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Newsletter of the Poetry Society of Virginia May 2005 A Common Wealth of Poetry In This Issue: From the President Anual Poetry Festival A Word of Thanks Members'News Members' Poetry EPIMENIO IBAŇEZ HONORARY Publishing Opportunities Poetry Reading Poetry Festival Program Information Poetry Festival Sign-up Sheet Email Cup Contest From the President Ed Lull The Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony featured some world-class poetry from poets around the country. In addition to the 13 First Prize winners from Virginia, we also had First Prize winners from New York, West Virginia, Arizona, Florida (3), North Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Nevada, and Maryland. The adult contest, with 25 categories that drew 1706 entries, has truly become a national event - receiving entries from 32 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Africa, and Australia. Congratulations to all those recognized for their poetry at the event in Richmond on April 16. For those of you who entered but didn’t win, you made the judging job very difficult with your excellent work; do not be discouraged. Next year may be your time! The Student Contest produced some prodigious work from students who will be future winners in the adult contest. Some of the schools that participated most heavily (and successfully) reflect the efforts of PSV members who share their time and talent to encourage poetry in the schools in their areas. Members who have participated in our Poetry-in-the-Schools program (or just independently) have found it to be a rewarding endeavor. I encourage more to become involved. Congratulations and thanks to Norma Richardson, Shann Palmer, Patsy Anne Bickerstaff, Guy Terrell, Helen Eano, and Ralph Richardson, as well as all the judges for their extensive work in making the Poetry Contest the significant event it is. Beginning with our next issue of A Common Wealth of Poetry, Kamau Rucker of Hampton will become our new editor. PSV owes a debt of gratitude to Linda Nottingham for doing double-duty while we searched for an editor. Thanks Linda for a job very well-done; welcome Kamau! Now it is time to focus upon the Poetry Festival on May 20-22 in Williamsburg. The schedule and Sign-Up Sheets are enclosures to this issue; please act now! The program is loaded with interesting, entertaining, and educational events. I hope that we shall enjoy the greatest participation since bringing the festival to Williamsburg five years ago. On Saturday, May 21, we have our PSV Annual Meeting where we shall address the revised bylaws, elect officers for next year, and address issues you wish to bring up. Your participation is encouraged. See you at the festival! Annual Poetry Festival The Annual Poetry Festival will be held on May 20-22 in Williamsburg. The schedule of events with additional information is included in a two-sided insert to this newsletter. It is yours to retain. Also included is the Sign-Up Sheet; it should be completed and returned with remittance no later than May 11, 2005. Please read ALL the instructions on the Sign-Up Sheet carefully. Note that the always-popular PowerPoint presentation by David Partie is on Sunday morning in the Williamsburg Library downtown. We are featuring two poets this year: Cathryn Hankla (Friday) and Dabney Stuart (Saturday). Both were featured poets at the Virginia Festival of the Book in March. The list of workshop leaders is very strong - again. The evening activities should provide fun for all. Don’t forget the special room rate for staying at The Lord Paget (Quality Inn) - $53.99 + tax per night. This is the fourth year we have used The Lord Paget, and members have been very pleased with the accommodations. To get the PSV rate, reservations must be made by May 6. Call 1-800-537-2438, or e-mail: Lordpaget@msn.com. A Word of Thanks Linda Nottingham It is hard for me to believe, but it has been two years since I took over the job of newsletter editor on a “temporary” basis. It has been an interesting and challenging time and I wish to offer my thanks to all the PSV members and officers who sent material for the Newsletter. It has been an honor to be able to serve the society and its members. Special thanks go to our President, Ed Lull, who could always be counted on to