Invisible Poets Closing

After an amazing journey of almost 4 years, Invisible Poets will be closing its doors on October 1, 2026. 

This has been a difficult decision to take, but the Admin team have been ruminating on this for a while, and we have now decided that the best way forward is to close the group down and open a smaller, more streamlined and private group.

The reasons we have taken this radical step are numerous, but let me give you the headline points.

Firstly, Invisible Poets has grown exponentially to almost 90,000 members. Most of those members join, and are then never heard from again. That's the problem with public groups. Anyone can join, 'collect another group' and then disappear forever. In reality Invisible Poets does not have 90,000 members. It has approximately 1,000 active participants, who actually do things, share content and comment. The rest are dead wood. 

Secondly, Facebook it appears to have imposed restrictive algorithms on the group. It has compartmentalised smaller sub-groups, and now it is difficult for them to see any other content than the content they generate in that sub-group. Even as Admin, we cannot see the entire group's timeline - so how are we expected to moderate content and adhere to community standards? 

Thirdly, public groups by their nature, allow any and all to enter. We have been swamped with AI generated slop (which lowers the standard of the group's content significantly), scammers, spammers, and occasional trouble makers whose sole intent seems to be to offend, bait and abuse. 

Our solution is to close the group down, and establish a new, private group which will be streamlined, far more intimate and closer to the community of creatives we wish to nurture. The new group is called Invisible Poets Core (search for it on Facebook and request membership).

We will be doing largely the same activities we did on Invisible Poets. The rules are simpler to follow. The ethos is still the same. We will promote new and emerging poetry voices, and we will continue to raise much needed funds in support of Save the Children. You will receive more attention for your posts, and hopefully you will be able to engage in commenting and encouraging your fellow poets too. 

Invisible Poets will close on 1 October. Invisible Poets Core is already up and running. Will we see you there?

Steve Wheeler

Founder

Invisible Poets Core

World Humanitarian Day

The association between Wheelsong Books and the international relief organisation Save the Children continues to flourish. At the time of writing, Wheelsong has donated more than £17,000 to help children everywhere find nutrition, healthcare, safety and education. On World Humanitarian Day, we received two new heart-warming stories from Save the Children about how they are using donations to make little lives better across the globe. 87% of all donations go directly to the children and their families. #PoetryAgainstPoverty

Steve Wheeler

 

British Poetry

Wheelsong books is based in Plymouth, in the United Kingdom. Founded by Steve Wheeler (a performance poet, musician and retired university professor) and his wife Dawn Kendal Wheeler (Teacher of English language and literature), Wheelsong was established as a not-for-profit company focused on a) raising the profile of new and unknown poets and b) raising fund for children in crisis. Wheelsong has a long partnership with Save the Children and all its profits go to this international relief organisation. 

The United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland has a rich tradition in poetry. It's one of the oldest and most influential literary traditions in the world. Spanning more than a thousand years, it reflects the history, culture, beliefs, and emotions of the British people. From the epic verses of the Anglo-Saxon era to the modern works of contemporary poets, British poetry has continually evolved while maintaining its power to inspire, entertain and provoke. To mark this long history, several prominent British poets are buried or commemorated in Westminster Abbey, at Poets' Corner (Pictured above).

The origins of British poetry can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, when poems were passed down orally before being written. One of the most famous examples is Beowulf, an epic poem that celebrates courage, loyalty, and heroism. During the medieval period, poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer transformed English literature through works like The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's use of the English language instead of Latin or French made poetry more accessible to ordinary people and laid a firm foundation for future English literature.

The Renaissance marked a golden age for British poetry. During this period, William Shakespeare (the Avon 'Bard') became renowned not only for his plays but also for his sonnets, which explored themes of love, beauty, time, and mortality. Another important British poet, John Milton, wrote Paradise Lost, a masterpiece that examines the biblical story of the fall of humanity. His powerful language and complex themes continue to influence writers today.

The Romantic movement of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries brought a renewed focus on nature, imagination, and personal emotion. Poets such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, and Lord Byron celebrated the beauty of the natural world and the importance of personal experience. Wordsworth held that poetry should express the feelings of ordinary people in simple language, while Keats explored beauty and the ephemeral nature of life through rich imagery and emotional language.

