After a bit of a dry stretch, I’m thrilled to report that my poem “From The Front Porch” just won Kelsay Books’ 2023 Women’s Poetry Contest! The poem and judge’s citation can be read here. Interestingly, Allison Joseph was also the judge who chose my poem “Tandem Hang-Gliding Incident” as the winner of the 2016 Lauren K. Alleyne Difficult Fruit PP.
Along with a cash prize and several other goodies, this poem will be featured in the Summer 2024 issue of The Orchards Poetry Journal, along with some of my others plus an interview. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on that – and an upcoming virtual reading. My deep thanks to Karen and the Kelsay Books team for their generous support of authors!
For all my poet friends not on Facebook, I want you to know that this marvellous contest is now open for submissions – has a big prize, runs only every other year and publishes the finalists (which I was in 2022). I was also one of six finalists offered a 12 minute reading online afterward – a wonderful experience! An earlybird submission (to May 1st) of one poem is $20, later is $25 and additional poems $17. Definitely worth the cost of entry!
This poem first appeared under my maiden name in Canadian Author & Bookman (Vol. 54 N0. 3) in 1979. It’s so interesting rediscovering writings from a past chapter in one’s life – quite forgetting whom I thought I was…..
I’m honoured to have HOLDING and THE LISTENING included in the current theme of prayers, praise & blessings (you have to scroll down). Many thanks to editor d. ellis phelps for her vision!
As I walked through the frost-covered hills at dawn I was you, and you, in your dreams, were me. Only the veil of a lifetime tried to keep us from meeting …
Shadows of a truth prevailed: the formless secret moved, and vague forms—we— we embraced the heart-shaped clues.
And there, not on grey-breasted hills, we met, and danced the briefest dance before shades of a vision quieted our feet.
But we did dance. And the still pool I passed still reflects lost imaginings.
This poem was first published in April of 1976, along with three others of mine, in Vol. 10, Issue 13 of a magazine called either The Seneca or The Senca. I can’t find evidence online of what I noted but it’s legit as I have the actual page cut out. Anyway, now that I’m back from summer boating and in the wake of quite a few rejections, I thought I’d post some of these older poems. It’s always interesting rediscovering one’s poetic first steps. And I like to think that my time away from the internet (because of remote anchorages) enhances my “inner net” though I am thankful this method of communication is available again. Happy Fall to you all!
This is my second poem included in WOODLANDS, an anthology themed on nature, magic, mystery and myth and edited by the wonderful d. ellis phelps. Many thoughtful, meditative, open-ended poems to enjoy for those who’d like to read more: in the USA here and in Canada here.
I’m finally catching up on publications that happened earlier this year, when I was in Mexico. This is the first of two poems in the WOODLANDS anthology, edited by the wonderful d. ellis phelps. Also appearing in this anthology are poems by Stephanie L. Harper and Robert Okaji! The book is a terrific read, centered on themes of nature, magic, mystery and myth and can be purchased on Amazon US here or Amazon Canada here:
I’m honoured to have this recent poem included in Crosswinds Poetry Journal’s Contest Anthology 2023, alongside many poets I’ve long admired. Many thanks to Editor-In-Chief David Dragone for selecting it and for the beautiful journal he’s produced! It’s a great read – copies can be ordered here
Well, I’m not going to the moon but my poem “Luna” is, as part of The Polaris Trilogy anthology, specifically commissioned for the Lunar Codex – the first significant placement of contemporary arts on the Moon in over fifty years. The Polaris Collection will be launched in 2024 via the Astrobotic Griffin/NASA VIPER mission, landing in the Nobile Crater, in the vicinity of the Lunar South Pole. A poet’s dream! – at least one poem surviving my earthly passing lol. I’m in good company too – writer friends Stephanie Harper and Robert Okaji plus much-loved poets like Ted Kooser, Marianne Boruch and Rhina P. Espaillat are included. The book is wonderfully diverse; if you’d like a copy, you can purchase it here in Canada or here in the USA. My “Luna” was written a very long time ago and I’m thrilled to have it onboard this mission. Many thanks to Lead Editor Joyce Brinkman for her stellar work in putting this together!