keep the ship running smoothly, and to my husband, Stuart, for his moral support and address labels. Please welcome Kamau Rucker, our new newsletter editor. Material may be emailed to Kamau at newsletter@poetrysocietyofvirginia.org or sent to Kamau D. Rucker, 135 – 10 Pine Chapel Rd., Hampton, VA 23666. I will once again be devoting my energy completely to the web site and my email address remains admin@poetrysocietyofvirginia.org. Members’ News John G. Marshall of Poquoson won First Place in the Annual Christopher Newport Writer’s Conference Poetry Contest with his poem, I Have Dreamt of a Lonely Place. The contest featured many excellent poems that were not limited by form or topic. Virginia O’Keefe won first Honorable Mention in the same contest with her poem, Afternoon Thoughts. A poetry slam and a presentation by University of Virginia poet Greg Orr were the highlights of a daylong Celebration of Poetry held in Fredericksburg April 2. The event was sponsored by the Riverside Writers chapter of the Virginia Writers Club and by the Poetry Workshop of the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA). PSV members Larry Turner and Joe Metz led the event. Stu Nottingham won 2nd Place and Anne Flythe tied for 4th Place. Members’ Poetry Wonder of Wonders By Dorothy W. Millner A tiny black seed becomes a blue morning glory Monarch butterflies find their own path to Mexico The splendor of spring recurs – yearly resurrection The sun’s radiance illuminates every morning And you and I survive to see the promise of Another day Wonder of wonders! Published in The Journey Dorothy, a long time member, has been living in Palm Beach, FL, for five years now but still misses her dear friends and the beautiful colors when the seasons change in Virginia. Rules for submitting member poetry. 1. The Poem must be previously published. 2. The poet must retain rights to the poem (and will retain rights after we publish it). 3. Poems to be published will be selected by lot. 4. Send only one poem to the Newsletter Editor, email and regular address on the back of the Newsletter Tip: Shorter poems are easier to fit into the Newsletter and poems that are emailed usually do not have to be retyped (a big plus). The EPIMENIO IBAŇEZ HONORARY, a Spanish language poem category, was included in the PSV contest for 2005 for the first time. First Place winner, member Mike Correa, read his poem at the Contest Awards Presentation in Richmond last month and has provided us with the English translation. Los Días del Toro Trabajas el sol hasta que duerme otro día Mientras repite el coquí, coquí, coquí. Ha tenido su primera taza en el crepúsculo, Reclamó el reino de los gallos, Absorbió la tierra entre las uñas, En su frente, en el café criado desde semilla. A mediodía, el sombrero ceniciento sombrea Sus ojos cuando cargas racimos de plátano Sobre su hombro, vástagos de tres a cuatro pies, Equilibrados y arqueados bajo el peso. Bajando las cuestas escarpadas, Escalando las colinas rodantes, trabajas mientras Almiares gigantescos quiebran hacia el mar, Las palmeras brotan piernas curvadas, Pestañas verdes parpadean lentamente. Laboras hasta la cena, tiras de bacalao En aceite de oliva, cebolla, yautía, Una raja de panapén, un pellizco de sal, Agua para lavarse la tierra, permites El descanso del sol sobre senderos estrechos, Regados con el mango y la papaya madura, Después montas a caballo, corazón de carrera Hacia el primer coquí, su futura esposa, Amapola roja en el pelo, espera En la brisa fresca del árbol de quenepa. Toro’s Days You work the sun until it sleeps another day As coquí frogs repeat, coquí, coquí. You had your first cup in the twilight, Claimed the rooster's kingdom, absorbed Earth under your nails, on your brow, In coffee raised from seed. By midday, ash-colored hat shading Your eyes as you carry plantain bunches Over your shoulder, three to four-foot stems Balanced and bowed under weight. Down steep slopes, up rolling hills you work, While giant haystacks break to the sea, Palm gardens sprout curved legs, Long green lashes blink slowly. You toil until supper, codfish strips In olive oil, onion, tannia root, A slice of breadfruit, pinch of salt, Water to wash down the earth As you let the sun rest on narrow paths, Strewn with ripe mango and papaya, Then you ride horseback, heart races To the