- The Alchemy of Tears - A Canadian Poetry Anthology
The Ontario Poetry Society Presents
The Alchemy of Tears - A Canadian Poetry Anthology
Vanessa Shields, Editor & Compiler
Elana Wolff, Illustrator
All members of The Ontario Poetry Society are invited to participate in our annual anthology of poetry.
This collection will feature your best poems on the following themes:
Water - any activity involving water whether inside or out, showers, rain, pools, puddles, lakes or oceans, including but not exclusive to swimming, skinny dipping, diving, canoes, water sports and play, sprinklers, washing, bathing, christening and the mikvah
Silence - Meditation, yoga, tai chi, hiding your thoughts or feelings, body language, giving or receiving the silent treatment, sign language, praying for a magic cure / an answer, sleeping, ear plugs, depression and loneliness
Healing - faith healers, the experience of healing another person, or being healed by someone else - physical and/or emotional, internal / external wounds, knee scrapes, broken toes, heartbreaks, stolen hearts or bikes, loss of a loved one by death or argument, disease, reiki, medical help and tribute poems for a doctor or therapist who has helped you to recover
Tears of Joy, Sorrow, Pain, Relief - giving birth, saying goodbye (for a long time or for good), marriage, divorce, unbearable pain, overwhelming emotional events either personal (life changing) or public (theatre, music or sports), overcoming or letting go of past trauma and fake or crocodile tears
Poems may be in rhyme and/or in free verse. Poems may be previously published, as long as the author (you) hold the copyright. Include any publishing credits, previous poetry prizes, etc., at the bottom of the page for the respective poem(s). Poems are not to exceed 70 lines, including stanza breaks. Poems need to be single spaced. If sending shorter poems, only one poem per page. #12 Arial font.
Each member must submit a minimum of 5 poems up to a maximum of 10 poems. This way the editor/compiler has enough choices from your submission to make the best selection for the book.
Kindly make sure your name is neatly printed on the top left hand corner of your poem and the theme of each poem is typed on the upper right hand corner of the page.
Each member is guaranteed to have a minimum of 2 short poems or 1 long poem that needs two pages in the book.
Fill out the accompanying Bio Information Form, as there will be a bio section at the back of the book.
Submission Deadline: Entries to be mailed on or before March 15, 2023
Estimated date of publication is August 31, 2023.
The Ontario Poetry Society is a registered, not-for-profit, grass roots, democratic, poet-friendly organization.
Since we do not receive outside funding for this project, it must be financially self-sustaining. Each submission must include payment for at least one copy of the book.
Pre-publication Offer - $25 per copy
There is no limit on the number of books you may purchase, providing they are paid for in advance.
Prices include all taxes, postage and handling expenses. Make your cheque or money order payable to
The Ontario Poetry Society. All participants in this project will receive a designer bookmark as a thank you gift.
Our anthologies are sold out very quickly. To avoid disappointment, kindly order as many books you know you'll need. These anthologies make perfect birthday and holiday gifts.
After publication, copies will be $30 each.
Send poems, Bio Information Form and payment to:
The Ontario Poetry Society, #710 - 65 Spring Garden, Toronto, Ont. M2N 6H9