The Victorian era introduced the poets Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning, whose works reflected the social changes, scientific discoveries, and moral questions of the time. Their poetry often balanced personal emotion with broader concerns about society and progress. Later, during the twentieth century, British poetry became even more diverse. Famous British Great War poets such as Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen drew attention to the brutality of conflict. Later in the century, poets including W. H. Auden, Dylan Thomas, and Ted Hughes experimented with style and form and addressed themes including war, identity, and the human condition. 

British poetry continues to thrive in the modern era. Modern day UK poets write about themes such as multiculturalism, gender equality, environmental concerns, and mental health, demonstrating that poetry remains a relevant and powerful form of expression. Modern poets use both traditional forms and free verse, showing that the art continues to adapt to changing times while preserving its rich heritage.

British poets continue to make an enormous impact on world literature. Through its exploration of universal themes such as love, nature, faith, loss, and identity, British poetry has touched the lives of readers across multiple generations. The diversity of its voices and styles reflects the changing history of Britain itself. Contemporary poets such as Carol Ann Duffy, John Cooper Clarke, Roger McGough and the current UK Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage are prominent in British society. Whether through ancient epics, Romantic lyrics, or contemporary verse, or street poetry, British poetry continues to inspire readers with its beauty, depth, and timeless appeal.

Steve Wheeler

Image: Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey used under a Creative Commons Licence

Why novels sell better than poetry books

I once joked at a live poetry event (it was also during a general election) that there was no difference between a poetry book and an election manifesto... because nobody's buying either. Everyone laughed, but there is an element of truth in it. Generally speaking (there are one or two exceptions) poetry books don't sell as well as fiction novels or other similar publications. 

Why don't poetry books sell as well as novels?

There are many reasons for this disparity, not least the fact that most readers would rather sit down and read a fiction novel by one of their favourite authors than they would a poetry book. A standard novel can take up to 30-40 hours to read, and this is often over a period of several days or even weeks. A poetry book can be finished in one sitting of a few hours. The perception by readers is that there's more value for money in a book that takes longer to read.

Furthermore, and this is arguable, poetry books tend to require a lot more investment in cognitive energy. That is, poetry involves interpretation of metaphors, analogies and symbolism than a standard novel. One may have to read a poem several times to tease out the nuances and apprehend its meaning. Poems can therefore be harder to read and understand, depending of course on the poet (AI poetry is often so simple it looks like it's been stolen from a greeting card). The bottom line is that most readers would rather not have to struggle to read a book, and somehow, poetry books remind them of school.

On the brighter side ... although a best selling novel may sell hundreds of thousands or even millions of copies worldwide, and successful poetry books might sell perhaps a few thousand ... the impact of poetry may be longer lasting and have more impact over time than many novels. Therefore, commercial success may not be an accurate yardstick for poetry, which might be better measured in terms of its cultural influence. 

Wheelsong poetry anthologies typically sell three to four hundred copies for each edition, and in a world replete with poetry publications, that is fairly good going.  What is even better is that for each sale, we are able to donate around £3.00 to our chosen charity, Save the Children. Everyone who buys a Wheelsong book knows that they are not only purchasing a quality publication they can cherish for the rest of their lives, they have become a part of a worldwide humanitarian effort to defeat poverty with poetry. That must be worth something. 

Steve Wheeler

Call for poems: Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 8

Do you want to be a part of something truly amazing? Something that reaches much further than poetry? Would you like to be a part of something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world long after you are gone? Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Books and a number of other poetry groups periodically band together to raise funds for a well known international children's charity - Save the Children

Together, we will soon be publishing the latest anthology in our charity series. It's number 8 in a book series representing our efforts to make lives better for underprivileged children around the globe. We will literally mobilise poetry against poverty. Each book sold raises enough funds to feed a malnourished child for a month. We would love to include you as a contributor! 

