harmless drudge

Congratulations to the authors of the shortlisted poems for the Robert Gray Prize for Poetry 2026, selected from well over 400 high-quality entries. All of these poems will appear in our forthcoming anthology, Oystercatcher Three. Native Call Andre Liyanage-Denney On First Hearing Westlake's "Wooden Ships" Barbara Baker Where Song Began Brett R Dionysius Em-dash Brigitte Ross Destination Carmel Macdonald Grahame Seeing Ahead Carmel Macdonald Grahame Autumn Fall Craig Billingham For Life...

We are pleased to announce publication of the latest in our Shorts series, Maree Reedman's Clear-air Turbulence. This short book is a treat for anyone who enjoys poetry that says what it means and says it well. Don't expect gnomic utterances or fancy technical acrobatics. Do expect to laugh, to cry and to be astonished. Maree Reedman's debut collection is truly poetry for everyone--her highly crafted poems do not make a display of her craft, but deploy it quietly and modestly in the service...

We are delighted to announce that we are now inviting submissions from poets interested in being part of the 5Islands Press 2027–28 publication program. We will be accepting submissions until 11 October 2026. As always, we’re looking for well-crafted poems that have something insightful to say, and that say it in a way that will move the hearts and minds of intelligent and attentive readers. Please send us a sample of the ten pages from your manuscript that you are happiest with, along...