|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
A Common Wealth of Poetry The newsletter of The Poetry Society of Virginia January 2009 www.PoetrySocietyOfVirginia.org Email address: PoetryInVA@aol.com ________________________________________________ From our President Happy New Year, my dear friends and colleagues! Our Annual Contest is in full swing, and the imaginations of members are working not only in the creative mode, but in developing more new ideas for promoting the art of poetry, and the Poetry Society of Virginia. What a privilege it is to work with all of you, and to see the results of your ideas and efforts! In connection with that theme, there are two very important announcements to include in this month’s letter. The first is that Robert Arthur has agreed to become the third member of our Advisory Board, a position left vacant by the passing of our beloved George Garrett. Bob’s creativity and enthusiasm are genuine assets to the Society. The second announcement is more of a reminder, to Executive Committee members. You are all familiar with my request that those who have routine reports submit the reports before the February 21 meeting of the Committee. I should like to emphasize that request, in view of the fact that we shall have some important issues of New Business to discuss, and shall be needing to streamline the meeting as much as possible. In addition, I should like to request that those who have addressed suggestions to me place those suggestions in your report, and submit a copy of your intended motion. That way, the other members of the Executive Committee can be thinking about the suggestions, and it will be easier to include the motion in the minutes, in the form in which it is finally submitted, adopted or disapproved. The Library of Virginia has received, with gratitude, the books given by Muriel Hegre (Jones) to the Library’s collection. I am sure everyone was as pleased as I was with the outstanding meeting of the Eastern Region in November. Thanks so very much for a wonderful job, Nancy! Jack Underwood has advised us that the March meeting will be a week early this year, on March 14, as a result of an unavoidable schedule conflict. Mark the date on your calendar; you don’t want to miss the Northern Region’s contribution! God bless everyone, and may this be your happiest and most satisfying year ever! Patsy Anne Bickerstaff ________________________________________________________________________ FUTURE MEETINGS Feb. 21, 2009 Executive Committee Mar. 14, 2009 Northern meeting Deadline for newsletter Feb. 21, 2009 Please note date change Apr. 18, 2009 Central meeting Please note this is the contest awards meeting. Deadline for newsletter Mar. 28, 2009 May 15-17, 2009 Our annual Festival in Williamsburg Deadline for newsletter Apr. 23, 2009 See page four for information on Fredericksburg’s Celebration of Poetry. This has always been a fun event! Plan on going if you can. ________________________________________________________________________ BAD POETRY Contest Ready to take your poetry to another level? Here’s your chance. You can move down several levels at once. Sound exciting? Well then, we hope you’ll participate in the first (and quite possibly the last) competition where bad is good, worse is better, and atrocious is best. An unbelievably horrible poem could put you in the Winner’s Circle! The contest is dedicated to the memory of William Topaz McGonagall, internationally celebrated as “the worst poet ever to assault the English language.” Writing in the late 19th century, McGonagall stupefied his audiences. Patrons, in a clear metaphor for critical feedback, routinely pelted him with rotten tomatoes. A better planner than a poet, he came prepared with an umbrella which he kept open throughout readings. Our contest begins February 1st, 2009 and ends February28th, 2009. Entry is via EMAIL ONLY. Please send to: drivemx5@yahoo.com Poet’s name must be included in email. Any topic, any form. Limit 24 lines. Please put your poem in the body of the email, rather than as an attachment. Open to Poetry Society of Virginia members only. Winner will be announced and presented with a leather bound copy of the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe at the Awards Meeting on April 18th, 2009. Decision of the judge, even if manifestly unfair, is final. ________________________________________________________________________ News About Members Linda Levocove of Crozet reports: I have just had two poems published in a South African Anthology titled "Tonight, Anthology of World Love Poetry". I also have two poems being published in the "Poets Domain" Volume 24 that is upcoming soon. Here is one of Linda’s poems from the anthology: EVENSONG Twilight's ripe stillness burns the lake, a fiery scarf on blood-green algae. Fingers of grass fondle twisted vines, open-eyed fish shake off winter scales. Spring flicks leaf tongues on naked trees, paints a canvas of blank blooms with color. Birds and butterflies, full on seeds and nectar glide blissfully into darkening evensong. Gazing at the sky, two lovers lie glowing, like stars, waiting to kiss the night. Phyllis Johnson is happy to report that her poetic interpretation of Anne Frank's diary, Being Frank with Anne, is now posted at the