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Oh My! 1967 – the first poem of mine ever published; Yikes! – 17 years old

Dan and I as kids and probably the last time he was shorter than I. He stands 6'5' and I stand 5'2".
My cousin Dan and me as kids and probably the last time he was shorter than I am. He stands 6’5′ and I stand around 5’2″ – give or take a bit depending on my shoes.

I was definitely the product you’d expect from the odd and awkward situation in which I grew up and surely I showed little talent, no free thinking and no genius or particular promise. The poem is not good – some youth write profoundly beautiful and wise poetry and young people today are far more savvy than I ever was  –  but it does illustrate that after fifty years or so writing will improve. We writers often have our doubts, but we are an unrelenting bunch. We write, write, write. We enrich, reform and reframe as if every word of ours will spark more Light in the collective unconscious, which I rather think they do.

Make of Me a Tree

I am young, Lord,
but my heart is true,
Make of me a tree

Make me strong and supple
That when tempests blow,
I shall stand unyielding.

Let me be humble in the
Praise of Your Majesty
And testify to Your greatness.

When rains besiege
Let me be shelter
To those who have not found Your Son,

For

Yes! I am young
but my heart is true:
Make of me a tree.

Amen.

– Jamie Dedes

As for cousin Dan in the photograph (six years younger than me), he was inspired by the poem to paint a lovely “portrait” of a tree. These days it’s Father Dan – Rev. Fr. Daniel S. Sormani, C.S.Sp. – a theologian and professor at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. Dan always showed real promise. Like my son, Richard, and Dan’s brother, Christopher, even as a toddler he was smart and funny.  So many of you appreciated Dan’s piece What Have We Done That People Can Pick Up Weapons and Kill?  Come March, Dan will be back in the United States. We will get to visit for the first time in forty years.

And, yes!, I did want to become a nun. I was told there would be family background checks and I feared rightly that there were things in my parent’s history that would embarrass my mom. I became a now-and-again wife, a mother, a writer, a poet. No regrets. The life mission is essentially the same though the vehicle of service differs and the actions are grounded in ethics not creed, which is not to imply that the two are necessarily exclusive.

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DANIEL S. SORMANI C.S. Sp.
DANIEL S. SORMANI C.S. Sp.

The Blessed Mother: She reminds me of who I am and who I should be, Daniel S. Sormani, C.S.Sp., The BeZine, July 2016

Note: The photograph of the two of us together was taken at a fundraiser our mothers were helping with for the Guild for Exceptional* Children in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York. This remains a worthy effort and worth your time if you happen to live in that area and are looking for a good cause to support.

* exceptional = developmental disabilities

© 1967/2016 photographs (Daniel Sormani Family Album) and text and poem (Gigi “Jamie” Dedes), All rights reserved

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HEADS-UP: New York, New York and Greensboro, North Carolina … if you’re tired of all the politicos and talking heads…Salvation!

13659039_1181668861888753_5467398691388450831_nSunday, July 31 at 4 PM – 6 PM in EDT
The Parkside Lounge
317 E Houston St, New York, New York 10002
Organized by Matt Pasca and Russ Green

RSVP: HERE

MATT PASCA is a teacher, editor and two-time Pushcart nominee whose poetry has appeared in dozens of journals and anthologies as well as two book length collections, A THOUSAND DOORS (2011) and RAVEN WIRE (2016). A 2003 New York State Teacher of Excellence, Matt teaches Poetry, Mythology and Literature and curates a poetry series–Second Saturdays @Cyrus–with his wife, author Terri Muuss. Pasca also advises an award-winning scholastic literary-art magazine, THE WRITERS’ BLOCK, and is a copyeditor and reviewer for the Long Island Authors Group. Matt has performed his work in New Mexico, Montana, Minnesota, Virginia, New Jersey, all around New York and has keynoted or taught workshops at colleges, conferences and continuing Ed. programs. http://www.mattpasca.com @Matt_Pasca

New York Times proclaims FRANKIE A. SOTO is a “FORCE”. A national touring & Spoken Word Poet & Author of a Weed in a Garden of Extraordinary Flowers & Forever is not enough. He was recently nominated for 2016 National Poetry Awards. Nominated & Premiered for Atlanta Hip Hop Film Festival for his HIV poem in 2013. He is published worldwide for various newspapers, magazines and articles & one of the ambassadors for fighting cancer with poetry in Washington DC

– photo © Matt Pesca

*****

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Triad Poetry Meetup, Greensboro, North Carolina

Organizer Alfred Harrell (“Like” his page)

If you enjoy having knowledge local key local poetry programs and want to support our community programming, please join us and help the continuous transformation of this group in great community of poets and poetry lovers!

What are some perks of members of this group enjoy?

• Free membership!

