Choose not just your best work but work that fits together as a whole. Select poems that fit thematically and share the same style. For example, don't pepper a collection of love poems with outrageously humorous poems, and don't mix violent or dark poems with more upbeat works. Of course, there will be some variation in your themes and subject matter, but select works that create a cohesive, fluid collection.
Format your poems for submission. Only one poem should appear on each page. Left justify and single space each poem; center each poem's title on the page; use a standard serif font such as 12-point Times or Times New Roman; and leave a 1-inch margin on all sides of the page, except for the top, which should have a 1 1/2-inch margin.
Include a title page with the book's title and word count, along with your name, address, phone number and email address. In the upper right-hand corner of each page, except for your title page and the first page of your collection, include a page number and your last name. Print your manuscript on one side of the page only.
Write a query letter to send to literary agents. A query letter is a one-page summary of your book that also provides a brief author bio and lists any writing credentials you have and any awards you have won. Find agents who represent poets by buying and reading "Guide to Literary Agents," updated and published annually by Writer's Digest Books. This directory lists contact information for literary agents, as well as the literary genres they represent.
Send your query letter to agents, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Do not send an unsolicited manuscript to an agent unless his guidelines specify to do so. Sometimes, after receiving a query letter, an agent will ask a poet for samples of her book, but occasionally he'll request that you send him the entire manuscript, either by email or as a hard copy.
Wait. It can take several weeks to months to hear from an agent. Don't be discouraged if you don't hear back at all, as agents often receive more queries than they can handle. If you haven't received a response in three or four months, send a polite follow-up letter, along with your original query letter, via U.S. mail. Do not email or call the agent unless her submission guidelines allow for this. The last thing you want to do is hound an agent; it will quickly turn her off from you and your work.