Call for Poetry Submissions: Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads (Working Title)
In celebration of our 15th anniversary in 2026, dVerse Poets Pub invites poets from around the globe to contribute to our upcoming anthology, Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads. Rooted in the Greek word krisis, meaning a pivotal decision point, we seek poems that explore moments of transformation, choice, and change.
Submission Period: April 1, 2025 – July 30, 2025
Guidelines:
- Theme: Poems should reflect the concept of krisis, focusing on personal or universal turning points.
- Length and Form: We welcome poems of any length and style.
- Originality: Submissions must be original, published by the poet at their own blogs as of Jan. 1, 2024 (an edited version is acceptable) or later. We encourage poets to link up their poem for submission to any of our dVerse prompts, specially our OpenLinkNight (see our schedule) and share their poems.
- Submission Limit: Up to three poems per poet.
How to Submit:
- Format: Submit the poem in a single Word document, using 12 point Times New Roman font. Provide the specific link to the dVerse prompt that you have participated and shared this poem with us. Also provide a short bio of yourself (word maximum is 70).
- Subject Line: “Krisis Anthology Submission – [Your Name]”
- Email To: dverseauthors@gmail.com
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025
- Notification of Acceptance: September to October 31, 2025
- Publication Date: June 2026
Join us in commemorating this milestone by sharing your poetic insights on the crossroads of life.
We look forward to reading your work!
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Background Material:
The Greek word krisis (κρίσις) carries deep significance, far beyond its modern association with crisis and catastrophe. In its ancient context, krisis meant a decisive moment—a turning point where judgment is made, choices are weighed, and transformation is inevitable. It was used in medicine to describe the moment when an illness either worsened or turned toward healing, and in philosophy, it represented critical decision-making. In our lives and in the world, krisis is the space between what was and what will be.
From an individual’s perspective, krisis is that moment when we stand at a crossroads—faced with decisions that will redefine our identity, purpose, or future. It is the instant before transformation, whether through personal growth, loss, or the pursuit of something greater. Some embrace krisis as a moment of awakening; others resist it, fearing the unknown. Yet, it is through krisis that we evolve, shedding old versions of ourselves and stepping into new possibilities.
In the broader world, krisis manifests through societal upheavals, political shifts, and global challenges. It is the breaking point of history, when old systems collapse, revolutions ignite, and new paradigms emerge. The world today stands at multiple crossroads—climate change, technological advancements, social justice movements, and the redefinition of power and identity. Each of these moments holds the potential for destruction or renewal, and humanity’s response determines the path forward.
Poetry thrives in moments of krisis because it gives voice to both the personal and the collective struggle of change. Through verse, poets illuminate the beauty, pain, and urgency of standing at life’s threshold, choosing whether to step forward or retreat.
10 Examples of Writing Themes for the Individual’s Perspective
- The Threshold Moment – A time in your life when you knew nothing would be the same again.
- Breaking Open to Become Whole – How pain or loss led to self-discovery and healing.
- The Road Not Taken (and the One That Was) – A pivotal choice and its consequences.
- Metamorphosis of the Self – Who you once were versus who you are now.
- When Fear Became Courage – The moment you took a risk that changed everything.
- Leaving the Old World Behind – A personal reinvention or a departure from a past identity.
- Love as a Crossroads – A moment when love or heartbreak redefined you.
- The Voice That Called You Forward – A dream, a whisper, or an event that nudged you toward transformation.
- Falling Before Rising – The experience of hitting rock bottom before a rebirth.
- The Power of Saying Yes (or No) – How a single decision altered your destiny.
10 Examples of Writing Themes for the World’s Perspective
- The Planet at a Tipping Point – Climate change as humanity’s krisis moment.
- Revolutions and Reawakenings – A social movement that has reshaped history.
- The Rise and Fall of Empires – Political upheavals as turning points in civilization.
- Technology and the Future of Humanity – How AI and digital life redefine human identity.
