My last week in Goa is a solo sojourn; me time
My friend asks, are there any secrets left to find?
I haven’t a single picture yet that truly captures Goa, I whine
Don’t waste your time, he says, Goa is a state of mind.
Goa is a State of Mind by Shivya Nath
Hello! I am Eden Fernandes—an assistant professor in communication and a research scholar, currently pursuing my PhD in the field of Goan Digital Culture. I am delighted to announce an upcoming poetry bookzine dedicated to the land of Goa, to be published in in collaboration with Goa, 1556.
We invite poets—both emerging and established---to contribute a piece of original poetry that captures the soul of Goa in its beauty and complexity. This anthology aims to reflect the Goan spirit, not just as a place on the map but as a memory. Goa,1556 has been focusing on publishing on Goa-related themes since 2007, and currently has over 180 titles to its credit. It was founded to create more space for Goa to express itself. See more about its work at http://goa1556.in
We invite poets---both emerging and established---to contribute a piece of original, unpublished poetry, that captures the soul of Goa in its beauty and complexity.
Calling all poets to write
about the Goan spirit
not just as a place on the
map but as a memory.
Currently, we are accepting poems in:
(i) English
(ii) Konkani—in any script (but each poem must be submitted in a minimum of two scripts, of acceptable standard).
Our current suggested theme for writing: Saltwater nostalgia: Beaches, the sea, memories by the sea, the coast as a character, the sea as a way of life, fishing, sustenance, and more… (We will also accept poems that don't fall under this theme as a separate section in the book.)
Timeline:
● Last day to submit poems: 30th November 2025 (please note the revision in the date)
● Review process completion: 15th December 2025 (your work will be screened through a
panel of poets and/or academicians)
● Intimation of selected poems: 31th December 2025
● Final poem submission (in case of any minor changes): 5th Jan 2026
● Publication date: Jan/ Feb 2026
Submit your entries to edenferns21@gmail.com or contact 9653307592 for any queries.
Please note: Only selected poems will be published in the printed bookazine (a hybrid publication that combines the depth and long shelf life of a book with the periodicity and topical focus of a magazine). Unaccepted poems may be given feedback with suggestions for further submissions. Send your enteries to edenferns21@gmail.com or contact 9653307592 for any queries.
A few guidelines:
- Authors need to submit their bios (max 100 words) with the poem.
- When you send in your poem, please include a short paragraph (max 150 words) explaining the context or inspiration behind it. You could tell us what sparked the poem — a memory, place, person, moment, or feeling --- and how it connects (directly or indirectly) to Goa or to your broader creative concerns.
- One author can submit one poem. Send in your best.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The title The Konkan Cantos carries several layers of meaning:
- Konkan refers to the coastal region stretching from Goa through Maharashtra and Karnataka. Diverse histories, languages, cultures and varied foods mark this region. Our work is rooted in this distinctive milieu.
- Cantos (from the Italian canto, meaning “song” or “section of a long poem”). Recall the classical and modern poetic tradition as in Dante’s Divine Comedy or Ezra Pound’s The Cantos. This implies a sequence of poetic voices or movements.
- The Konkan Cantos thus suggests a chorus of voices from or about the Konkan — lyrical, diverse, and interconnected. It frames Goan and Konkan poetry within a wider and evolving trajectory.
The title you could say connotes a poetic cartography of the Konkan. We intend it to be a mapping of the region's rhythms, languages and people. Through verse. Diversity is most welcome!
