Mission Statement: 1998-2003

Founded in 1998, the Contemporary Poetry Review is an online journal devoted exclusively to the criticism of poetry. From its inception, its mandate has been to provide the general reader with a guide to contemporary poetry, and to serve as an organ of intelligent criticism. To do so, the Contemporary Poetry Review has attempted to encourage criticism that is clear, spacious, and free of academic jargon and politics. 

The Contemporary Poetry Review has also attempted to provide a practical and non-sectarian view of the art, prejudiced to no particular school or movement; the editor welcomes the submissions of other critics, and accepts sample or review copies of all books containing or concerning poetry. In addition, since new verse is published not only by the usual universities and houses, but also on web-pages and vanity presses, the Contemporary Poetry Review does not discriminate between media and will review poetry in any format that it is found.