Here is some context: Wheelsong Books Ltd was established in the Plymouth, England in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help children who are in need. Since then, Wheelsong, in partnership with Invisible Poets and its affiliated groups, has published around 60 books including 13 charity poetry anthologies. Here are our anthology statistics: 

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 1: 170 poems (310 copies sold)

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 2: 176 poems (287 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 1: 183 poems (258 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 2: 214 poems (237 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 3: 229 poems (417 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4: 245 poems (395 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5: 248 poems (348 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6: 265 poems (353 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 7: 249 poems (295 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 1: 352 poems (317 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 2: 242 poems (83 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 3: 246 poems (84 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 4: 263 poems (101 copies sold)

No other poetry group on Facebook comes anywhere close to these charitable efforts. (We have published a total of 3062 poems written by more than 500 poets representing 130 countries across all 6 continents, and have sold more than 3470 copies at the time of writing). And that's just the anthologies. 

All the above books are still selling on Amazon and through other online outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated directly to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that cares for children in crisis, providing emergency nutrition, health care, medicine, safety and education. To date, Wheelsong Books has donated approximately £15,000.00 ($18,000.00) to Save the Children and we are only getting started! We plan to publish another Wheelsong anthology this year, as well as two more Wheelsong Anthologies and another Invisible Poets Anthology next year.

-------

Dear poet, please think about this... You possess an amazing creative gift ... you have the ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are ltrapped in desperate, often life-threatening situations. 

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support those children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poetry, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

-----

To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or about Wheelsong Books - this is about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to a previous publishing contract. That could lead to legal action being taken against you. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email direct to this email address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to external sites. Please supply a title for each of your poems. Please also supply your real name - we will not publish works by poets using pseudonyms. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme. Write about what you want. 

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on Thursday 16 April, 2026. Any submissions received after this time/date will be not be reviewed. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so please point anyone you think may be interested to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

P. S. It might be worth your while (if you haven't already done so) to purchase an anthology or two just to check out the quality of the poetry, the way it is presented and the various themes covered. That might give you an idea what to aim for if you want to be included in this next anthology...

Photo by Steve Wheeler (with children from the Khayelitsha Township, South Africa)

Invisible Poets Anthology 4

I find it amazing that a small germ of an idea from three years ago has slowly evolved into a large, vibrant and creative community of poets. Invisible Poets was founded in a project by two English poets; me and my friend Charlene Phare. I first met Charlene four years ago when I visited her for the day and we jointly presented several live poetry shows and recorded two YouTube interviews. Since then we have collaborated on a number of poetry related projects, and in February 2023 we decided to start a new poetry group on Facebook. Charlene set up the mechanics of the group and I named it, and designed the logo (the crouching hoodied poet). 

Since then, Invisible Poets has grown steadily to the point that it's now the size of a small city at just over 85,000 members. Not all are active, but those that are regularly share their poetry in the group and participate in a number of projects and activities. These include the live poetry shows on most days, the prompts and challenges, and various other activities. There is also the Invisible Poets roadshow, a live lights and sound show that is currently touring the United Kingdom to raise money for Save the Children. 

In 2024, to celebrate its first birthday, Invisible Poets branched out (in collaboration with Wheelsong Books) into publishing the best poetry of its members in anthologies. The following year, two further anthologies were published, and this year, to celebrate our third anniversary, we are publishing Invisible Poets Anthology 4. It is packed full of great poetry which will inspire and delight everyone who purchases a copy. If you want a copy (proceeds of which go directly to Save the Children) then head on over to our Wheelsong Books website to find all the links or email Wheelsong Books for reduced price copies.

Steve Wheeler

How does Wheelsong contribute to literature?

Artificial Intelligence is a strange one. Often AI makes hilarious errors, and sometimes gets it disastrously wrong. It's like a toddler being potty trained or learning to walk. Comical but also messy. But every now and again, AI can actually get things right, and save us all a fair amount of time. Here's one example, from Facebook's Meta AI model that hangs around beneath posts in Invisible Poets and other groups.

