Smartish Pace
the best poetry magazine in the world, objectively speaking - est. 1998
Smartish Pace
the best poetry magazine in the world,
objectively speaking - est. 1998
Winners of the 24th Annual Erskine J. Poetry Prize: 1st Michael Montlack, 2nd Josette Akresh-Gonzales, 3rd Aris Keshav. Finalists: Rebecca Boyle, Julie Hanson, Michele Lent Hirsch, Matt Hohner, Zebulon Huset, Ibe Liebenberg, Marc Nasdor, Burnside Soleil. All poems were published in Smartish Pace, Issue 32. Winners of the 21st Annual Beullah Rose Poetry Prize: 1st Amy Raasch, 2nd Elizabeth C. Garcia, 3rd Shirley Brewer. Finalists: Liz Cambra, Rose DeMaris, Elizabeth C. Garcia, Lisa Pasold, Annie Przypyszny, Atia Sattar. All poems were published in Smartish Pace, Issue 32.
Prizes
Erskine J. Poetry Prize (2025, published in 2026)
Deadline: February 15, 2026.
25th annual prize. We allow simultaneous submissions. All poems submitted for the prize will be considered for publication in Smartish Pace. 2024 prize results: 1st Michael Montlack, 2nd Josette Akresh-Gonzales, 3rd Aris Keshav. Finalists: Rebecca Boyle, Julie Hanson, Michele Lent Hirsch, Matt Hohner, Zebulon Huset, Ibe Liebenberg, Marc Nasdor, Burnside Soleil. All poems were published in Smartish Pace, Issue 32. The winners of the past two prizes also had their poems appear in The Best American Poetry Anthology. Prior winners have also later received the Pulitzer Prize, Pushcart Prize, Best New Poets, among many other awards.
Beullah Rose Poetry Prize (2025, published in 2026)
Deadline: February 15, 2026.
22nd annual prize. We allow simultaneous submissions. Women only. All poems submitted for the prize will be considered for publication in Smartish Pace. 2024 prize results: 1st Amy Raasch, 2nd Elizabeth C. Garcia, 3rd Shirley Brewer. Finalists: Liz Cambra, Rose DeMaris, Elizabeth C. Garcia, Lisa Pasold, Annie Przypyszny, Atia Sattar. All poems were published in Smartish Pace, Issue 32. The winners of our prior two prizes also had their poems appear in The Best American Poetry Anthology. Prior Smartish Pace prize winners have also later received the Pulitzer Prize, Pushcart Prize, Best New Poets, among many other awards.
We host the monthly reading series THE HOT L every 2nd Sunday at 4 pm. In April, May, June, Sept & Oct at The Ivy Bookshop (5928 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21209) outside on a covered patio; and in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb & March at Bird in Hand (11 E 33rd St, Baltimore, MD 21218) inside. Click here for event page and our next reading! Click here to view our past readings. Readings feature 1 to 3 poets and include the best open mic in Baltimore. No really, this is a rare great open mic, trust us. We take a break, with no readings, in July and Aug. Come join us!
