Calling all thrumheads— — —

Every poem has an inherent frequency that hums through to the reader, a continuous drone between life and death. In weaving, thrums are the excess, unusable threads that still affect the ‘final’ work, discarded and put back together. We want to tap into that and curate a composition of ranging rhythm and leftovers. What sound does a poem on a page make? What are its scraps, its overflow?

What is a poem’s wavelength? What irradiates from your unknowable edges, and traceable centre?

We seek the poems that make our bones vibrate. Poems that purr, pluck and pack a punch. Poems composed in the oscillating pitch that tweaks emotion, makes the 2D transdimensional. Give us your rough chop that looks haphazard but is an intentional cut technique integral to the tapestry. Your loose ends and stray threads. Discard your viscera here.

When the music fades, all that will be left is our subtle, defiant thrum— — —

This podcast sheds some insight on how Cordite Poetry Review (and Cordite Books) works.

Submission to Cordite 122: THRUM closes 11.59pm Melbourne time 4 October 2026.

Please note:

1. The guest editor(s) has sovereign selection choice for all poems submitted.
2. Masthead editors will also contribute to the issue.
3. We will only read submissions sent during our official submission periods.
4. Please place up to three (3) poems in one (1) Word, RTF or PDF document (unless specifically noted otherwise for special issues), with no identifying details in the document itself.
5. We do not consider poems that were made, either in part or in full, using generative AI.
6. We are not able to offer feedback on individual poems.
7. Submissions will only be accepted via Submittable …