Good evening.
Click on the attachments to enjoy this amazing work.
Please email me via way of the Email Patty link at the footer of each page if you encounter any problem.
We hope you enjoy this wonderful work.
Dear Nature-loving poets and people:
Hello, since we just sold out our Winter print issue’s press run, so let’s share it. Please share this issue with everyone who loves Nature.
Please open the above attachment to enjoy this Winter print issue of The Avocet, a Journal of Nature Poetry.
Having Writer’s Block? Check out the free Nature poetry workshop, Most Memorable day out in Nautre, in the above attachment.
We look forward to reading your Spring work soon.
Be well, keep warm,
Charles
Guidelines for the Spring printed issue of The Avocet
The submission period ends February 23rd.
Yes, we know we are just entering into Winter, but now is the time to start thinking about your Spring submissions for our next print issue.
Our submission period for our Spring printed issue is Dec. 23rd to February 23rd.
The first day of spring 2026 is Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:46 a.m. EDT.
This date marks the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
Spring-themed issue
Submit your work on-line to:
cportolano
in ONE Word Attachment, please no pdf files
or you can send in the body of an email,
cportolano
We welcome previously published poems.
Spring is a time of Rebirth!
Spring Metaphors, Idioms and Similes
By Chris
Each season of the year has its own meaning. Springtime represents rebirth, brighter days ahead, and positivity.
Many springtime metaphors and similes highlight the association we have between spring and these positive feelings of rebirth. For example:
Spring feels like you’re a child again.
Spring is playful.
Springtime breathes joy into my lungs.
Spring is Hope.
I’ve noticed most of these terms are better phrased as similes than metaphors, but I will mix it up and present a few as similes and a few as metaphors.
A List of Spring Metaphors, Idioms, and Similes
Waking after a long Rest
When we say spring is ‘like’ waking after a long rest, we are highlighting the fact that winter is a slow, lazy, and even unhappy time. It’s cold, the sun is out less, and it often rains.
Furthermore, many animals literally sleep all through winter – it’s called hibernation! So there is even a grain of literal truth in this simile.
You might use this phrase when talking about how good it feels on the first nice day of spring. You can say to your friends as you walk out the window to head to the park: “Wow, it feels like I’m waking up after a long rest!”
Turning over a New Leaf
This idiom refers to the idea of starting over again. In the 16th Century, we used to call pages in books ‘leaves’. And, to get to a new chapter in a book, you’ve got to turn a new page (or a new leaf). So turning over a new leaf is a requirement to get to the next chapter.
Spring is often seen as the new chapter in your own personal book because it’s the end of a long time of cold weather and the beginning of a period of warmth and sunshine.
A breath of Fresh Air
To say Spring is a breath of fresh air can be both figurative and literal. Literally, spring might be the first time in a long time when you get to go outside and get to breathe in the air from outdoors (especially if you live somewhere really cold like Alaska!)
But figuratively, we say something is a breath of fresh air if it’s a positive change. And for many of us, after a long period of cold, Spring is definitely a very positive change.
Like becoming a Child Again
Spring symbolizes new life. This is, clearly, because many animals (like birds, bears and deer) have new babies during springtime. You go outside and see baby ducklings all over the place!
But there’s also this sense of childishness to springtime. General happiness goes up, people go outside more, and you feel like you’re just a little bit younger. The things around you look new again and the future is bright, just like when you were a child.
Spring is Playful
Playfulness certainly increases during springtime. People join sporting groups, you can see young people outside playing frisbee and hackey sack, and you can see young animals frolicking in the woods.
This overall sense of playfulness during this period of the year can lead you to not just say we are playful during spring, but to personify the entire season by saying the season itself is playful.
Spring Breathes Joy into my Life
Here again, we can see the theme of happiness, joyfulness, and new life during springtime. Again in this sentence, we are employing personification. Of course, spring cannot breathe! It’s not a person or even an animal. But we’re giving it humanistic traits in order to create beautiful figurative language.
A New Dawn
Again, returning to the idea of renewal, to say that spring is a new dawn isn’t to say that it’s just a brand new day. Rather, you’re saying that it is like a new day. They have many similarities. Both represent the beginning of something. They both show that there’s a long period of light and warmth before the darkness (winter) sets in again. And they both represent a sense of positivity and a ‘spring in your step’.
A Warm Cup of Coffee
To say spring is like a warm cup of coffee, you’re saying that it’s something that is soothing and delicious. I also like that coffee is usually drunk in the morning, and as we’ve established above, spring is the ‘beginning’, just like the morning is the beginning of the day.
When I fantasize about spring, I picture in my mind sitting outside having a beautiful breakfast with the birds chirping and the sun shining, and of course, a part of that image is that nice warm cup of coffee!
A New Love
At the beginning of a new relationship, there’s a sense of positivity about the future. You’re usually really happy and overjoyed at what the next few months will bring. You have a spring in your step! Well, you can draw an analogy here to the beginning of spring. At this time of year, people often feel positive and upbeat. They might feel excited about the coming summer months and wake up with a smile on their face.
