease of movement between the absurd and the profound.” In The Character Actor Convention, Guy Elston assembles an unlikely cast of kings, insects, saints, and mushrooms. Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi is fascinated by where the absurd and profound meet: buff.ly/YpfoaSM

For the Fall 2026 issue of Arc Poetry Magazine, we’re looking for poetic responses to resistance movements around the world and explorations of protest through poetry. More details here: buff.ly/uqcQBQO

Timing is everything! Yesterday’s mail brought the latest issue of one of my dream lit mags— @arcpoetry.bsky.social and inside, a poem by me!!! Thank you Arc (for also supporting my writing with a recommender grant through @ontarioarts.bsky.social), thank you all carers. More exciting news to come.

Chuffed and 🍾 to be published in the spring 2026 @arcpoetry.bsky.social magazine. On finer newsstands now (he says, dating himself horribly...)

Applications are now open for Arc’s 19th virtual Poet-in-Residence program. This national mentorship residency connects an influential Canadian poet with writers across the country through one-on-one virtual mentorships. Deadline to apply is June 15! More info can be found here: buff.ly/bqoKyKW

“Some threads are likely designed to stay hidden.” Winner of the Canadian First Book Prize, Joseph Kidney’s Devotional Forensics weaves theology, sacred art, and literary allusion into a richly layered debut. Michelle Hardy digs the meanings hidden beneath its surface in her review: buff.ly/wPF03CM

"Poetry is painting that is felt.” In Thomas O’Grady’s Coming Ashore, poetry is a painting shaped by boat rides, water birds, and memory. Reviewer Jeffrey Round admires the universal quality of this collection and its desire to bring us home. Read the full review here: buff.ly/aJkb8Vx

We are thrilled to announce the shortlist for our 2026 Poem of the Year! Now it's your turn to determine which one deserves recognition. The Readers' Choice Award is open for your votes, but only until May 21. Which shortlisted poem is your favourite? Cast your vote today! buff.ly/b0rBh07

Last call! Arc’s community survey closes soon. If you’ve been meaning to share your thoughts, we’d love to hear from you. Plus, you could win $50 to the indie bookstore of your choice! bit.ly/ArcSurvey2026 📝 #NationalPoetryMonth

“My love, nothing stays.” In On the News That Sagittarius A* Grows Hungrier, Nicola Vulpe expands intimate moments into the vastness of the universe. Reviewer Mark Frutkin calls it fascinating, unusual, and both personal and universal. Read the full review here: buff.ly/KWEGRLq

There’s still time to share your thoughts 💬 Arc’s community survey is open until April 30. Your input will help shape our direction as we look ahead to our 50th anniversary. Take the survey: bit.ly/ArcSurvey2026 📝 #NationalPoetryMonth #PoetryCommunity

“Poetry brings us back to the framework of our bodies…” In I’ll Get Right On It, poetry becomes a way to define climate crisis and work under capitalism. Margaryta Golovchenko explores this multi-voiced anthology shaped by a shared drive to protect and create. Read the full review: buff.ly/EsBom2R

We're excited to welcome the Spring issue of Arc Poetry Magazine! In this issue you'll find the most recent Diana Brebner-winning poem and eight new pieces by Arc's 2024 – 2025 Poet-in-Residence, T. Liem. And more! This issue of Arc Poetry is available to order from our website now: buff.ly/ZG1dQG9

Help shape Arc’s future! 📣 This National Poetry Month, share your thoughts in our community survey. Readers, writers, contributors & collaborators—your voice matters. 10-15 min: bit.ly/ArcSurvey2026 📝 Open all April. Opt in to win a $50 indie bookstore gift card! #NationalPoetryMonth #CanLit

Coming up later this week, Arc's Past President Nduka Otiono is hosting a public talk and poetry evening at the Carleton University Bookstore. Join Nduka to listen to poetry from Prof. Nimi Wariboko as he reads from his recent collections. Register ahead of time as seats are limited.

“You can say that what you want is to hold a space that isn’t fixed.” In the berry takes the shape of the bloom, andrea bennett holds desire, grief, and parenthood in constant tension, and reviewer Paisley Conrad reflects on what remains unresolved. Read the full review here: buff.ly/8r0cz0h

VERSeFest, Ottawa's international poetry festival, is starting tomorrow! We're thrilled to be hosting T. Liem, Lucia Farinon, and Isabella Wang on Wednesday at Arts Court, but all of the events for this festival look amazing! More info on events and tickets here: buff.ly/SHY6uk1