Thursday, October 30, 2014

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG...

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ALL ENTRIES ON THIS BLOG WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL DECEMBER 4th. 

 I AM OFFICIALLY WRITING A BOOK FOR NATIONAL NOVEL WRITER'S MONTH IN NOVEMBER. 




I WILL ALSO BE PARTICIPATING IN  THE 2014 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE.


For info on these two events please click on nanowrimo.org  and writersdigest.com/editor-blogs-poetic-asides



***Most blog images are courtesy of stockvault.net

TAKING CHALLENGE 23

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NO REGRETS


i had waited for this
moment a long time
not thinking it would
really happen
knowing  all  the while
i was out of
my league
so when    
in a moment of
weakness 
her sweetness was
left unattended  
i ate
that whole apple pie
she just baked


UPCOMING EVENTS

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NEW YORK CITY
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THE POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA,  in conjunction with the NYU Creative Writing Program,  Baruch College,  and  Fordham University's poetry series, Poets Out Loud,  proudly presents,


THE NEW SALON: READINGS AND CONVERSATIONS

The following celebrated and highly acclaimed poets are scheduled to participate:

Thursday, 11/13 @ 7 pm - Claudia Rankine

Tuesday, 11/18 @ 6 pm - Marilyn Nelson


Monday, 11/24 @ 7 pm - r erica doyle and Angela Jackson




  IF YOU HAD TO ASK WHO? I'M SORRY FOR YOU!     BUT....just in  case you do...Google their names and find out!


These events are FREE and open to the public.

For a detailed schedule of events and locations, log on to poetrysociety.org


POET PROFILE

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ALBERY ALLSON WHITMAN was born a slave in Hart County, Kentucky in 1851, and went on to become the finest Black poet of his era. At one time he was considered the "Poet Laureate of the Negro Race. 

When slavery ended in 1865,Whitman, whose parents died before emancipation, was orphaned. He was 14 years old.

He worked in various trades:  at a plow shop, railroad construction, and as a school teacher. Although he had very little schooling,  Whitman published  his first volume of poetry in 1870.  At about the same time, he also entered Wilberforce University in Ohio. 

After 6 months at the school, Whitman went on to become a pastor under the guidance of Bishop Daniel Payne, who was one of the founders of the university in 1856, and in 1863, after the AME church bought the school, he became the first Black president of a college in the United States.

Although never formally ordained, in 1877 , at the age of 26, Whitman became pastor of an AME church in Springfield,Ohio. From 1879-83 he established churches and led congregations in  Ohio, Kansas, Texas, and Georgia. During those years, his poetry was highly praised by critics and other poets as well.

Whitman was an innovator, and fearless in his poetic voice. His achievements place him in the first rank of contemporary Black and White poets. His talents as a poet has been described as somewhere between Phillis Wheatley and Paul L. Dunbar.

He died of pneumonia in 1901. 


To read more details of his bio, Google his name

Thursday, October 23, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 23

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CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
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WRITE A POEM DESCRIBING SOMETHING YOU DID WRONG BUT DO NOT REGRET.

TAKING CHALLENGE 22

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THE JAIL HOUSE BLUES


came home this morning
about half past three
came home about 
half past three
got in this evening about
half past three
county sheriff there
waiting for me 

you under arrest
for shooting ben brown
i arrest you for shooting
ben brown
i'm locking you down
for shooting ben brown
and not putting
that fool in the ground


Thursday, October 16, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 22

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CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
...............................................

Write a musical poem in the "voice" of  (pick one) jazz, blues, pop, rock, or soul.

TAKING CHALLENGE 21

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SECOND CHANCE


young love blooming
like flowers in
the garden of delight
young love budding
hovering like 
bumble bees over a
blossom 
waiting to taste                                                 
to drink
unaware that the 
hummingbird
has gone away with
the nectar
leaving an empty
shell
a broken
heart to fend for
itself too cautious to
take a chance
on love again
to trust again
until 
finally the need within
challenges the odds
without
and finds the
greatest love of all

EXAMPLE OF A COUPLET POEM

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See post: SIMPLY WRITE A POEM 10/2/14

The Rose of Battle

 
W. B. Yeats

THIS JUST IN...

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GOODREADS POETRY CONTEST

Goodreads and the iPOETRY! group have partnered to host an ongoing poetry contest.

Submit your poem(s) for consideration.

Goodreads honors wordsmiths: poets and poetry promoted and prompted here.

Log on to goodreads.com for further details

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new york city
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On Friday 10/31 @5 pm POETS HOUSE presents Haunted Poets House: A Halloween Reading and Celebration  for children.

Parents, bring your child in costume to hear monstrous, spooky verse by such poets as Shel Silverstein, Robert Louis Stevenson and others.

Log on to poetshouse.org for details

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Evening Street Review and Press is now accepting poems for publication. They currently offer two prizes:

1- The Sinclair Poetry prize is awarded during odd years, for the best full-length manuscript of original poems.

2- The Helen Kay Chapbook prize is awarded for poetry exceeding 35 pages.

Both awards include a monetary prize, inclusion in the review and printing of the award-recipient's book.

For info log on to eveningstreetpress.com



Thursday, October 9, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 21

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CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

*A two-in-one poem challenge:

1- Write a poem describing a negative event that changed your life.                                                                                                                      

 2- Write a poem describing a positive event that changed your life.        

*You can write two different poems, a two-part poem, or combine them as one poem. 

TAKING CHALLENGE 20

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
AT ALL TIMES


life keeps you
busy
going
doing
renewing
at all times
but don't lose                  
sight
neglect
forget
your source
the one from whom
all blessings flow
so
love 
honor
praise
at all times
always

DEAD POETS REMEMBRANCE DAY

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On Saturday 10/4 @7 pm the Let's Talk Poetry Group met at John Bishop Memorial Park, in Whitehall Ohio to read the poetry of Ohio's own Paul Laurence Dunbar. It was a poetry event as part of the observance of the 5th Annual Dead Poets Remembrance Day.

Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1872, the son of former slaves. In 1896 he published a collection of verse, Lyrics of Lowly Life, for which he gained national recognition. He died in Dayton in 1906. The house in which he lived from 1904-06 is now a historic museum.


The event began with a brief reading of Dunbar's biography. After a silent moment of remembrance, the following poems were recited aloud on the stage of the John F. Lacorte Amphitheater: The Negro Love Song, We Wear the Mask, When Malindy Sings, and 

           COMPENSATION

Because I had loved so deeply,
Because I had loved so long,
God in His compassion
Gave me the gift of song.


Because I had loved so vainly,
And sung with such faltering breath,
The Master in infinite mercy
Offers the boon of death.

UPCOMING EVENT

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On Tuesday 10/14 @6 pm Witter Bynner Fellow***, Honoree` Fanonne Jeffers discusses Phillis Wheatley, and reads from "The Age of Phillis," her new book on the 18th century poet.

***The Witter Bynner** Fellow is awarded annually to two or more poets who are chosen by the U.S. Poet Laureate in conjunction with the Library of Congress. Fellows are expected to participate in a poetry reading at the Library of Congress in October and to organize a poetry reading in their respective cities.

This special event takes place in the state of Oklahoma. For details log on to loc.gov/poetry/events

Witter Bynner Fellowships are administered by the Library of Congress and sponsored by the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry, an organization that provides grant support for poetry programs through nonprofit organizations.

**Witter Bynner was an American poet, writer, and scholar (1881-1968). He published his first book of poems in 1907. In 1911, he was the Harvard Phi Beta Kappa Poet.
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To read a bio of Witter Byner Google his name.

To learn more about Honoree` Fanonne Jeffers Google her name.

To learn more about the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry and the qualifications for and the application process involved in becoming a fellow, log on to bynnerfoundation.org

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

POETIC BIRTHDAY

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1934
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BORN ON THIS DAY - AMIRI BARAKA, poet, writer,  activist, actor, teacher, theater producer/director/writer, in Newark, New Jersey.

In 1951, Baraka won a scholarship to Rutgers University, but transferred to Howard University the next year. His major fields of study were philosophy and religion. He also studied at Columbia University and the New School of Social Research.

During the late 50s he was a central figure in the Beatniks Movement and the New York School Poets in Greenwich Village. Here he worked as an editor and critic, founded Totem Press, and published the poems of Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac, who were Beat poet icons.

In 1961 he published his first book of poems, and the rest in history.

Throughout his storied career Baraka has written and edited volumes of poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction, as well as making literary contributions to music and films. He has also received honors from a number of prestigious foundations.

Baraka has influenced a generation of Black poets and writers. He remains one of the most prolific and controversial figures in literary history.




To read a comprehensive bio Google search his name.

To read his poetry click on  poets.orgpoemhunters.com and poetryfoundation.org

Friday, October 3, 2014

THIS JUST IN

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NEW YORK CITY
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POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNUAL AWARDS


Each year from October thru December the Poetry Society holds contests for poets at all stages of their careers.

A prize for high school students, our Chapbook Fellowships for, and our award for a poet over 40 who has published no more that 1 book.

These are just a few.  Accepting submissions from 10/1--12/22

For more info and guidelines click on poetrysociety.org

Thursday, October 2, 2014

POETRY CHALLENGE 20

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

Write a poem to explain the expression " take time to stop and smell the flowers by the side of the road."

TAKING CHALLENGE 19

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NOT HOW IT LOOK

look baby please
baby
i know how this
look but she
just stopped by
uninvited
i swear
no
it was not planned
i swear she
conniving
baby please
damn

UPCOMING EVENT

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The 5th Annual Dead Poets Remembrance Day (DPRD) will take place from 10/4 through 10/12.

For a schedule of readings log on to writedatbook.blogspot.com (see post: This Just In... 10/1)

For info on the history of the literary holiday click on deadpoes.org/DiaDead




SIMPLY WRITE A POEM

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COUPLETS

A couplet poem is simply composed of two-line stanzas that rhyme. Although couplets seem very, well, simple, they can be disappointing or uninteresting without some planning.

Thinking of your poem as a little story or a description of an activity can be a way of adding interest. For example, here is a simple couplet. 

Music

Voice of instruments fill the air
Sounds of music everywhere.

Using the above as a guide, follow these simple steps to write a couplet poem:

{1} Select a subject (music)

{2} Write a first line about the subject (Voice of instruments fill the air)

{3} List words that rhyme with the last word in the line. bear, care, dare, chair, everywhere,________, _________, _________,

{4) Write a second line ending with a rhyming word from your list (Sounds of music everywhere.)

{5} Follow these same steps over and over to write other couplets about your topic. 

 The violins are singing
 And the tambourines are ringing.

And that is how to simply write a poem.         

Write as many couplets as you need to tell your story!

HERE IS A SIMPLE COUPLET POEM. NOTICE HOW THE TWO LINES ARE MADE TO RHYME WITHIN A FOUR LINE FORMAT.

XII
BY EMILY DICKINSON


I asked no other thing.
No other was denied.

I offered Being for it;
The mighty merchant smiled.
_______________________________________________first line
Brazil? He twirled a button,
Without a glance my way;

"But madam, is there nothing else
That we can show to-day?"
______________________________________________second line

SIMPLY WRITE A POEM will provide you with step-by-step guidance for writing a variety of poetry forms with detailed examples. These instructions can be utilized by poets on all levels of writing experience.      STAY TUNED!