Hypothetical query letter advice?
I'm wondering if a query letter is necessary or recomended when submitting a poem to a newspaper or magazine poetry column?
I've never submitted much of anything, (except that one thing a few years ago that, in hindsight, I must have been joking about) to anywhere.
So if a column says "send submission to -dadada address- with SASE" and I decided I wanted to send in something with four to ten stanzas to a column that normally runs items about that length, for example, what sort letter/info/query should also go with it? Especially since said letter would likely be longer than said poem. So maybe just a brief opening paragraph is appropriate?
Or is it customary to wait for an affirmed interest from the editor before giving anything more than the submission and ones name in a situation like this?
Yes, I've poked around online for an answer to this question a bit, most of what I have found deals with submitting novels or articles, long stuff etc. figured it would be wise to just ask all you experts since you are at my fingertips, instead of fretting.
Thanks Brandon, that is very helpful.
I've been thinking a lot about these things recently and I want to make sure I put in the proper effort, if I am going to put in an effort, so if rejections happen they happen because my work is not what is desired rather than because I've presented it in an idiotic way.
Does the publication have submission guidelines? That's usually helpful. But I've never heard of needing a query for poems / short stories.
I know, it is sort of a silly question. But they say, you know... "there are no stupid questions, only inquisitive idiots." 
Besides. It was only a hypothetical question. I swear.
No query needed. Most of the time with poetry, you don't need to send a query, proposal or pitch, unless, of course, you are pitching an entire collection.
Just send what they asked for and let the work speak for itself.