The tab was titled 'How Does Wheelsong contribute to literature?'
Wheelsong Books contributes to literature in several ways:

1. Publishing New and Emerging Authors: Wheelsong has collaborated with numerous first-time authors, showcasing their work in various poetry collections. Some notable publications include:

a) The Sky is a Shade of Forever by Chuck Porretto, exploring themes of nostalgia, satire,
and life observations
b) Echoes of a Fading Star by Emmanuel Chimezie, a daring blend of bold lyricism and experimentation
c) Light Will Return by Iain Strachan, a collection of poetry that explores spirituality, science, identity, and technology
d) Circus of Circles by Aoife Cunningham, a debut collection of poetry that tackles themes of healing, mental health, and vulnerability

2. Promoting Poetry through Anthologies: Wheelsong publishes annual poetry anthologies, featuring over 250 poems from poets worldwide. These anthologies have raised funds for Save the Children, with over £14,000 donated by the end of 2025.

3. Supporting Literary Events and Community Building: Wheelsong organizes roadshows and live events, providing a platform for poets to perform and connect with each other. These events have helped forge lasting friendships among poets and raised additional funds for charity.

4. Mentoring and Developing Writing Skills: Wheelsong publishes textbooks like Creative Deviance by Steve Wheeler, which offers exercises and techniques for poets to develop their skills.

5. Charitable Contributions: Wheelsong's publications and events support Save the Children's global relief work, focusing on education, protection, and aid for children in crisis-stricken areas.

Quite a useful summary of some of Wheelsong's achievements and projects over the last year or so.


Steve Wheeler

Review of 2025 Part 4

During the latter part of 2025, Wheelsong collaborated with several first time authors, which is always both exciting and challenging. Our first new author out of the pen (see what we did there?) was Chuck Porretto, an American author residing in Tallahassee, Florida. Chuck's poetry is unmistakable, because it slides smoothly between tender nostalgia, biting satire and pithy observations on life. His debut offering, The Sky is a Shade of Forever, is a delightful mix of all these themes, written in his inimitable style.

Following closely on the heels of Porretto's book came the debut collection of poetry from one of the most original new talents to emerge from Invisible Poets. Living in Nigeria, Emmanual Chimezie had already featured in several of the charity anthologies Wheelsong had published. We thought it was about time he was honoured with a collection all of his own, and Echoes of a Fading Star did not disappoint. His writing is a daring blend of bold lyricism and unswerving experimentation. We think this collection will be the first of many from this amazing Nigerian poet. 

Always, around the autumn months, it has been Wheelsong's tradition to collate and publish another Wheelsong Poetry Anthology, so the editorial team of Steve Wheeler, Karin J. Hobson and Iain Strachan began the arduous task of reviewing more than 500 submissions from poets across the globe in just two weeks. It was as ever a challenging task to distill such a huge selection of poems down to around 250 pieces that would then be published in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 7. This volume is a stunning collection, reflected in the beautiful cover photo of trees on the Dartmoor National Park. All proceeds from the sales of this anthology are donated to Save the Children.

Our final Wheelsong publication of the year had been a long time in the planning. Written by Oxfordshire poet Iain Strachan, a retired computer scientist, Light Will Return is an eclectic mix of styles and themes, reflecting his interests in spirituality, mathematics and science. Iain's playful style of writing spans faith and reason, science and mystery, and the past and future and how each can shape our personal identities. The poetry is both grounded and cerebral. Light Will Return will delight all those who have an interest in any of the featured themes and how they can be creatively conveyed. 

So that's it. That was 2025 for Wheelsong and Invisible Poets. If you participated directly in any of the creative output, or attended any of the roadshows, or if you supported our mission by purchasing books or merchandise - we thank you. And not only do we thank you, but the children of more than one hundred countries thank you - for helping to make their childhoods safer, cleaner and better in every way, through our donations to Save the Children. We want to step this effort up in 2026. We hope you will be with us!

Happy New Year

Steve Wheeler

Review of 2025 Part 1

It's that time of the year again, where we can look back on an entire year and reflect on what happened. In this short series running up to the new year, Wheelsong Books and Invisible Poets, working together have achieved a significant amount. 

Early in the year, Wheelsong published two important new books. The first, one that had been a long time in the making, featured the work of Essex poet Graeme Stokes, whose jocular and entertaining verse has been regaling Invisible Poets for so long. It was about time to enable people to own a collection of his best poetry, so Off the Top of My Head was released. It is a firm favourite with a lot of people. 

