Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

Purple Patch began publication in 1976 and was produced using a spirit duplicator which printed in  purple ink. Initially it circulated locally at folk clubs and poetry readings, with a small nation-wide subscription list. Its format changed over the years from foolscap to A4 to A5.

Although usually considering poems on any subject, themes were occasionally set. There was a Dialect issue, a Surreal issue, a Dylan Thomas issue, a worksheet issue, and even devoted one whole magazine to the memory of Max Noiprox.

The Editor, the late Geoff Stevens also offered these comments: 

"Content often comes before presentation, but that’s how we think things should be.

For many years we have given short reviews of other poetry magazines and of individual collections, mainly from the Small Press. Of recent years we have produced our Best of the year lists of poetry magazines, poets, and poetry collections, and tried to follow them up with publicity for the poets included.

A Gossip Column with a tongue in cheek edge, directed at current poetry news and trends, hopefully entertains our readers/ strikes home at its targets.

We believe it essential that printed poetry magazines continue to be produced and have used Purple Patch to launch Urban District Writer, a poetry magazine that was initially given away free with Purple Patch and is now due to be produced by a new editor/organisation."

Purple Patch ceased publication following the death of editor Geoff Stevens in 2012.