Hole In The Head

lovely Charles Simic Prize standard

2023

Hello XXX

Charlie Simic wrote: That reminds me. My great-grandfather, the blacksmith Philip Simic, died at the age of ninety-six in 1938, the year of my birth, after returning home late one night from a dive in the company of gypsies. He thought they would help him fall asleep, but he passed away like that in his own bed with the musicians playing his favorite songs. That explains why my father sang gypsy songs so well and why I write poems, because like my grandfather I can't sleep at night.

We received some wonderful poems in response to the Charles Simic Prize, representing hundreds of sleepless nights. And it's a shame we couldn't accept each one. But, of course, we couldn't.

While your work will not be moving on, we truly appreciate your participation and your support of Hole In The Head Review.

Keep writing! And try to get a little sleep...

Bill

Poetry rejections

slighly higher tier

2026

We're grateful to you for submitting to Hole In The Head Review. We've reviewed your work with pleasure; unfortunately, it wasn't a fit for the upcoming spring issue.

Thank you again for sharing your work with us. Please try us again in the future.

- The Editors Hole In The Head Review

Standard

2024

Dear First Last,

We're grateful to you for submitting your work to Hole In The Head Review. We have read your manuscript with pleasure, but, sorry to say, it was not chosen for publication.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

editors

Hole In The Head Review