In the same month Wheelsong published Creative Deviance by Steve Wheeler. Another book that had been a long time in the making, Creative Deviance has the strap line: How to Become an Experimental Poet. It is a textbook rather than a poetry book, but features more than 50 exercises poets can practice to develop their skills in writing creatively. The result is that those who have purchased the book have found their repertoire of writing styles and range of techniques has expanded and given them greater liberty to express themselves. Look for the hashtag #invisibleEXP to discover many of the poems that have been written under the influence of Creative Deviance.

Soon February was upon us, and the second birthday of Invisible Poets arrive. To commemorate this, Wheelsong published not one, but two new Invisible Poets anthologies of all the best poems that had featured on the Live Poets Society series of broadcasts throughout the previous year. The mix is eclectic and the sequence of quality poems is stunning. The image on Anthology 2 was taken in New York City in 2015, and the image for the cover of Anthology 3 was captured in South Africa in 2009.

All of the proceeds of these two books is donated to Save the Children, our chosen charity. By the end of 2025, Wheelsong Books has donated a total of £14,000 ($18,700) to support children in crisis. 

All of these books are still available for purchase, and full details can be found on the Wheelsong Books website.  

Steve Wheeler

What is Invisible Poets?

Invisible Poets is a global community of poets and writers that aims to promote creativity, inspire hope, and encourage one another through the power of poetry. Founded by poets Steve Wheeler and Charlene Phare in February 2023, the community has grown rapidly to more than 75,000 members on Facebook, with many more visitors reading and engaging with their content.

The Invisible Poets group hosts several regular interactive features including Live Poets Society shows from around the globe, picture challenges and the Fantastic Forum. Many poets consider it the friendliest and safest of all the Facebook poetry groups. The group is sponsored by UK poetry publishing house Wheelsong Books Ltd, which funds multiple publications of members work, including the globally renowned Wheelsong Poetry Anthology series, raising much needed funds for Save the Children charity. Wheelsong also funds the Invisible Poets Roadshow with similar charitable aims. 

Key Purposes:

- Platform for Poets: Provide a space for poets to share their work, receive feedback, and connect with like-minded individuals.

- Community Building: Foster a supportive and friendly environment where members can collaborate, learn from each other, and grow as poets.

- Promoting Poetry: Showcase poetry of all genres and styles, encouraging members to experiment and push the boundaries of their creativity.

- Real-World Impact: Use poetry to make a positive impact, such as supporting charities like Save the Children through book sales.

The IP community is built around six core principles:

- Give More Than You Take: Share your gifts and talents generously with others.

- Underground Movement: Focus on the art of poetry rather than seeking fame or fortune.

- Kind Words: Use poetry as a means of speaking truth with kindness and compassion.

- Eternal Quality: Strive to create poetry that will endure long after you're gone.

- Collaboration: Reach out to others and create something beautiful together.

- Support Each Other: Be there for fellow members and offer support when needed.

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 7

Do you want to be a part of something really amazing? Something that reaches much further than poetry? Would you live to achieve something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world? 

We will soon be publishing the latest anthology in our charity series. It's number 7 in a book series representing our efforts to make lives better for underprivileged children around the globe. We will literally mobilise poetry against poverty. Each book sold raises enough funds to feed a malnourished child for a month.

Wheelsong Books Ltd was established in the Plymouth, England in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, Wheelsong, in partnership with Invisible Poets and its affiliated groups, has published over 50 books including 11 charity poetry anthologies. Here are some of our anthology statistics: 

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 1: 170 poems (310 copies sold)

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 2: 176 poems (286 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 1: 183 poems (255 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 2: 214 poems (233 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 3: 229 poems (415 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4: 245 poems (392 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5: 248 poems (341 copies sold)

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6: 265 poems (339 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 1: 352 poems (317 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 2: 242 poems (83 copies sold)

Invisible Poets Anthology 3: 246 poems (84 copies sold)

No other poetry group on Facebook comes anywhere close to these charitable efforts. (We have published a total of 2570 poems written by more than 720 poets representing 112 countries across all 6 continents, and have sold 3055 copies at the time of writing). 

