My poem "Apartment Contrition" was selected as an Honorable Mention in the Good Shepherd of Norfolk's contest on the Theme "The Rhythm of Life."

goodshepherdnorfolk.org/.../poetry-c...

As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.

Listening to: Laurie Anderson performing C.P. Cavafy's "Waiting for the Barbarians."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI15...

I love when a local celebrity wins national attention. And Northwest translator Shelley Fairweather Vega's turn in the spotlight includes a chance to listen to Uzbek too.

www.youtube.com/live/HW6Yp4h...

With thanks to The Inflectionist Review, I have two new poems out this week! Both written in a year that felt increasingly precarious; I'm glad they've found a published home on the internet.

www.inflectionism.com/20-caitlin-p...
and
www.inflectionism.com/20-caitlin-p...

#poetry

My poem "Vespers" is published in Hominum Journal. Read the whole poem at www.hominumjournal.org/issue-8-1/palo

"but let me tell you there’s never no-war
once you’ve seen it " - Martine van Bijlert

www.kitchentablequarterly.org/van-bijlert-...

I like to pre-order books to give myself something to look forward to. Get it from Open Books or Driftwood!

I wrote about every book I finished in 2024: medium.com/@caitlinpalo...

The end of the Gregorian year means I can let go of unfinished commitments, like the 900 page book I've been reading for 6 months with 450 pages still to go.

“i beg what i love and / i leave to forgive me”:

Best wishes for our poetry community in 2025!

Perfect reading in the dark early mornings of jetlag. Also, pro-tip: rotate your phone horizontally to better see linebreaks as written.

lithub.com/49-contempor...

I sent Suzannah Watchorn a note appreciating her poem in Kitchen Table Quarterly, and she generously wrote a thoughtful close reading of my KTQ poem in return. Read about her poem and mine at www.suzannahwatchorn.com/post/new-poe...

@kitchentableqtrly.bsky.social

Suzannah Watchorn's poem in Kitchen Table Quarterly is a beautiful meditation on teaching and care in a violent world--one that enters the classroom in all kinds of ways. Read it at www.kitchentablequarterly.org/watchorn-est...

@kitchentableqtrly.bsky.social

A photo I posted of graffiti in Syria in 2014.
"One day the war will be over and I will return to my poem"
I hope they will return to their poem

The trick to scoring 10/10 on the "is it human or AI" poetry quiz was to ask "Is there a volta or a foible"? or, as @biblioracle.bsky.social says, "Essentially, the second you read something that makes you go, Huh?, you’re looking at a likely human text." substack.com/home/post/p-...