Headless Poet is a small press specialising in the art of the introduction.

We give poets and writers space to (re)introduce readers to poets of the past, especially those whose work has been buried by time. We also publish short introductions into the best new poetry.

Each pamphlet comes in card covers with unique typographic designs. They look good and should fit in your pocket. We don’t mind if you write in them.

A note on heads

Headless Poet takes its name from this statue of Dante, which stands on the steps of the Crystal Palace in London. The palace burnt down in 1896. We don’t know exactly when Dante lost his head.

Headless Poet could equally have taken its name from Emily Dickinson:

“If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.”