I thought I knew all the levels of rejection for poetry submissions, but they just keep slicing it thinner. Here's what I know so far.

No.

No, thank you.

No, thank you. With a handwritten scrawl "sorry" and an illegible initial.

Please, send again.

Please, send again. With a handwritten scrawl "sorry" and an illegible initial.

Please, send again. Poem X came the closest. The editor's name is almost legible.

Please send again. Poem X came the closest and these are the changes we think it needs.


I got that last letter this week. And their suggestions were, in fact, excellent. I plan to incorporate them and send that poem back.