first coquí, your future bride, Red hibiscus in her hair, waits In the cool breeze of the genip tree. Publishing Opportunities Ordinary Review will soon be launching its premier issue, and is now reading poetry and nonfiction submissions for issue number two. The poetry editor is PSV member Tom Williams. Submission guidelines are available online at www.ordinaryreview.org. The deadline for The Poet’s Domain is May 31, 2005. The submission requirements and guidelines were published in last month’s newsletter and can be also found online at www.livewirepress.net. Poetry Readings Open Mic Poetry at Java Jo’s Espresso Cafe, 321 Chatham Drive, Newport News, VA 23602, hosted by Hollis Pruitt, Ann Shalaski, and Mike Correa. The readings will be held on the second Friday of the month at 7pm. It features: guest readers, open mic, lightning rounds, sign-up sheets 10 minutes before program starts. Everyone is welcome. For more information call (757) 872-7752 Poetry Society of Virginia Annual Poetry Festival - 2005 Event# Time Event Venue Friday - May 20, 2005 20-0 10:00am-10:30am Registration A 20-1 10:30am-11:45am Poetry Workshop (P) - Carolyn Foronda A 20-2 11:45am-1:00pm Box Lunch (P) A 20-3 1:00pm-2:00pm Featured Poet (P) - Cathryn Hankla A 20-4 2:00pm-5:00pm Poetry Workshop (P) - Publishing Poetry - 4 Parts A 1. Cathryn Hankla; Sorting, Selecting, Ordering Poems 2. Grace Simpson; Editing 3. Stuart Nottingham; Publishing Alternatives 4. Shann Palmer; Marketing Your Book 20-5 6:30pm-9:00pm Welcome Banquet and Open Reading C Saturday - May 21, 2005 21-1 9:30am-11:00am Open Reading B 21-2 11:00am-11:45am PSV Annual Meeting B 21-3 11:50am-1:00pm Buffet Luncheon (P) B 21-4 1:00pm-2:00pm Featured Poet (P) - Dabney Stuart B 21-5 2:15pm-3:30pm Poetry Workshop (P) - Henry Hart B 21-6 3:45pm-5:00pm Poetry Workshop (P) - Laura Bobrow B 21-7 7:30pm Poetry Slam (P) - Brash (Lori Fraind) B Sunday - May 22, 2005 22-1 10:00am-12:00noon Seminar (David Partie) D (P) = Open to the Public, subject to space limitations. Venues A = James City County Library, Community Room B = Little Theater, Campus Center, Wm. & Mary C = Ford’s Colony Country Club Banquet Room D = Williamsburg Library, Community Room Directions to Venue A: Take I-64 towards Williamsburg Take Exit 231A (puts you on Croaker Rd. heading to Norge) Go approximately ½ mile; Library is on your left. Program Information Event 20-1 - Workshop: Poetry and Politics. What is the distinction between “personal” and “political” poetry? This workshop will examine the differences and then look at poems that give politics a human face, especially in times of war. Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda has published several books and has won many awards and grants, including three Artist-in-Education grants and an Arts-on-the-Road grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She manages the Poetry-in-the-Schools Program for PSV. Event 20-3 - Featured Poet. Cathryn Hankla’s ten books of poetry and fiction include Poems for the Pardoned, Emerald City Blues, The Land Between, and Last Exposures: A Sequence of Poems. A professor at Hollins University, she edits poetry for The Hollins Critic. Event 20-4 - Four-Part Workshop: Publishing Poetry Cathryn Hankla - Working Toward Publication of Poems and Poetry Books Grace Simpson - Editing the Manuscript Stuart Nottingham - Publishing Alternatives Shann Palmer - Marketing Your Poetry Event 21-4 - Featured Poet. Dabney Stuart, author of 16 poetry collections, has received fellowships from the NEA, Guggenheim, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Editor of Shenandoah from 1988-1995, he is emeritus professor of English at W&L University. Event 21-5 - Seminar/Workshop: What Makes a Good Poem Tick. Some poems seem to resonate with readers, whereas others with apparently similar characteristics, do not. Professor Hart will share some of his ideas about that elusive subject: what makes a good poem good. Henry Hart, Mildred and J.B. Hickman Professor of Humanities at The College of William & Mary, is the author of Robert Lowell and the Sublime, The Ghost Ship, and The Rooster Mask, as well as critical studies of Seamus Heaney and Geoffrey Hill. Event 21-6 - Workshop: The Pied Piper of Hamlin: Twisting the Tale. In Medieval times, stories were told in rhyme, and the art of the purveyor