The weather finally hit over 60 degrees for longer than three hours here in New England. Can we talk about summer now? Anomaly Poetry and Domesticated Primate started releasing our seasonal anthologies back in December 2018/June 2019. That first year, we knew we were doing something kind of cool – and Nick found evidence that we were continuing a long tradition of DIY publishing in the New Bedford poetry scene – it felt important.

Now, entering our FOURTH year of this series, I can say it is part of my seasonal cycles. After the release of Tidings, there are a few months of downtime where we can plan and think about writing poems for the next one. Then comes opening up submissions as Spring arrives – there’s the excitement of waiting to see what I’ll get in the inbox, the same as waiting on freshly planted bulbs to sprout.

The rush before we release a new book follows the same pattern as the crunch time before holiday celebrations, and the official changing over of the seasons. After the book release, it’s time to sit and enjoy the fruits of our labor until the next cycle begins.

The RITUALS anthology series is a collection that reflects the traditions, memories and moments that connect us across generations and histories. From nostalgic poems about lost summer love, to musings on what it means to carry on traditions after death, RITUALS brings together artists of all mediums to help us remember what carries on after us.

Submissions are now open for Rituals 2022. Please submit up to two poems, prose works under 600 words, or up to two images of your artwork for inclusion. We will be publishing Rituals as an e-book on June 17, 2022! see our full submission guidelines for more info.