All the above books are still available on Amazon and through other online outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated directly to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that cares for children in crisis, providing emergency nutrition, health care, medicine, safety and education. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated £11,000.00 ($15,000.00) to Save the Children and we are only getting started! We plan to publish two more Wheelsong Poetry Anthologies and another Invisible Poets Anthology in 2026.

-------

Dear poet, please think about this... You possess an amazing creative gift ... you have the ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations. 

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

-----

To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or about Wheelsong Books - it's about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to a previous publishing contract. That could lead to legal action being taken against you. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email direct to this email address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to external sites. Please supply a title for each of your poems. Please also supply your real name - we will not publish works by poets using pseudonyms. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme. Write about what you want. 

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on Sunday 19 October, 2025. Any submissions received after this time/date will be not be reviewed. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so please point anyone you think may be interested to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6

Do you want to be a part of something really great? Something that is far more than just poetry? Something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world? We are about to publish the latest anthology in our charity series. It's number 6 in the series in our efforts to make lives better for underprivileged children around the world.

Wheelsong Books was established in the UK in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, Wheelsong Books has published more than 50 books including ten charity poetry anthologies. Here are some of our anthology statistics: 

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 1: 170 poems 

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 2: 176 poems 

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 1: 183 poems 

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 2: 214 poems 

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 3: 229 poems

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4: 245 poems

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5: 248 poems

Invisible Poets Anthology 1: 352 poems

Invisible Poets Anthology 2: 242 poems

Invisible Poets Anthology 3: 246 poems

(This is a total of 2,305 poems written by more than 650 poets representing 112 countries across all 6 continents) 

All the above books are still available on Amazon and through other online outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated directly to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that cares for children in crisis, providing emergency nutrition, health care, medicine, safety and education. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated £8,350.00 ($11,000.00) to Save the Children and we are not done yet! At the end of October 2025 we plan to publish Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 7.

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Dear poet, here is the bottom line... You have been given an amazing creative gift ... your ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations. 

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

-----

To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or about Wheelsong Books - it's about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to another publishing contract. That could lead to legal action. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email direct to this email address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to other sites. Please supply a title for each of your poems. Please also supply your real name - we will not publish works by poets using pseudonyms. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme. Write about what you want. 

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on Sunday April 27, 2025. Any submissions received after this time/date will be rejected. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so point them to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Well Being

Gambian school children

The heat shimmered as I sat on a wooden bench in the dry mud compound. I was listening to the Head Man of the village as he spoke. His words were translated by our guide for the day, a wizened little man called Lamin. In Gambia everyone is called Lamin. The Head Man was telling us of life in the compound, where there was no running water, no electricity ... just open fires. It sounded like an extremely hard life compared to our very comfortable lives in the UK. He had proudly shown us his home - a crudely built brick building with a tin roof, a dirt floor and a single room for all his family to sleep and live in. I stepped back out into the bright light of the African sun with tears in my eyes. 

As the Head Man spoke, I noticed children - school age children - toiling back and forth behind us, as they staggered through the dry heat carrying plastic buckets filled with water. 

When there was time for questions, I asked the Head Man why the children were not at school. In Gambia, school is offered free to children between the ages of 4-11. After this, if the family are not able to pay, the young boy joins the workforce, usually working hard as a fisherman or farm hand, with the girls ending up marrying and bearing children. Either that or the young boys would work the beaches as Bumsters, trying to solicit tourists for money by offering sex. There isn't a great future for a Gambian youth if they have no credentials. Education is coveted, but in this case, the children seemed to be missing out.

The Head Man replied that the children were needed to fetch water from a well, so their mothers could cook and wash clothes. The nearest well, he explained, was two kilometres away, because the well in their own compound had collapsed due to the heavy vehicles passing by. I asked him how much it would cost to repair the well. He began to get upset, and pretty soon several women in his compound also began to cry. It is too much money, was his message. More than we could ever afford. 

It emerged that the cost of a new well would be impossible for these poor Gambian farmers to afford, but for me and my students, all from the affluent West, it would be a simple case of going back to our university and raising the money through some charity activities. Six months later some of our staff and students returned to Gambia with enough money to drill the villagers a new well.

Now the children can go to school. Sometimes the solution really is that simple. 

