As an editor, I read a lot of poems. It's a huge privilege. Most of the poems I read are rejected. There are so many reasons for this, and you shouldn't take it personally. Many of the rejected poems have such immense potential or an amazing line or stanza. They excite me and make me want more, and I hope their writers keep writing and revising and submitting.
What I've noticed most lately is that some poems are really several poems in one. They cover myriad topics and images. They can be heavy and overwhelming. Yet, each topic and image separately is interesting and should be given more space. So my number one rule of advice to other poets (and to myself - editing is an amazing learning tool) is to slow down.
If you have a poem that is more than a page long, mentions all your family members, describes more than a handful of objects, or moves through a few decades of time...you may have many poems trapped in there. Sure, sometimes these things work but not often. For now, stick to the Slow Down Rule. It's probably the most important rule of writing.
Focus on one moment. One person. One object. One metaphor. You can always add more in later, but, as in life, the richness that comes from giving one thing your full attention is truly rewarding.
Lastly, for example, I always think of Jane Kenyon, a poet who could fill so much emotion into short, focused poems, like:
