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Bearing Witness Poems for Troubled Times

A project of Sligo Creek Publishing (see other related projects).

Permanently Closed: This project is permanently closed to submissions (August 2025). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

As Salman Rushdie has noted, a poem cannot stop a bullet. Nor can a chapbook shoot a rifle. No, in troubled times–like these–the poet’s job is not to soldier, but to bear witness.

This is the nature of our call for submissions: poems of witness to the troubled events we’ve been experiencing in the recent past. There’s been enough trouble to encompass a wide range of topics.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. (Note: About 11% of anthologies always charge fees.)
The fee is USD $15 (above average for anthologies that charge).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 2025

Publication Medium & Frequency

Print Publication Print Publication
One-time publication

Poetry Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; Up to 5 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Society/Culture: Current events, See guidelines.
Other: See guidelines.

Payment:

No monetary payment to Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Pays occasionally, up to Professional payment. Details: 3 selected submissions will receive a prize; USD $100 for first prize.

Submissions:

Method: Duosuma submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are NOT allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

No recent cover image available for Bearing Witness

Go to project webpage

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Bearing Witness Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:
Accuracy
We have received 3 reports from 3 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
63 min | 123.0 mean avg | 133.0 median | 173 max days (55.7 std dev)
Pending
7 responses are pending (407 min | 478.4 mean avg | 518.0 median | 528 max days waiting | 55.8 std dev) from 7 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 16 Dec 2025.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 27 Aug 2025.
Date compiled: 17 Sep 2026 23:43 UTC (less than a minute ago).

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WORK  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 14 Aug 2026

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