10 Spring Metaphors, Idioms and Similes (2023) (symbolismandmetaphor.com)
Think of the Season when you send us your work. We want Spring-themed poems for the Spring issue. We love poems with animals in them, even better, poems with humans interacting with animals out and about in Nature. Send poems written about the beginning of a new season and the end of a Season. In each issue, we try to present a cubistic view of a season, to display Nature in all her splendor… We use your poems to tell the story of each season… from beginning to its end.
It is such a great honor to be the Editors/Publishers of The Avocet. We love being poets. We love knowing if we get an idea, a phrase, or, even a word, it might bring about a poem, from out of nowhere, there onto the paper, such great fun.
We believe the main purpose and focus of our being editors is to promote the best Nature poetry possible in each issue. We believe Poetry is everywhere, in everyone. We believe if everyone wrote poetry, we would have a better, kinder, more caring, planet Earth to live on. We believe we as poets belong to a community who has a fiduciary duty to spread the word of poetry.
We are looking for poetry that moves the reader through the beauty, the peace, and the fury of Nature in all its glory. We love poems that have people interacting with nature. We love poems that have animals in their element. We love poems that have a message! We believe the purpose of poetry is to provoke thought!
Here are our guidelines, please follow:
We welcome previously published poems.
But no simultaneous submissions.
I will not read submissions that are not addressed to Charles.
Only one batch of poems submitted per reading period.
Please no religious references.
Send no more than four poems, all in one attachment.
No more than 39 lines per poem. (spaces between stanzas count as lines)
Do not use fancy font, which only confuses the scanner.
All poems must be left margin formatted.
Use single spaced lines.
Do not use all Caps in the title.
Please, please type your name/town and state/email address underneath each poem, thank you.
Please, we want a short bio so we can get to know you, the poets, of the Avocet community better! We don’t care to hear where you have been published before. Please tell us of your love of Nature.
We welcome previously published poems; if a poem is good enough to get published once before; it probably deserves to be read again! Of course, please do not send poems that have already appeared in the Avocet.
Please notify us of any change of address. We will not send out another copy to a new address if you fail to tell us. Also, we mail by bulk mail, which will not be forwarded.
Please read the guidelines below before submitting.
Submit your work on-line to:
cportolano
in ONE Word Attachment, please no pdf files
or you can send in the body of an email,
cportolano
We welcome previously published poems.
Spring is a time of Rebirth!
Yes, we know we are just entering into Winter, but now is the time to start thinking about your Spring submissions for our next printed issue. Our submission period for our Spring printed issue is Dec. 23rd to February
23rd.
You can write on any Spring themed subject you want, but please try to include one poem about Rebirth… Please have wild creatures in your work if possible.
Please think about the theme of Rebirth, because that’s what Spring is all about. Please think about writing about the birth of new offspring of your favorite wild animal. Use the internet to research the facts about that favorite
wild “friend.” Then let your imagination fly and send us what you have written. Let’s not just write about the color green… Let’s write about the Rebirth of our World, our gardens, our hopes, young ones learning to run wild, learning to love life…
Every time Vivi and I sit down to read for the next printed issue we have a theme in mind. Below are quotes that tell what we are looking for in this next issue. We feel blessed to have the best Nature poets in America. Putting each issue together is such great fun, but tough picking the ones that fit our mindset. So, please read the meaning of Rebirth and the quotes, and as Winter goes into Spring, you might just have a perfect poem or two for the Spring printed issue of Avocet, a Journal of Nature Poetry.
We look forward to reading your Spring submissions…
Thank you for reading the guidelines below before submitting.
Rebirth
the process of being reincarnated or born again.
"the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth"
the action of reappearing or starting to flourish or increase after a decline; revival.
"the rebirth of a defeated nation"
synonyms:
revival · renaissance · renascence · resurrection · reawakening · renewal · resurgence · regeneration · restoration · new beginning · revitalization · rejuvenation · revivification · reincarnation
Rebirth in Buddhism refers to the teaching that the actions of a person lead to a new existence after death, in an endless cycle called saṃsāra. This cycle is considered to be dukkha, unsatisfactory and painful. The cycle stops only if moksha is achieved by insight and the extinguishing of craving. Rebirth is one of the foundational doctrines of Buddhism, along with karma, Nirvana and moksha.
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy
“Oh, Spring! I want to go out and feel you and get inspiration. My old things seem dead. I want fresh contacts, more vital searching.” – Emily Carr
“Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is.” – Jessica Harrelson
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” – Anne Bradstreet
“I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.” – Virginia Woolf
“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” – Lewis Grizzard
“The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” – Harriet Ann Jacobs
“An optimist is the human personification of Spring.” – Susan J. Bissonette
“Deep in their roots, all flowers keep their light.” – Theodore Roethke
Let these themes/quotes play on your mind, then do a little, fun researching, let that research ruminate for a while, then write…
So you know: If you would like to do a Showcase that would go directly into the homes of Nature-loving poets and people of The Avocet community, please put together a short intro about your book for our/your readers, why you wrote it? How did you come up with the title? If it comes from one of your poems from the book, please use it as of your three poems for your Showcase. Why should the reader buy your book? A short write up about you, the author. 3 short reviews. 3 poems, if possible, Nature ones. Please have your info under each poem. The number of pages and poems? How can they buy a signed copy from you? How much?
