The subject of Intimacy captivated us due to its multi-faceted nature for a while now. That's why we decided to launch our first open call alongside our regular submissions and publish it on the International Day of Poetry and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – March 21. To hear from diverse international voices, we chose to focus on English-language poetry this time. With the help of the Heidelberg Cultural Office, our call reached all 52 UNESCO Cities of Literature, and we were thrilled by the numerous submissions from authors around the globe.
Thematically, the submissions explore various aspects of intimacy — sexuality, family, friendship; appreciation, euphoria, grief, disgust. We are touched by how intensely and openly these themes are addressed in the poems, and also by how socially relevant each individual contribution is. A thousand thanks to everyone who shared their text with us and submitted their work.