- A World After Crisis – Rebuilding after war, pandemics, or economic collapse.
- Borders, Migrations, and Belonging – How movement across lands reshapes identities and societies.
- The Rebirth of Justice – Moments when laws and policies changed for the better.
- The Power of Collective Action – How ordinary people at a crossroads created extraordinary change.
- Echoes of the Past, Warnings for the Future – Lessons history teaches us about today’s krisis.
- The Dawn of a New Era – What the world might look like after the changes we are witnessing today.
Exploring pivotal moments—both personal and global—has been a central theme in poetry, capturing instances of profound change and reflection. Here are some notable poems that delve into these transformative experiences:
Individual Readings
“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
Reflects on the choices that define our paths in life.
“Daddy” by Sylvia Plath
Explores complex personal relationships and liberation.
“One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop
Meditates on loss and the art of letting go.
“Sylvia’s Death” by Anne Sexton
Addresses the impact of a friend’s suicide and personal grief.
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
Contemplates indecision and the passage of time.
“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Encourages self-acceptance and embracing one’s place in the world.
“Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou
Celebrates self-confidence and inner strength.
“Diving into the Wreck” by Adrienne Rich
Symbolizes personal exploration and confronting past traumas.
“Mirror” by Sylvia Plath
Examines self-perception and aging.
“On the Pulse of Morning” by Maya Angelou
Calls for renewal and embracing new beginnings.
“Requiem” by Anna Akhmatova
Reflects on personal grief during the Great Purge in Soviet Russia.
“Duino Elegies” by Rainer Maria Rilke
Contemplates human existence, beauty, and transformation.
“Gisangdo” by Kim Kirim
Uses the metaphor of a typhoon to critique modern society and personal upheaval.
“A Song on the End of the World” by Czesław Miłosz
Contemplates personal and collective endings during wartime.
“The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
Depicts personal and societal fragmentation in the modern world.
“Mirror” by Sylvia Plath
Examines self-perception and aging.
“Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou
Celebrates self-confidence and inner strength.
“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
Encourages self-acceptance and embracing one’s place in the world.
“One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop
Meditates on loss and the art of letting go.
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
Contemplates indecision and the passage of time.
Global Readings:
“The Silesian Weavers” by Heinrich Heine
Addresses the misery and uprising of Silesian weavers against exploitation.
“Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
Critiques societal issues and calls for transformation.
“On the Pulse of Morning” by Maya Angelou
Calls for renewal and embracing new beginnings in society.
“The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats
Portrays a world in chaos and the anticipation of monumental change.
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
Addresses the gap between the American dream and reality.
“Mushrooms” by Sylvia Plath
Symbolizes the rise of the oppressed and societal change.
“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” by Randall Jarrell
Depicts the grim realities of war.
“Bluff” by Danez Smith
Explores contemporary social justice issues.
“The Buried Giant” by Kazuo Ishiguro
Reflects on collective memory and historical amnesia.
“The City Planners” by Margaret Atwood
Critiques urbanization and environmental neglect.
“September 1, 1939” by W.H. Auden
Reflects on the outbreak of World War II and societal upheaval.
“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae
Pays tribute to soldiers who died in World War I.
“The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats
Portrays a world in chaos and the anticipation of monumental change.
“Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
Critiques the societal issues of the 1950s and calls for transformation.
“On the Bus with Rosa Parks” by Rita Dove
Highlights a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
“The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot
Captures the disillusionment of the post-World War I era.
“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
Addresses the gap between the American dream and reality.
“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” by Randall Jarrell
Depicts the grim realities of war.
“Mushrooms” by Sylvia Plath
Symbolizes the rise of the oppressed and societal change.
“Bluff” by Danez Smith
Explores contemporary social justice issues and the limitations of poetry in effecting change.
These poems serve as profound examples of how pivotal moments, both personal and collective, can be captured and contemplated through verse.
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