Issue Archives
Exploring Our Collection
Since our founding, Breadcrumb Scabs has published monthly issues showcasing the best in contemporary confessional poetry. Each issue features carefully selected work from both emerging and established poets who share our commitment to raw, honest verse.
Recent Issues
Issue 29 - May 2011
Our most recent issue features powerful work exploring themes of memory, loss, and resilience. Contributors confront grief with unflinching honesty while finding unexpected moments of beauty in the wreckage.
Featured poets: Work that combines personal narrative with universal themes of human struggle and survival.
Issue 28 - April 2011
This issue delves into desire and its complications - love that damages, attraction that confuses, relationships that resist simple narratives. Our poets refuse to romanticize or simplify the messiness of human connection.
Themes: Complex relationships, erotic ambiguity, emotional vulnerability
Issue 27 - March 2011
Identity takes center stage in this collection, with poets examining the fault lines between who we are and who we're expected to be. Queer identity, gender expression, and the performance of self receive particularly powerful treatment.
Highlights: Bold exploration of LGBTQ+ experience and gender fluidity
Issue 26 - February 2011
Our winter issue confronts darkness - both seasonal and psychological. Depression, anxiety, and the weight of existence find expression in verse that doesn't flinch from difficulty but also doesn't wallow in it.
Focus: Mental health, seasonal depression, psychological complexity
Accessing Past Issues
All issues are available as free PDF downloads for readers worldwide. We believe poetry should be accessible, not locked behind paywalls. Print editions are also available for purchase at cost for readers who prefer physical books.
Each issue contains 5-7 poems selected from our monthly submissions, along with occasional visual art that complements the literary content. Our median response time to submissions is just 10 days, reflecting our commitment to timely, respectful communication with poets.
What Makes Our Issues Special
Unlike many literary magazines that prioritize variety over coherence, each Breadcrumb Scabs issue has thematic unity. We curate poems that speak to each other, creating conversations across different poets' work. Readers experience a cohesive journey rather than a random collection.
The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses recognizes that thematic curation helps readers engage more deeply with contemporary poetry by providing context and connection between individual pieces.
Featured Voices
Our archives showcase poetry from across the spectrum of contemporary verse:
- Emerging poets publishing their first work
- Mid-career writers developing distinctive voices
- Established poets experimenting with new forms and themes
- International contributors bringing diverse perspectives
- Queer and women poets finding space for honest expression
Collecting Breadcrumb Scabs
Many readers collect our print issues, building a library of contemporary confessional poetry that documents this moment in literary history. Our clean, readable design makes issues pleasant to shelve and revisit. Each cover features original artwork that captures the mood of that month's selection.
Support Our Archive
Maintaining our archive and continuing to publish monthly issues requires resources. Consider purchasing print issues or making a small donation to help us keep contemporary poetry accessible to all readers. Every contribution directly supports poets and the literary community we're building together.