It’s hard to wrap my head around it—twenty years of the Poet’s Corner column. From its first appearance on April 15, 2006, in print, all the way to this coming Saturday, April 18, 2026. If you sat down and tried to count the actual number of poems, you’d probably lose track halfway through. But really, the numbers don’t matter as much as the people behind them. Misryoum has seen contributors ranging from youngsters under ten to writers well into their nineties.
I’ve read submissions from doctors, lighthouse keepers, and even an Indian chief. There is something grounding about the smell of old paper—or maybe it’s just the faint scent of coffee—that reminds me of the variety of life these pages have held. Nurses, teachers, people working the land, and those navigating life with disabilities; they’ve all shared their courage here. The voices come from Adelaide, across Australia, and even from corners of the globe I’ve only seen on a map.
It’s interesting how it all loops back together. We’ve had local legends from the Friendly Street Poets, which turned fifty just last year, rubbing shoulders with folks who are just starting out. The subject matter is just as scattered: climate, the moon, our struggling planet, love, loss, and everything in between. It really makes you think about how universal these experiences are, or maybe not universal, but at least deeply human.
I often get emails—’letters,’ if I’m feeling poetic—from readers who say they love the column but insist they aren’t poets. To them, I say: everyone has poetry in them if they just look at the world a bit differently. Don’t be afraid to put pen to paper. Just write, and send it in, even if it’s half a dozen pieces.
My time editing this has been a privilege, truly. It wasn’t just a job. I owe a massive thanks to the contributors, obviously, but also to the readers. You can have the best poetry in the world, but it doesn’t mean much without someone reading it. And of course, a nod to Misryoum—specifically Paul Hamra, who invited me to start this with a ‘little something’ all those years ago.
The team here has been incredible. They’ve supported the arts while managing the chaos of daily news, which isn’t an easy balance to strike. Read some poetry today, write some, and just see where it takes you. It’s worth the detour.