online bookstore at the New York Anne Frank Center website. Go to their website annefrank.com/bookstore/books/commentary/ and you'll see it! Mac McKinney reports that his first book has been published. The name of it is Post-Katrina Blues and here is a basic description of it: Post-Katrina Blues was written over a period of time after the author made several trips to Mississippi in Spring, 2007 and decided to photograph and write up a series of articles online for the news and opinion website, OpEdNews.com, about the painful aftermath of destruction still afflicting both the Gulf coast of Mississippi and New Orleans. Several months later, after returning to Virginia, he also began writing poems about his impressions and experiences for local poetry readings. Out of this came the conjunction of poems, articles and photographs now printed as Post-Katrina Blues. It is hoped that this book will help others understand better what the citizens of Mississippi and Louisiana have suffered, and still do suffer, from increasingly powerful hurricanes such as Katrina, while Nature's natural protection, the wetlands, simultaneously continues to be eroded. Beth Huddleston reports the Assembly for the Literature and Culture of Appalachia published one of my poems in its journal, ALCAlines. It is an affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English. The journal included my poem "Run, Meadow Run." ________________________________________________________________________ Poems by Members The Lifting (by Margaret Ward Morland) The gift ineffable— Love’s own Self— lifts us out of language, out of time, to that perfect present in the Mind, where, in starbloom silence, Mary lifts her Babe, her Innocent, her Child of joy, and angels poised for song lift alleluias winged with light. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At Dinner, VCCA* (by Jane Simon) Here comings and goings greetings and wrenchings shape a social life Usually a resident brought gently into the community; a sixth sense used to sort out what an artist will self reveal. Tidbits garnered and questions discouraged though Christine nails me down with a doozey. In her Irish lingo, she asks “How do you make your crust?” My eye questions as I point to remnants of coconut cream pie on my plate. “No, no, she protests, “I mean how do you make ends meet?” ‘Oh,’ I hesitate, try to evade. “I prefer not to say because people change how they treat me.” ‘Oh come on,’ she insists. “Twenty questions then,” I yield. With less than ten queries, those at the table ascertain precisely how and where I live. They conclude: “She is a rarity; a NY shrink in our midst!” Then they draw straws to decide who will be first in line outside my studio door for a free session. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Existential Morning by Vincent J. Tomeo, Flushing NY Previously published in Mid-America Poetry Review Rays of light burst through the dense fog. On a park bench, a man wrapped in a wrinkled plastic garbage bag keeps scratching, scratching, scratching. The sun becomes a rainbow. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - And in celebration of Black History Month in February, a poem from Nancy Allen: Then, Tomorrow We’ll Be Free The sky was dusk blue and cloudless. Golden grain swayed and swirled in the breeze. Butterflies sipped the nectar and bees carried pollen from flowered meadows. And we dampened our palms, bruised and bloody, full of cotton seeds. Hot sun fell against our faces as we bent to toil. Beautiful blossoms leaped like frisky lambs. Corn on sage green stalks glowed in the sunlight. The swift rush of wild geese throbbed the air like the far away drum. We picked cotton. We followed behind plows. We withstood the whip. We sang. We dreamed, taking all that came unto us. The sun began to set, orange-red met the evening sky. In the newness of the night, the North Star shone bright. As we lay in our cabins, smiles broke over our lips like sparkling rivers, because, Then, Tomorrow We’ll be Free. ________________________________________________________________________ PSV Poetry Festival, 2009 This is an early bird special announcement of the annual poetry festival to be held in Williamsburg, May 15-17, 2009. The programs and schedules will follow similar formats to previous years with excellent presenters and comfortable venues. All presenters have been signed up and venues set. They will be discussed in subsequent newsletters. However, for our out-of-towners, a block of rooms has been set-aside at the PSV favorite lodging place, the Quality Inn Lord Paget. With the festival opening Friday morning, May 15, those coming from any distance are encouraged to arrive Thursday, May 14. Rates for PSV members are: 5/14/09 - $48.30; 5/15/09 - $58.30; 5/16/09 - $58.30 (all plus tax). To make reservations, call 1-800-537-2438 or e-mail Lordpaget@msn.com and identify yourself as a PSV member. It is anticipated that the festival will be moving to the Richmond area in 2010, so we expect a large attendance in 2009. Reserve your rooms early! ________________________________________________________________________ Seventh Annual Celebration of Poetry Saturday March 28, 2009, 9:30-4:00 Central Rappahannock Regional Library Theater 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg