Dear…
I am writing to you as I have enjoyed much of your published contemporary poetry [insert poem titles and explanation.] I feel my style of writing and the topic of these poems would compliment the other material you represent. I have attached my recent poetry including a synopsis of this collection By Proxy to this email.
By Proxy is a collection of twenty seven poems focussing upon a father’s development of münchausen by proxy, triggered by the separation from his wife of nine years. Each poem can stand alone as a depiction of this rare mental illness. However they do compliment the next and a narrative is slowly revealed to the reader which expresses the complex nature of münchausen by proxy.
This collection works as a psychological insight into abusive relationships and as a commentary on the loneliness of possessing a wicked secret. It explores the relationship between married couples in decline and of destructive father/son relationships. I think this collection could appeal to a wide range of readers.
My poetry has been especially influenced by the works of Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Thomas Hardy and Allen Ginsberg. I believe they tackle complex disturbing matters with a sense of poise and rawness, therefore this collection aims to be both stunningly harsh yet beautifully depicted.
I am currently in my first year of a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing at York St John University. My close work with the mental health sector before university has inspired this collection and given me insight into the mind of potentially dangerous inpatients, therefore this collection has been ongoing for several months.
I am currently working on a second collection of poetry entitled Poems for the Recently Deceased which portray first person accounts of alternative afterlives. I am able to send you several poems from this collection if you would like to view them.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read my work and I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Elinor Bowers
This is a really good, professional letter. In reality, a publisher of poetry might not need quite as much detail as you have here. It’s excellent that you mention poets that have inspired you, but I would think about including some that are more contemporary. You can investigate this in anthologies such as Voice Recognition and Identity Parade – both in the library.