P – Human Obscura Seeking Submissions to Their First Anthology. Theme: Blue

2024 Humana Obscura Anthology

Theme: “Blue”

Our first anthology will focus on a theme of “blue,” and however you interpret it—as the sky, the ocean, the shade of a particular flower, or an emotion.

We’re looking for work that is nuanced, raw, and imagistic with strong elements of the natural world or hints to the human-nature relationship. We tend to favor work that is unexpected, evocative, yet subtle, with a strong sense of place and strong imagery.

We prefer shorter works that use brevity to its advantage, with simple formatting and uncomplicated language.

Please keep in mind the seasonal nature of the issue you’re submitting to.

We will not accept works created by robots, such as those created using AI technology like ChatGPT or similar means. Your work must be wholly created by you.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

You may submit up to 5 poems (or up to 10 haiku, tanka, or micropoetry 5 lines or less). Please include all poems in one document.

We publish poetry, prose poetry, micropoetry, haiku, and tanka. We prefer free-verse poetry that is accessible to readers, is straightforward, and avoids fancy language.

We opt for the less traditional, Westernized style of haiku and tanka that does not follow strict syllable structures, while honoring the haiku aesthetic and characteristics.

We do not publish experimental work, and very rarely do we publish poems longer than one page.

Please edit your work before submitting. While typos aren’t enough to automatically reject your work, it is important to submit your final, edited piece(s). Upon acceptance, we may suggest minor edits to your work.

Submissions. We only consider submissions sent through our online submission manager (Submittable). Emailed submissions will not be considered. Submissions must be accompanied by a brief third-person bio. Poetry submissions should be sent in a single document (.doc or .docx formats preferred).

Simultaneous Submissions & Withdrawals. We accept simultaneous submissions, but we must be immediately notified if a piece is accepted elsewhere. If you wish to withdraw one or several pieces from your submission, please email us directly with the titles of the work(s) you are withdrawing. If you wish to withdraw your entire submission, please use Submittable’s “Withdraw” option.

In keeping with the anthology’s theme, a percentage of submission fees will be donated to Ocean Conservancy. Ocean Conservancy is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., United States. The organization seeks to promote healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems, prevent marine pollution, climate change and advocates against practices that threaten oceanic and human life.