Letter to The Listener

I wrote this in twenty minutes so I'll need to proof it!. Here's my 'formal writing':

Dear Editor

I was surprised to read that The Listener has decided to no longer publish poetry. I have always enjoyed poetry in the Listener and I’m disappointed in this short sighted decision. Every week I flick through the pages to see which poem has been printed and I’m shocked that what I thought was a temporary drought of poetry is actually a hard headed editorial decision to purge poetry from your pages.

Poetry is a vital part of New Zealand literature and The Listener has a long tradition of encouraging poetry. The Listener’s large circulation as a weekly magazine means that readers have the opportunity to read poetry without turning to a literary journal or more specialised publication. That’s good because The Listener provides poetry to a mass audience and this helps to stop poetry becoming a purely specialist activity.

Surely the reason for this decision cannot be the paltry $150 you pay a poet for a poem. I find it hard to believe that $150 takes such a bite of your finances. I also wonder who has been complaining about or bemoaning poetry in your magazine. Who would want to give verse the chop? It’s true that poetry may not be the most notable feature readers identify in your magazine but does this mean that you cut out any content that does not immediately make a shock impression? You are well-respected magazine and a record of our art and culture—not a tabloid newspaper.

You are in danger of ruining your magazine’s reputation and standing in New Zealand and you are also pulling the shutters down on poetry. I’m saddened that you’ve decided that our poetry is now longer worth publishing. As a poet and a teacher I know it’s going to more difficult to connect with a wider audience. Why shaft poetry?