Shō Poetry Journal has published poets such as William Packard, Jim Simmerman, Amy Uyematsu, Virgil Suárez, Gerald Locklin, Joan Jobe Smith, Fred Voss, Lyn Lifshin, and Robert L. Penick.

Our last issue was published in 2003. Our revival issue will be published this summer/fall 2023.

We encourage submissions from historically underrepresented voices.

Follow us on Twitter for updates: https://twitter.com/sho_journal

$3.00

Shō Poetry Journal, an independent Arizona-based print journal, seeks unique, striking cover art for Shō Number Four (for release in Winter/Spring 2024). *

Payment is two contributor copies. The selected artwork will be featured on the cover of our journal and on our social media platforms. Your profile will also be featured on our website.

We are interested in a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, graphic design, and mixed media, and will consider works in color or in black and white. We are open to all styles.


Full guidelines
– Submit up to three original high-resolution images (jpg/PDF). If submitting multiple images, please upload them as one file. Our journal dimensions are 6” x 9”.

– Your cover letter should include:

  • the title(s) of your work, medium, year completed
  • a 50-word, third-person biographical statement
  • an artist’s statement
  • links to your portfolio and any social media handles you use to promote your work


* By submitting cover art, you attest that your wok is not AI-generated. We will ask you to sign a statement upon acceptance.

Sho Poetry Journal