• Freedom to create and post community events without being a group leader as long as admission to those events are discounted or free for group members

• Poetry writing, poetry oral delivery and critique workshops

• Open mic reading and poetry slam events opportunities in a non coffee-house environment

Details HERE and HERE

– illustration © Alfred Harrell

 

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THE SUNDAY POESY: Opportunities, Events and Other Information and News

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JOBS/PAID & VOLUNTEER

Opportunity Knocks

REVIEWS EDITOR: Poetry London seeks a freelance Reviews Editor to join its editorial team. Applications are open now. Deadline: 30th of August.  Details HERE.

VOLUNTEER: PEN Center USA is accepting volunteer applications! “Volunteering at the Center is a great way to get involved with your local literary community. Rewarding opportunities to assist in PEN Center USA programming and events are available year-round. In some cases, training may be required.” Details HERE.

ARTISTS-AT-RISK PROJECT DIRECTOR: PEN America seeks a creative, visionary, and highly organized Project Director for a critical role in launching a new support system for artists at risk worldwide. This innovative initiative, conceived in consultation with a global network of partners and implemented with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is aimed at strengthening and expanding the web of services available to assist members of the creative community who face threats in retaliation for the exercise of cultural expression. MORE

ARTISTS-AT-RISK PROJECT MANAGER/COORDINATOR: PEN America seeks a talented, energetic, and highly organized Project Manager/Coordinator for a critical role in launching a new support system for artists at risk. This innovative initiative, conceived in consultation with a global network of partners and implemented with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is aimed at strengthening and expanding the web of services available to assist members of the creative community who face threats in retaliation for the exercise of cultural expression. MORE

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

BLUELINE “seeks poems, stories and essays about the Adirondacks and regions similar in geography and spirit, focusing on nature’s shaping influence. We also welcome creative nonfiction that interprets the literature or culture of the region, including northern New York, New England and Eastern Canada.

“Blueline always publishes both new and established writers. You’ll catch our attention if your writing is vigorous, interesting and polished. We’re not interested in effusive descriptions of scenery. We are looking for realistic approaches to the environment: the literature we publish expresses imagination, reflection, and insight about the natural world.

“The submission period is July through November. Decision are made mid-February. Payment is made in copies. Simultaneous submissions accepted if identified as such: notify the editors immediately if a simultaneous submission is placed elsewhere. No previously published works.” Details HERE.

URBAN FARMHOUSE is “looking for book-length manuscripts meeting the following general guidelines: Crossroads Poetry Series: minimum 50-60 pages of poetry,single spaced, and one poem per page. Fiction: minimum 150 pages of prose, 12 pt font, double-spaced. Novellas: 60-145 pages of prose, 12 pt font, double-spaced.  Cities of the Straits Chapbook Series: 20-40 pages of poetry or fiction. 12 pt font, double-spaced. Submissions open from April to August annually. All manuscripts chosen for publication will receive a book contract and 8% royalties on all print copies sold.” Details HERE.

SEDIMENTS LITERARY-ARTS JOURNAL “accepts poetry, short stories, and art. Accepted work for the quarterly issue will be published to the homepage every Sunday at 11AM.  Now – August 31: Submit to Themed Issue “Happy Holidays!” Upcoming Dates: September: Issue Eight Release October 1 – 31: Submit to Issue Nine December: Themed Issue “Happy Holidays!” Release.  Details HERE.

ARTEMISpoetry (Demographic restrictions.) Issue 17, November 2016 (& Issue 18, May 2017) Editors for Issue 17 are: General & Artwork – Dilys Wood and June Hall; Poetry – Wendy French. Readers’ Letters are invited. Comments on the journal’s content or anything you would like to see discussed in relation to women’s writing. (max 100 words). All submissions: submit paper copy initially to Dilys Wood, 3 Springfield Close, East Preston, West Sussex, BN16 2SZ. Please write “ARTEMISpoetry” on your envelope. (Enquiries only: e-mail Administrator editor@poetrypf.co.uk) Poems: Issue 17 deadline – 31st August 2016. Poems by women of any age.

Poems should be typed, or if written, then very neatly. Each poem should commence on a new page, headed “Submission for ARTEMISpoetry“. Please SEND TWO COPIES. Do include your name with each poem and include your name and full contact details in your submission. Long poems are considered. Submit up to 4 poems to a maximum of 200 lines in all. Contributors whose poetry is accepted will be notified by 31st October 2016. Further details HERE.

Note: If you feel intimidated by submittable or other electronic submissions managers used by publishers, ARTEMISpoetry accepts neat handwritten material and is one of an ever decreasing number of publications that will accept snail-mail submissions. For some people, this removes a barrier to entry. If you are one such and female, take adavantage. Nothing ever happens if you don’t try.

THE BeZINE is accepting email submissions (bardogroup@gmail.com) for the August issue through August 10.  The theme is: Hope: Great Expections and Quiet Desires.  We seek poetry, essay, flash fiction, videos, and photography. Also consider are editorials (500 – 740 words) on current issues or trends for our new BeAttitude section.  Submission guidelines HERE. ‘

EVENTS

HEADS-UP TALLAHASSEE: Poetry Reading with Michael Rothenberg, Terri Carrion, El Habib Louai, Geoff Bouvier and friends. Thursday, July 28 at The Black Dog on the Square at 567 Industrial Dr, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301 starting at 7:00pm. It’s going to be great!