Sponsored by Riverside Writers Many PSV members from across the state have attended in earlier years, and we welcome you. 9:30-10:00 Registration (Review Table of Poets’ Books) 10:00-10:30 Open Mike Poetry Reading 10:30-12:00 Featured Poet Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, “Art-Inspired Poetry” 12:00-1:00 (Sandwich Box Lunches available from Ukrops with advance sign-up) (Check must be received by March 23.) Choices: 1. Slow-roasted London Broil, 2. Fried chicken white meat, 3. Fried chicken dark, 4. Garden Veg., 5. Ham on Swiss, 6. Turkey breast 1:00-1:30 Open Mike Poetry Reading 1:30-2:00 Discussion of Poetry Slams and Instructions for the Slam 2:00-4:00 Poetry Slam Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda served as Poet Laureate of Virginia from July 2006 to June 2008. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, Carolyn recently received the Alumni of the Year Award. She has published five books of poetry. Registration Form for Open Mike and Lunch Send to Joe Metz, 8005 Pembroke Circle, Spotsylvania, Va. 22553, (540) 582-9745, METZJS@COMCAST.NET Name _________________________________ Address _________________________________ _________________________________ Phone _________________________________ Email _________________________________ Do you want to sign up for the open mike poetry reading? ________ Morning (_____) or Afternoon (_____)? Do you want box lunches ($10 each)? ________ How many? ________Which Choice?_______ (Make check payable to Joe Metz, to be received by March 25.) For More Information Contact Larry Turner, 4208 Stonehaven Way, Fredericksburg VA 22408, 540-710-2518, Thanz3000@aol.com Driving Directions From I 95 (Exit 130A) or US Route 1: East on Route 3 Left on Business 3, Williams Street, after US 1 overpass. (1.2 mi from I 95, 0.2 mi from US 1) Drive through town on Williams Street. (1.4 mi) Cross Princess Anne (PR. ANNE) Street Left at next light, Caroline Street. Go two blocks. Library on right, 1201 Caroline Street. Parking: All-day parking is permitted on streets beyond (north of) the library. ________________________________________________________________________ Poetry Connection An essay by Nancy Allen My first poetry connection was to David’s psalm “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” When I faced loss, sorrow and pain, Aeschylus was there “Even in our sleep, pain which we cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until in our own despair, against our will come wisdom through the awesome grace of God.” Maya Angelou (“I’m a black ocean leaping wide, welling and swelling I bear the tide”); Langston Hughes (“Children, I come back today to tell you a story of the long dark way that I had to climb, that I had to know, in order that the race might live and grow.”) and Martin Luther King (“Everyone can be great.”)--- these three helped me relate to my heritage and made me know that life is something to express. Emma Lazurus (“Give me your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free”) helps me to respect and appreciate all people. Carl Sandburg (“The fog comes on little cat feet”) and Longfellow (“The wildflowers bloom, kissing the soft air”) always bring peace, joy and an appreciation of life. Many poets have influenced my life. Sometimes my fears and worries have been hushed aside when behind my brave smiles were sadness and fear. Poetry has brought comfort, joy, peace, understanding and knowledge. Wordsworth called poetry “the breath and finer spirit of all knowledge.” Thanks, Poetry Society of Virginia, for giving me the opportunity of being a part of a great organization and helping me fulfill my fondest dream, writing poetry, and helping me to know that life is truly something to express. - - - - - Editor’s note: thanks, Nancy, for your essay. Others are invited to submit essays on any aspect of poetry or your relationship to poetry. Stu Nottingham ________________________________________________________________________ Executive Committee Officers 2008-2009 President Patsy Anne Bickerstaff granypatsy@yahoo.com Vice President, Central Helen Eano nellnick@aol.com Vice President, Eastern Nancy Powell nancyp1734@aol.com Vice President, Northern Jack Underhill gwaposr@cox.net Vice President, So. Eastern Pete Freas mindworm@juno.com Vice President, Western Frank Craddock fdallasc3@aol.com Treasurer Peg Crews pegcrews@cox.net Membership Chair Stuart Nottingham poetryinva@aol.com Contest Chair, Adult Judith Bragg musicsavy45@yahoo.com Contest Chair, Student Peg Crews pegcrews@cox.net Newsletter Editor Stuart Nottingham poetryinva@aol.com Webmaster Linda Nottingham lindanottingham@aol.com Archivist Warren Harris wmharris@naxs.com Parliamentarian Guy Terrell ggterr@infionline.net Recording Secretary Maria Butler Mariawb@earthlink.net Poetry in the Schools Beth Huddleston bethhud@shentel.net Festival Chair Ed Lull ewlull@verizon.net Nominating Com. Chair Evelyn Tower ertower@earthlink.net Exec. Dir. Joseph Awad James McNally Carolyn Foronda Beth Huddleston Shirley Sellers Ed Lull Jim Gaines Adv. Board Ron Smith Margaret Morland Robert Arthur A Common Wealth of Poetry Jan. 2009 Newsletter of The Poetry Society of Virginia. Poetry Society Of Virginia 913 DeWolfe Dr. Alexandria VA 22308-2602 |
|
||