of the tale lay not in the telling but in the retelling of it in unique ways. We shall explore ways to find our unique poetic voices. Laura J. Bobrow, a professional storyteller, uses poetry as a mnemonic device, often putting well-known stories or parts of stories into verse to enhance their telling. Her award-winning children’s poems, light verse, and lyrics have been published in many venues. Event 22-1 - Seminar: The Fugitive Poets. We shall examine the work of two Southern Fugitive poets. John Crowe Ransom, the noted critic and professor at Vanderbilt University, crafts poetry that explores the connection between the past and the present, between the living and the dead. Robert Penn Warren, the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and poet, meditates upon the connection between the worlds of nature and memory and what we can learn from both. David Partie is a professor of English at Liberty University in Lynchburg, and Vice President of the Western Region of PSV. For the previous four festivals, he has presented seminars on such poets as Richard Wilbur, Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Bishop, and Theodore Roethke. Poetry Society of Virginia ANNUAL FESTIVAL SIGN-UP SHEET Event # Time Event Cost Nr. Attending 20-1 10:30am Workshop (Carolyn Foronda) 0 _______ 20-2 11:45am Box Lunch (See reverse) $10 _______ 20-3 1:00pm Featured Poet (Cathryn Hankla) 0 _______ 20-4 2:00pm Workshop (Publishing Poetry) 0 _______ 20-5 6:30pm Welcome Banquet $25 _______ 21-1 9:30am Open Reading 0 _______ 21-2 11:00am PSV Annual Meeting 0 _______ 21-3 11:50am Catered Luncheon $20 _______ 21-4 1:00pm Featured Poet (Dabney Stuart) 0 _______ 21-5 2:15pm Poetry Workshop (Henry Hart) 0 _______ 21-6 3:45pm Poetry Workshop (Laura Bobrow) 0 _______ 21-7 7:30pm Poetry Slam (Brash) 0 _______ 22-1 10:00am Seminar (David Partie) 0 _______ Registration Fee, per attendee $25 _______ Check enclosed for $ _______ Make checks payable to: Poetry Society of Virginia I would like to read at the open reading in Event 20-5 (Welcome Banquet) Yes No I would like to read in Event 21-1 (Open Reading) Yes No I plan to compete in Event 21-7 (Poetry Slam) This is fun! Yes No PLEASE NOTE: The right-hand column is Number Attending, not $. Registration Fee applies to all attendees. Return this form with remittance to: Edward Lull 100 North Berwick Williamsburg, VA 23188-6459 Mail no later than: MAY 11, 2005 Member Name(s): __________________________________________ Guests: QUESTIONS? Call Ed Lull, (757)258-5582; e-mail: ewlull@erols.com Event 20-2 Box Lunch - For those who signed up (and paid) for a box lunch, please indicate your choice below: Lunch Number Vegetable Sandwich Box Lunch _______ Ham and Swiss Box Lunch _______ Roast Beef and Cheddar Box Lunch _______ Turkey Breast Box Lunch _______ ACCOMMODATIONS: For members and guests who need accommodations but have not made reservations, contact: The Lord Paget (Quality Inn) 901 Capitol Landing Road Williamsburg, VA 23185 e-mail: Lordpaget@msn.com 1-800-537-2438 Identify yourself as a Poetry Society festival attendee to get the special room rate of: $53.99+tax. Reservations must be made by May 6 to get the negotiated rate. MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS: Do you know someone who might attend if they knew about the festival? Invite them. Do you know a member who would come if he or she had a ride? Can you help? Anyone attending any event in the festival is responsible for paying the Registration Fee. Before mailing, please ensure that you have completed all relevant parts of this form, that your payment matches the events you have selected, and that checks are made payable to: Poetry Society of Virginia Williamsburg looks forward to welcoming you! Email Cup Contest Stuart Nottingham In January members for whom we have an email address (220 members) were invited to participate in a writing contest by email. The required form was a triolet. Forty-three members sent in a poem. The first place winner received a coffee mug with the award notice on one side and the winning poem on the other. Our judge, Patsy Anne Bickerstaff, had this to say: This was an extremely difficult contest to judge. Each of the forty-three entries had a lot of merit, and many were outstanding…meaningful and beautifully crafted. I had to read them over and over, and sometimes be incredibly picky, in order to come up with the winners. You may want to know about the process I went through as I judged the poems: 1. Any poem with incorrect grammar is the first to go. Poems are, after all, communication. That means the subject and predicate need to agree. In two poems there was no subject. One poet used the subjective case when the objective was called for. Some used “you and I” when “you and me” was needed. 