On April 25, blog contributor phoenixis50 asked how "poetry and other writings" can be submitted to Stars and Stripes. Poetry can't be. Stars and Stripes' current policy is not to publish poetry, in the belief that it is a form better suited to other media, such as magazines.

For most of the time I was editor of Stripes (a position I held until March 1) I agreed with that policy. But I was considering a change after observing from archives how popular poetry was in Stripes going back to World War II. There were features like "Poet's Corner," and "Puptent Poets." Stripes even published a book of poetry.

The present editors may reconsider the no-poetry policy. Caution: If and when poems are allowed, they may be restricted to the works of servicemembers, not those of civilians. In the meantime, you could send a poem to www.anysoldier.com, where it could appear.

If instead you're interested in submitting an op-ed article, it should go to the editor of that page, Brooks Bowers, at bowersbrooks@stripes.osd.mil.