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Three Line Poetry

A project of Prolific Press (see other related projects).

About

Three Line Poetry is a journal devoted to the art of the compressed image — poems that arrive complete in three lines, that hold their breath and say everything in the space of a moment.

We draw on the tradition of the haiku and the senryū, of Bashō and Issa and Buson, and we carry that spirit into the present: contemporary voices, global perspectives, the full weight of human experience in the fewest possible words.

We believe the short poem is not a lesser poem. It is a harder one. We publish the poets who understand that.

Voluntary Fees: This project accepts voluntary fees for submissions with donations.
Want more insight into the editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s).

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States
Established in 2011

Publication Media & Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
Unknown publication frequency
Print Publication Print Publication
Unknown publication frequency

AI Policy

Unknown AI policy

Statistics Synopsis

Faster
Three Line Poetry's overall average response time is faster than most magazines.
More Approachable
Three Line Poetry's overall acceptance rate is higher than most magazines.
More Responsive
Three Line Poetry's overall rate of non-response is lower than most magazines.

Poetry Open

We publish three-line poems of any style, form, or subject. Haiku, senryu, tercets, free verse, formal verse, experimental, lyrical, narrative, humorous, serious — all are welcome, as long as the poem is exactly three lines and each line fits within 40 characters. Selection is at the editors' discretion based on what makes a strong poem — there is no single "type" we're looking for.

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: Exactly 3 lines; Up to 3 pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms, including: Experimental poetry, Free verse, Haiku (or related), Short poetry.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Payment:

Token payment (under US$5 per poem) to Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) Pay ranges from Token payment to Semi-pro payment. Details: USD $1.50 standard payment per poem; $10 for Editor's Choice selections.

Submissions:

Method: Online form.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

Three Line Poetry Submission Statistics

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.

Filter:
Accuracy
We have received 15 reports from 9 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported
1 min | 16.5 mean avg | 17.5 median | 39 max days (492.8 std dev)
Responses
93.34 %
Acceptances:
46.67 % of submissions accepted (17.6 avg. days per acceptance) | 66.67 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here.
Rejections:
46.67 % (10.9 avg. days per rejection) | 71.4 % personal, 14.3 % form, 14.3 % unspecified
Non-Responses
0.00 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals
6.67 % (33.0 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
1 response is pending (6 days waiting). This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The most common submission tip paid: USD $5.00. (25.0 % reported giving a tip.)
Most submissions are acknowledged within one day.
Most recent response reported was received on 25 Aug 2026.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 18 Aug 2026.
Date compiled: 12 Sep 2026 03:08 UTC (4 hours ago).
View report of recent responses from this project

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Before Submitting

We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.

  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
  • Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.
  • Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.
  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.

Dates

Last Updated: 22 May 2026

We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.

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