TRANSATLANTIC POETRY on Air (Google Hangouts), an iniiative by poet Robert Peake, next poetry reading is  August 14th at 8 pm BST/3pm EDT/12 pm PDT with Vahni Capildeo and Tyehimba Jess. Read on … a link to the site and more detail is under Kudos.

KUDOS

ROBERT PEAK‘s fabulous Transatlantic Poetry Series is now in its third year.  Peake is an British-American poet living near London. His latest collection The Knowledge is available from Nine Arches Press. Transatlantic Poetry is “a platform that openly encourages participation from individuals and organisations with a strong commitment to the support of poetry globally.”  You can hear poets reading their work and discussing poetry at Google Hangouts on pre-scheduled dates. You are able to ask questions. Link HERE for more information.  Be there or be square – really! An archive of all past event videos is available. Bravo, Robert!

ARTEMISpoetry editor for the November issue: Wendy French recently completed a Poet Residency at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre. Her resulting book, Thinks Itself a Hawk, is published by Hippocrates Poetry Press (2016). French also ran creative word groups for patients and carers. She is one of six poets included in a showcase anthology from Avalanche Books.

MICHAEL ROTHENBERG announced this week that the hard copy proof of his new book of poems, Drawing The Shade, arrived today from Dos Madres Press. “We’re almost there.”

MYRA SCHNEIDER‘s thirteenth collection, Persephone in Finsbury Park (Second Light Press, 2016), is available at poet Anne Stewart’s p f poetry site.

TIDBIT

Literature & Medicine

If you are viewing The Sunday Poesy from email, you’ll likely have to link through to view this video.

THE POET BY DAY SUNDAY POESY

Submit your event, book launch and other announcements at least fourteen days in advance to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.

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LATE-BREAKING NEWS: PEN America and Jean Stein to Honor Groundbreaking Literature with New Awards of $75K and $10K

PEN America Center (PEN), founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators. PEN America Center is the largest of the 144 centers that belong to PEN International, the worldwide association of writers that defends those who are harassed, imprisoned and killed for their views.[1] PEN America Center is one of two PEN centers located in the USA, the other is PEN Center USA in Los Angeles, it covers the USA west of the Mississippi.
PEN America Center (PEN), founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators. PEN America Center is the largest of the 144 centers that belong to PEN International, the worldwide association of writers that defends those who are harassed, imprisoned and killed for their views.PEN America Center is one of two PEN centers located in the USA, the other is PEN Center USA in Los Angeles, it covers the USA west of the Mississippi.
This week PEN America announced the establishment of the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, a literary honor that will be conferred annually on a book that has broken new ground and signals strong potential for lasting influence.

$75,000 Prize to be Awarded to a Single Writer for Originality and Impact
$10,000 Grant for a Literary Oral History Project

The new award will recognize a book-length work of any genre for “originality, merit, and impact,” spotlighting a work of literature that reshapes the boundaries of its form. Funded by oral historian Jean Stein, the $75,000 award will be among the largest literary prizes in the U.S., as well as the largest prize offered by PEN. In a departure for the PEN America Literary Awards, the judging panel of distinguished writers will serve anonymously. The panel will nominate candidates internally and without submissions from the public.

“The PEN/Jean Stein Book Award will focus global attention on remarkable books that propel experimentation, wit, strength, and the expression of wisdom,” said PEN America President Andrew Solomon. “As an organization that champions literature’s power to change the world, PEN America is especially pleased to recognize work that honors creative ambition and rejoices in imagination. We are immensely grateful to Jean Stein for this opportunity to celebrate books that rethink our culture and humanity.”

Stein’s own literary pursuits have engaged some of the most influential figures in American culture, including an interview with William Faulkner for The Paris Review in 1956. She chronicled the life of Robert F. Kennedy with editor George Plimpton in the 1970 book American Journey: The Times of Robert Kennedy. In 1982, she was the author of Edie: American Girl, which was also edited with Plimpton. Most recently, she profiled five prominent families from Los Angeles in West of Eden. From 1990 to 2004, Stein was the editor of Grand Street, a literary and visual arts magazine.

In addition to the book award, Stein will also sponsor a new PEN America Literary Award for oral history. The PEN/Jean Stein Grant for Oral History will award $10,000 to support the completion of a literary work of nonfiction that uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement.

The PEN America Literary Awards is the most comprehensive awards program in the country, offering prizes across a wide range of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, theater, translation, and more. With the addition of these two new awards, the 2017 PEN America Literary Awards will confer over $250,000 to writers and translators.

Both new awards sponsored by Stein will be conferred for the first time in 2017, with the inaugural honorees to be named at the PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony in New York in February.

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