This is your showcase so have fun putting it together to get our readers to become your readers of your book. I have final approval, of course.
Please send in the body of an email a cover photo to be included in your Showcase.
There is a $28 fee for your Showcase and a signed copy of your book if you are a subscribing member and $60 + a signed copy if you are not.
No other links to publishers, no links to Amazon, only your email address will be listed. We want our poets to get in contact with each other, then you can send the reader wherever you want.
Tips for Navigating the World of Poetry Submissions
The journal’s reader is looking for something that grabs their attention right away. A well-titled poem with a stand-out first line will be far more eye-catching than an untitled poem with a slow start. Remember, the reader goes through hundreds of submissions every month, so poetry submissions should stand out from the beginning!
by Meghan Christie and Sean Glatch
Finding a home for your poem can be frustrating — there are so many homes to choose from! What’s more, many journals don’t allow simultaneous submissions or take weeks to review your poem, so some poets spend months finding publication for their work. Finding the right journal that’s accepting poetry submissions is daunting, to say the least.
It’s important to understand the poetry submissions process. Most importantly, no poem is guaranteed publication. Poetry reviewers look over hundreds of submissions for each publication, and they often have to make tough decisions about great poems. Good, publishable poems receive rejections all the time, often because a journal has a finite amount of space to publish each month.
Despite the competitive nature of poetry journals, you can take specific steps to improve your chances of publication.
Despite the competitive nature of poetry journals, there are specific steps you can take to improve your chances of publication. Do all of the following before you submit poetry to a journal.
Review the Journal’s Past Publications
It’s good practice to read what the journal has published in the past. Though many online poetry journals accept a wide range of styles and forms, poetry editors still have preferences for what kind of poetry they like to read and publish. Examine the journal’s past publications with a critical eye and consider whether or not your poem fits among the journal’s ranks.
Follow Formatting Guidelines
When poetry magazines accept submissions, they often include formatting guidelines alongside their submission rules. It’s best to follow these guidelines, as well as general MLA formatting rules. Use 1-inch margins, a 12-point font, and double space stanzas. Taking the time to properly format demonstrates a seriousness about your poetry, whereas unformatted poems may not receive proper attention.
Perfect The Poem’s Title
The journal’s reader is looking for something that grabs their attention right away. A well-titled poem with a stand-out first line will be far more eye-catching than an untitled poem with a slow start. Remember, the reader goes through hundreds of submissions every month, so poetry submissions should stand out from the beginning!
Shoot for the Moon, not the Stars
Lastly, it’s important to note that not all poetry journals are made equal. The poetry world is competitive, and poets often have to secure publications from lesser-known journals before they attempt publication through a reputable magazine.
Closing Thoughts on Poetry Magazine Submissions
The publishing world is tough, fast, and competitive. The internet has expanded poetry’s readership and writership; this is a good thing, but with so many other voices, it can be hard to know where to submit your poetry to add your voice to the conversation. You may encounter one rejection, five rejections, or fifty rejections before you find a home for your poem. Don’t let this deter you.
Often, a rejection of your poetry submission has nothing to do with the quality of your work. Rather, poetry editors have a limited amount of space per publication, and they look to publish poems that, when read together, create a bigger conversation. A rejection can simply mean your poems didn’t work for that issue, for reasons completely out of your control.
Don’t think of a rejection letter as a “rejection,” think of it as: there is a better home for my poetry.
Finally, poetry journals are subjective in their treatment of the poetry submissions they receive. After all, journals are run by humans, and although many humans try to be objective in their tastes and preferences, objectivity is impossible in the arts. Again, don’t think of a rejection letter as a “rejection.” Think of it as follows: there are other places to submit poetry, and there is a better home for my poetry.
5 tips to help get your poetry published…
- Never write to “To whom it may concern” or editor or, even worse, no name at all. Do your homework and find out the editor’s (or editors’) name. Please never send a form letter.
- Always write a friendly few lines to let the editor know you care about them as people, not just someone who can publish your poetry. There are always more poets’ poetry than pages to put those poems upon.
- You have 5 lines to catch the eye or interest of an editor; make them engaging, make the editor/reader want to continue reading!
- Send a few long (within the guidelines, of course) and a few short poems. Never ask an editor to make an exception for your work. If the line limit is 39 lines, don’t send poems that are longer.
- Always, always, write a Thank you to an editor who is kind enough to publish your work. Believe it or not, editors are people, too, who have feelings and they also have the power to publish or not to publish your poetry. It amazes me how few poets do this. I always write a Thank you, always. It is a missed opportunity to have a closer relationship with your editor when you don’t write them.
We are looking forward to seeing/reading what Spring brings to your mind, then to your hand onto to the page to be share with all of us in The Avocet
Community of Nature-loving people and poets.
Charles, Vivian, and Valerie Portolano, Editors