2. Awkward sentence structure is no longer acceptable. You can’t say “With me you will go” in a poem any more than you’d say it on the telephone to invite someone to a party. 3. An important aspect of a poem is freshness. Avoid triteness and cliché words or phrases. A poem can be beautiful, but if it doesn’t say something new, it doesn’t succeed. 4. Clarity is important. A poet can be so familiar with his subject, or work so intensely on the poem, as to miss the fact that the reader may not know enough to pick up on what is being said and will miss the meaning. Often a small change can solve this problem. 5. Many of the problems we have in writing our poetry may be solved by working with a partner or sharing with a critique group. Reading these delightful poems was a real high point for me; I felt really privileged to be in the midst of so much beauty! Here are the winning poems. First Place Ed Lull, of Williamsburg Grandpa He sits on our front porch, nowhere to go, reliving all the joys of times gone by. This bright Spring day with all the world aglow he sits on our front porch, nowhere to go. Since Grandma died his life has changed, I know, but still it pains me, and I wonder why he sits on our front porch, nowhere to go, reliving all the joys of times gone by. Second Place Michal Mahgerefteh of Norfolk *Tefillah O my God what am I that these skies should speak To hear so clear and brave without the fear of sin Words beyond words deepen as I further seek O my God what am I that these skies should speak Solar lights eclipse all darkness in one streak By the liking of **Elohim and the will of discipline O my God what am I that these skies should speak To hear so clear and brave without the fear of sin *Tefillah - prayer in Hebrew **Elohim - one of God's 72 Hebrew names Third Place has three winners who tied for third place (alphabetical order): Elisabeth Arrington Cox of Richmond My Mother Dances Round the table she goes, knife, fork, spoon. Dancing with each chair, a Virginia Reel plays. Radiant reflects her face, flowers fresh with bloom. Round the table she goes, knife, fork, spoon. Do-si-do, forward and turn, nimble feet, rising moon. Setting the table for another meal, her love fills our days. Round the table she goes, knife, fork, spoon. Dancing with each chair, a Virginia Reel plays. B. R. Culbertson of Blacksburg April Snowstorm The robin sees he came too soon-- Instead of worms he's finding snow. It's cold and cloudy still at noon; The robin sees he came too soon. And so he chirps a doleful tune; His cheerfulness has turned to woe. The robin sees he came too soon-- Instead of worms he's finding snow! Debbie Parvin of Galax Mornings When sunlight slaps me sleeping face, dear God, I need me coffee cup! When rationale’s not found its place, when sunlight slaps me sleeping face, I be one sluggish basket case in need of java’s pick-me-up. When sunlight slaps me sleeping face, dear God, I need me coffee cup! There are three Honorable Mentions (alphabetical order): Isota Epes of Falls Church Low Moment Our lives today are filled with lying, Of men who steal and spy, Ruthless and truth denying. Our lives today are filled with lying Of evil men defying Every good we try. Our lives today are filled with lying Of men who steal and spy. Carol Osterlund of Phoenix AZ The day the dreams began I fell in love with you One woman and one man The day the dreams began Romance was not the plan But what else could I do The day the dreams began I fell in love with you Edith White of Norfolk Hopi Squaw Chant I mold my sacred pot of clay, Curving the coils to form the vessel. Sifting in seeds and dreams all day I mold my sacred pot of clay. Herbs I conceal in my secret way Carefully crushed with mortar and pestle. I mold my sacred pot of clay, Curving the coils to form the vessel. |
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