Regarding the February 2021 Issue of Poetry, "The Practice of Freedom"

CHICAGO, February 5, 2021—In February 2021, Poetry magazine published “The Practice of Freedom” issue, featuring poetry and artwork by people who have been incarcerated or who have otherwise been directly affected by the criminal legal system, as an extension of the Poetry Foundation’s 10 years of supporting writing programs in the Illinois carceral system.

We did not factor contributors’ convictions into our editorial decisions for the issue, nor did we evaluate the circumstances, the impact of the crimes, the depth of the harm any person has done, or their potential for good. In publishing an issue focusing on incarcerated writers we accepted that submissions would come from poets who have harmed others. We apologize that we were not prepared to adequately respond to and support survivors upon release of this issue. 

We should have been more transparent about our approach to “The Practice of Freedom” issue from its inception. The response to this issue has led us to consider the ways in which we should be more thoughtful and proactive about sharing the editorial principles that guide our future work. 

For more details, please read our updated blog post here.

—Holly Amos, Lindsay Garbutt, Fred Sasaki, Poetry interim coeditors