An Invitation

Supporting public language for individual and public life

Dear friends,

This is a special message to you from myself and everyone at Poetry Unbound and On Being.

We’re often asked by folks how they can help support our work. Firstly — you already do, through your listening, reading, and sharing with others. And secondly, if you’re interested in becoming a patron of our work, we’ve made that possible in a couple of ways:

• You can make a direct donation through our website.

• Or if it’s easier, you can become a paid subscriber of this Substack. Your subscription will support On Being’s ongoing work, with Substack taking a portion of subscription fees.

A number of you pledged a paid subscription earlier in the year — thank you! — these have been fulfilled today, with a receipt sent to your email inbox.

Just so you know: whether you donate to On Being or not, this newsletter won’t be changing — everyone will receive the same letter, and can engage in the delicious conversations that unfold in the comments. We’re just making the paid subscription available in case it’s more convenient for some folks to give that way. 

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Paying artists for their work is a value for us. Art — while it cannot be reduced to a singular purpose — can be a call for integrity. And that’s one of the reasons we do what we do at Poetry Unbound and On Being: public language of integrity is needed, and if we can increase attention towards language that works, then we feel we are doing this work well. We are grateful to all the artists — the living and the dead — whose language shapes Poetry Unbound. 

I’m listening to the news as I am musing on this letter. I am struck by how urgent the news is. At times I want poetry to speak to powers. At other times I want poetry to praise the flowers that grow in the cracks of the road. And other times I want both. And more. I cannot say what it is that art does. But I can say that without it, something necessary would be removed from both individual and public life. Thanks for what you do to share and elevate the arts in our private and political places. 

Friends, thank you for all you do in this community of conversation that is the Substack for Poetry Unbound. It’s a joy to be with you. And we’ll continue! 

All the best, 

Pádraig and all at The On Being Project

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