If you buy copies of the new Invisible Poets Anthology 2, and/or Invisible Poets Anthology 3, you will be contributing to Wheelsong Books' charity funds in our drive for Poetry Against Poverty.

This money goes to support Save the Children in their mission to help underprivileged children across the globe.  You'll be doing some lasting good for the price of a few cups of coffee. 

Steve Wheeler

Life in Mali

If you've been around long enough, you'll know that Wheelsong Books and Invisible Poets are supporting Save the Children - a worldwide fund that provides emergency relief and education opportunities for children in crisis. Many of the Wheelsong Books are sold to raise funds for these efforts, and the latest two Invisible Poets anthologies - jammed packed with almost 500 poems from members - is now on sale to continue our pledge to support Save the Children. 

Here are a few stories about how the charity provides safe, educational and creative spaces for children around the globe:

The photo above is of Ousmane, a young boy living in the African state of Mali. The country has been torn by civil war for decades, and many children have been orphaned and displaced. Ousmane fled the violence that killed his father and now lives with his aunt. Save the Children is funding a school in Mali to educate young children, and Ousmane is one of those who have benefited from this initiative. Ousmane says he has thrown himself into his studies and 'I have strength. I am brave. No-one works harder than me.'

It can't have been easy for young Ousmane, but as with many thousands of other children, Save the Children is providing safe spaces for children to build for a brighter future. People like you, who are supporting Wheelsong's initiative to create poetry books are making a huge difference. Please buy copies of the new anthologies to continue to help these needy children.

Steve Wheeler

Review of 2024: Part One

2024 has been a busy and very productive year for Wheelsong Books and Invisible Poets. Here is the first of three parts of a comprehensive review of our achievements and successes over the year.

January 

The goal Wheelsong Books set itself as a publisher in 2024 was to publish one book each month. The first book off the Wheelsong press in 2024 was a collection of my own poetry from 2020-2023, titled All the Best (this is usually how I sign off an email). 

The poems in the collection were drawn from a number of previously published books including RITE, Shocks & Stares, My Little Eye and Nocturne. It contains poems such as Yasmina, I Ordered an Uber and a Hearse Showed up Instead, and many more.

What may have baffled some readers is the section headings which were all named in Latin or Greek. That's just me having a little fun with language!

February

As an online poetry community, Invisible Poets celebrated its first birthday in February 2024, a milestone commemorated by the publication of Invisible Poets Anthology 1. IPA1 is a collection of premier poetry all of which has featured in Live Poets Society shows. The best of the best poetry featured in the book, which is still on sale today to raise money for Save the Children. In total, the book featured more than 350 poems and at just over 300 pages, is the largest volume Wheelsong has published to date.

The cover art is a split image of artistic graffiti I found in a motorway underpass just a half mile away from my house. My daughter Amy Wheeler took the image, which features me in a green hoodie. The separated image of the hooded poet has since become the icon for Invisible Poets, and now features on our charity T-shirts (of which more later). 

March

As the first signs of Spring began to appear, we were working on the final touches of a wonderful collection by American poet David Catterton Grantz. Previously an educator, Dave's poetry has an ethereal lyrical quality that has to be experienced to be believed. Shadows into Light really showcases his unique talent as a poet, and although it may have been the first Wheelsong publication, it was in fact his fifth published collection. 

His work is summed up nicely by Ellis Ralph, wordsmith and singer-songwriter: 

Grantz is an expected surprise, a familiar novelty, dependably unpredictable in form and content, style and mood ever shifting his ideas, and yours. Strap in and ride shotgun in whatever vehicle he’s driving, to wherever it goes. He knows the way.

April

The Wheelsong Poetry Anthology is becoming a regular twice-a-year event, with contributions drawn from five or more large poetry groups across the online network. Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4 was edited by me, ably assisted by Donna Smith and Matt Elmore, and what a difficult job we had! We received more than 500 submissions in just 3 weeks, and systematically waded through each, to select the very best of the best. I think the editorial team managed to do a very good job, as the collection clearly indicates. It's a great book, well worth a read, and hopefully it will become a classic in time. 

The beautiful image was donated by David Catterton Grantz to grace the front cover of our flagship publication. All proceeds are donated to our favourite charity, Save the Children and every sale raises enough to feed a malnourished child for almost a month. 

