Poem of the WeekWhenever
Frequently Asked Questions

What's a Poem of the Week?

It's a Monday morning pick-me-up. Every week (well, not every week anymore) I write some sort of a poem - most often one which rhymes and attempts to be funny or amusing or at least interesting in some way. I send it out to the Patrons of the Arts mailing list over the weekend, so that readers (the majority of whom get their email at work) will have it by Monday morning, where it will hopefully alleviate the fear and dread associated with beginning a fresh work week. It also gets posted here at the Phrenopolis web site.

Is it really every week?

Once upon a time it was. Unlike most Poems of the Week, this one really did come out every week, or most weeks at any rate - it finally took its first ever week off in 2005, after ten years of continuous operation, after which I felt less abashed about taking a week off if I needed one. I believe the POTW to have been one of the most reliable sources of entertainment on the Internet (not reliably entertaining, mind you, just reliably available). Then, in 2014, my son was born, providing new inspiration for poems, but also providing a whole lot of other interesting things to do with the time that might otherwise be spent on poetry. Since then the "W" in POTW has come to stand for "whenever," and new poems appear infrequently and unpredictably.

How do I get on the mailing list?

The mailing list is automated. To sign up, all you have to do is send an email (send it from the account where you want to receive the poems) to subscribePOTW@phrenopolis.com.

What will it cost me?

Your undying affection and gratitude. Other than that, not a thing. It's FREE! You might have to put up with the occasional plea for you to buy numerous copies of my book, but you are allowed to ignore those if you must.

How many people are you going to sell my address to if I subscribe?

None. I hate email spam as much as you do. The mailing list is private, no one sees it but me, and that's how it will stay.

How does the automated subscription process really work?

It's tremendously complex and arcane, but you're in luck! We now have a guided tour!

Can I make a donation in support of the arts?

Not at the moment. You could at one time, and the reasons you can't now are merely technical and may be resolved in the future. In the meantime, you can always buy a book.

Can I forward the poems to my friends?

Yes. Please forward them intact, that is, leave all the copyright and subscription information and stuff on them.

Can I put the poems on my web site?

No. (But of course you can post a link that leads to Phrenopolis.)

Where can I find poems I missed?

The best poems are slowly being collected in a series of books, which also include new poems, drawings and so forth. These are not expensive. The first title is Ode to the Stuff in the Sink, which is available now.

Where can I get a copy of Ode to the Stuff in the Sink?

Since you're here, the simplest thing is to order it directly from our online store.
We also keep a reasonably current list of other retailers who carry the book.

Why aren't there any carriage returns in this week's poem? It's all bunched up like a novel instead of
neatly broken up
line by line
like it should be.

Most often (not always), this is because you use Outlook to read email, and it is wrapping the text lines for you in a misguided attempt to be helpful. Try this: look for a checkbox marked "Unwrap Text" - it may be under "Tools" or "Format." Check the box and try looking at the poem again. You might also find a note up at the top of the message window itself, telling you that Outlook has removed some carriage returns and instructing you where to click to replace them. Look around.

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