Deep Underground Poetry is Closing Down

Sadly the Deep Underground Poetry website will be shutting its doors on May 12th 2025

Why?

When DU began (originally in 1999) the internet was a very different place, everything was new and small websites sprung up everywhere. Over the last 25 years much has changed, and the regulatory burden on websites, particular those who host user content, has grown massively. It’s really difficult for a small site, which operates internationally, to keep on top of the pace of change. Large sites have the benefit of vast resources at their disposal, whereas smaller sites have gradually been closed down. Sadly now it’s our turn to say goodbye.

I have kept DU going for many years, for the benefit of the community, but not always felt able to do the website justice, with the very limited time and resources I have. I feel this community would now be better served elsewhere.

Would you consider selling the website?

Unfortunately, the legal costs involved in such a transaction would be prohibitive, as we’d need to ensure safe transfer of user data across many different countries and jurisdictions. I don’t think this is a realistic proposition for a website which doesn’t make a profit. Of course, members are free to start their own site (with a different name) or move to other existing websites.

What now?

I want to thank everyone who has been involved with the website over the years, and I’ll be starting a thread specifically for thank yous and sharing memories of our time at Deep Underground Poetry.

The website is no longer accepting new members. Please take the next two months to back up any of your content which you don’t have elsewhere, and reach out to any people you want to say goodbye to. Please be mindful of staying safe online and not sharing personal details with strangers.

Any remaining DU Supporter subscriptions will be cancelled by 5th April, to ensure that no one is paying for a period after the website closes. Of course, supporters are free to log in to PayPal and cancel their subscriptions before this date.

Thank you all for being part of the community, it has been an amazing journey, spanning the greater part of my life and I would love to hear your stories about what DU has meant to you.

I wish everyone the very best for the future,

DU Webmistress

Very sad ☹️

Dear Webmiss,

I’m gobsmacked and very sad to learn of this. For the better part of six years this site has taught me so much and given me even more by way of friendships and nurturing opportunities to try something I never would have done before, write poetry. With deep affection and great humility, thank you. H🌷

Dear Webmiss
I am so sorry that this website will be closed. I hope I am able to save all my poems. At least those that matters. This site have given us so much. Friendships forged.  Thank You Webmiss for the heads up.

I'm devastated to hear this ! It's like a second home to me. Loved this site

never thought that one day webmiss would come online to give this sad news... can't digest... 💔

I too thought of it as a second home.
So many great people and stories to tell.
You've done a great job over the years offering a space for new poets like myself to explore writing.
I'm very saddened to hear this news.

Thank you sincerely

Poetspeak

Dear Webmiss,
Thank you for providing the space for us to express ourselves. DUP has become my family in the short three and a half years that I’ve been here. I don’t know what I would have done had it not been for these halls and the wonderful people here. There have been times when DUP and the connections I’ve made here have quite literally saved my life. I will miss everyone.
I wish you nothing but the best and to my fellow poets and poetesses, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for accepting me and reading me.
In kindness,
Mary

Still wordless n in disbelief… n choked to dark deathly gloom-it feels.. can only say , had been inactive so much times n came back to life by poetry by love of all such poetic reads n souls here that had shaped this soul n poetry of this scribbling me .. One can find any space or paper or web to continue wtiting further .. but this organic soulful love  n highly creative DU.. is ever hard to find another again .. Had adored n read lotza lovable poetic friends here on mutual basis.. To say more, those whom i havent conversed on their poetry too , had adored adoring them lot .. this is a family where even if some bond , others whom we haven't bonded yet are too such vital part .. will miss each of us ..

is there truly any way to continue going on this site .. i hope with all willing members to keep this still.. it can well be done?! …. n a beautiful nest of our souls .. with its creative matureness..  with its still birthed birthing ever youthful nascence progenies of self of us .. could be saved from a shattering extinction! just me .. prayers light love ev . Xx

Thank you for the years you have provided us with the DU, webmiss.

Many memories. The DU will be sorely missed.

Take care ❤️

I’ve had my ups and downs with this site across the years, but it’s consistently been such a huge part of my life… I’m honestly speechless, just stunned by this news. I guess I knew it couldn’t last forever, but… wow. This whole community is just ending, this place where I met so many close friends. I need to process this.

Nonplussed at this news. Where to sonder after May 12th? I am going to miss this place. I already miss having it here as a presence in my life. We never truly realize the importance of certain things until they're gone. I took it for granted that it would always be here. I should have seen the writing on the wall when the other site I frequented, Darkpoetry.org, shuttered its doors last year: the mom n pop poetry site is becoming a thing of the past. I always saw DUP as a kind of "wild west saloon" for poets. Now I feel like an old cowboy at the end of those wild west days, like civilization has tamed the wilderness we once roamed.

The longer you survive the more you defy him...
Love is inescapable
It takes more than physical strength to survive
Anyone can fall...


This website and all its contributors, have been a huge inspirational-motivational-emotional support over the years. Many people I met here have kept me writing.

The thought that my poems and stories have been read by anyone is more than I could ever have asked for.

I want to thank the Web Mistress, for all her hard work, along with the people who kept this site running.

Without the support and help from this site I wouldn't have been able to complete my latest novel.
The feedback from people on this site is what helped me continue the project.

Thanks to everyone who made this site what it is.

If you want to buy my novel here's the link.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DZXWPL28/ref=sr_1_1?crid=215YF61RU9EZX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tHPtzzVzeM67Iq9eY1xZ1-uUuhmguIg0-q9slCJthhURWLbBVZAez-2hbictyLyBdUbvMcMihLsYJpJK77i6mn0xafnjq2fBIbhn32YgVwISFcbBOSKFMpQbopoy7eyf6t0f9Vtiei4tAPnzqbA4-w.DHqG86UWFMfydwibDXJhI6ZKdJMOx5l8cohAbmg_2Es&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+polythene+apocalypse&qid=1741645635&sprefix=%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-1

… real talk for a sec, but… is anyone else just not in the least bit fkn surprised?

That’s me. 😏

I’m kinda sad I’m losing my dead friends memorials here. That sucks. But I’ve backed away heavily in the last few years due to my health so I guess I’ve already said goodbye if that makes sense.

Met some great mates here. Some more than mates. Family, even. Met some utter fucking nightmares too. Thankfully the good outweighs the shit.

If anyone wants to stay in touch, hit me up before the blackout.

If not, it’s been real.

Missy out. ✌️