Continue reading the review of 2024 in these posts:

Review of 2024: Part Two (May-August)

Review of 2024: Part Three (September-December)

Steve Wheeler

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5

Do you want to be a part of something really great? Something that is far more than just poetry? Something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world? We are about to publish the latest anthology in our charity series, so read on....

Wheelsong Books was established in the UK in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, the company has published 40 books including seven charity poetry anthologies. Here are some anthology statistics: 

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 1: 170 poems 

Absolutely Poetry Anthology 2: 176 poems 

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 1: 183 poems 

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 2: 214 poems 

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 3: 229 poems

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 4: 245 poems

Invisible Poets Anthology 1: 352 poems

(a total of 1569 poems written by more than 470 poets representing 108 countries across all 6 continents) 

All the above books are still on sale on Amazon and through other outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that supports children in crisis. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated £5350.00 ($6825.00) to Save the Children and we are not done yet! At the end of October we will be publishing Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5.

Dear poet, this is the bottom line... You have been given an amazing creative gift ... your ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations. 

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 5 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published!). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or Wheelsong - it's about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to another publishing contract. That could lead to legal action. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email to this address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to other sites. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme. 

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on October 4, 2024. Any submissions received after this time/date will be rejected. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so point them to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Poetry Against Poverty 3: Ratana the Environmentalist

This is the third in a short series of reports about how Wheelsong's charity initiative is achieving success.

Wheelsong Books has a longstanding partnership with Save the Children, a worldwide charity that provides aid to children in crisis across the globe. But it's not only food they provide during a famine, nor is it just medical supplies and healthcare they supply in war zones. Save the Children are also committed to providing children with education and learning opportunities so they can support themselves, their environment and their local communities. 

You may already have heard about the Ethiopian Camel Library our book sales from recent anthologies have helped to fund. That was a classic, innovative project to provide ways for children in hard to read areas with books and literacy skills where no one else could do it. Here is another recent innovation from Save the Children: 

Ratana, 13, is on a mission to clean up Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, and she’s inspiring her community to join her. She and her friends are passionate about the environment, and have learned more about how to protect it during eco-lessons we’ve introduced at her school. We’ve also teamed up with a local partner to develop innovative plastic-collecting devices called biobars, and teach the kids how to build their own. Ratana’s making waves in her community, and she’s not going to stop anytime soon. 

Ratana says: “The biobars are very important to the environment. There was a lot of rubbish but this year, there has been some reduction. I am very proud to see that people cleaned up and also reduced pollution.”

Thanks to your support, we’re with her every step of the way.

Read more about this story here.

This is just one more great reason why you should support Wheelsong Books and our poets who have pledged the sales profits from their books to support Save the Children. Poetry against Poverty!

Steve Wheeler

Image courtesy of Save the Children

Poetry Against Poverty 2: Esther the Tree Planter

This is the second in a short series of reports about how Wheelsong's charity initiative is achieving success.

Wheelsong Books has a longstanding partnership with Save the Children, a worldwide charity that provides aid to children in crisis across the globe. But it's not only food they provide during a famine, nor is it just medical supplies and healthcare they supply in war zones. Save the Children are also committed to providing children with education and learning opportunities so they can support themselves, their environment and their local communities. 

You may already have heard about the Ethiopian Camel Library our book sales from recent anthologies have helped to fund. That was a classic, innovative project to provide ways for children in hard to read areas with books and literacy skills where no one else could do it. Here is another recent innovation from Save the Children:

Climate change champion Esther (pictured) from Malawi, loves planting trees almost as much as she loves climbing them. Every tree she plants helps shield her village from storms and floods. Thanks to our eco-lessons, she's more passionate about nature than ever.

Save the Children

This kind of greening project is begin to blossom all over the world in developing areas. It's important to educate our next generation of the crucial need to care for our planet. Planting trees helps to restore the lungs of our planet. 

This is just one more great reason why you should support Wheelsong Books and our poets who have pledged the sales profits from their books to support Save the Children. Poetry against Poverty!

Steve Wheeler

Image courtesy of Save the Children