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

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.org, poemhunters.com and poetryfoundation.org

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

POETRY CHALLENGE 20

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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!