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the way love works, a poem … and your Wednesday Writing Prompt

maybe a thing about particles and waves
or wave-particles and the way light works
and moves, the way soulmates’ eyes ignite
from moon dust, the way some ancient god
smiled and blinked, flicked an able wrist
to strew some billion stars across a
darkly barren sky, then asked his goddess
to suspend the amber moon …
its caress so softly lighted, it stirred
the hearts of night-blooming lovers

but surely …

surely the years run like the cheetah and
soon-or-late some hearts quake asunder,
just as surely as moon dust and starlight and
the way a true love fills in the fault lines

© 2013, poem, Jamie Dedes, All rights reserved‘ Photo courtesy of morgueFile

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT

What are you’re thoughts on soulmates? Tells us in prose or poem. If you feel comfortable, leave your work or a link to it in the comments below.  All shared work will be featured on this site next Tuesday.

Jamie’s THE WORDPLAY SHOP: books, tools and supplies for poets, writers and readers

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“the wild rumpus will now begin” … reader-poets respond to last Wednesday’s writing prompt

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT, June 7, 2017 Remember “Let the wild rumpus start!” in Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are? Such a wonderful book and that exclamation has stayed with me – probably you as well – and I always wanted to do something with it. This poem is what came from that inspiration. So, my challenge to you this week, is to use “wild rumpus” in a poem.

Thanks to Paul Brookes, Gary Bowers, Sonja Bensken Mesher and Renee Espriu for coming out to play.  Poem on…

He Was Pandemonium

He caused such a noise, such outcry, such a racket
from the time he crawled, had words & was walking
& with every sibling that arrived within our midst
there was discord between them and between us
from a knock on the door with unfortunate news
of the fact that a boy was perched upon the roof
to his sisters upset as they walked into a bedroom
to see the scurry of a frog causing a commotion
to the neighbor stating your son is in the alley
ought not to be experimenting with matches ought he
to the surprise knock of the police at the door
with a number of hood ornaments in his possession
to the night of upheaval he came home quite sodden
that as I thought in dismay of all the pandemonium
of the day he was born with strawberry blond hair
never I thought ‘the wild rumpus will now begin’ and it did

© June 2017, Renee Espriu (Renee Just Turtle Flight)

‘the shelter’

I will
quite like a wild rumpus here some time,
a make shift band, a straggled procession
down the lane, chanting, scaring the neighbours.

it is often quiet here, though Kenny’s voice
carries.

there will be four of us, costumes and laughing,
happy knowing who we are, comfort in skin.

we used to push you in the toy pram, your legs
spilling out, our selves the show.

it is often quiet here now, you have grown, this
is not your area.

we walk the district quietly.
wait in the shelter.

I will
quite like a wild rumpus here some time.

© 2017, Sonja Benskin Mesher (Sonjia Benskin Mesher, RCA)

jumperwear

my child a sump is
the coming of plumbing
and mycroft a plump whiz
and speeches undumbing.

but times lately jump us
we show unpreparedness
and fate may then trump us
unto our assbaredness,

so let us don jumpers
to join the wild rumpus
our rumps warm as dumpsters
our bumpers full bumptious.

© 2017, Gary Bowers (One With Clay)

This Psychonaturalist Notes

reedflare flamereed flickerflicker emberkernels lap air, conflagration without heat

in the lap of the grain as it breaks against gust
wild rumpus
amongst reedsway, cootcall, waveruffle, barkgangsign, trunksundials

amongst Geese and Seagull echoes perfect reflections under a halfmoon and quiet blue

evensong of last bell before eyeshorizon darkens and thought
sinks into eyes well to fetch waters reverie into light.

winter colours layered weather bittercoldflares inside skin, cloudsputter sharpcinder ice crackles faces.

© 2017, Paul Brookes (The Wombwell Rainbow)

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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, Events and Other News and Information

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

SONDER REVIEW publishes biannually in print and online and considers submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, art, interviews and reviews.Rolling deadline. This review also offers editorial services. Details HERE.

HAUNTED WATER PRESS, from the depths, publishes fiction, flash fiction and poetry.  Detailed submission calendar and submission guidelines HERE.

THE BeZINE submissions for the July 2017 issues (theme: Environmental Justice/Climate Change: Farming and Access to Water) should be in by July 10th latest.  Publication date is July 15th. Poetry, essays, fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music (videos), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration. Please check out a few issues first and the Intro./Mission Statement and Submission Guidelines. No demographic restrictions. (Apologies: Last weeks the incorrect date was provided for this theme and issue.  Any submission in line with this theme will still be considered for publication.)

THE FLEXIBLE PERSONA, a literary magazine publishes fiction, nonfiction and poetry biannually. August 31 is the deadline for creative flash nonfiction and flash fiction.  Submission guidelines are HERE.

Jewish Fiction .net “publishes only literary fiction (short stories and excerpts from novels). We consider work that is either written in English or translated into English from another language, as long as it has not yet been published in English, either in print or online … Submissions should be neither as short as flash fiction nor longer than 6,000 words…” Rolling submission policy.  Details HERE.

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FAIRY TALE REVIEW, a yearly publication of Wayne State University, features “poems, stories, and essays with a fairy-tale feel—mainstream to experimental, genre to literary, realist to fabulist.” Submissions to its digital platform are open at this writing. Details HERE.

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HARPER COLLINS accepts manuscript submissions for its romance imprints, Avon Impluse and Harper Legend. Details HERE.

CONTESTS/COMPETITIONS

THE SONDER PRESS ALL FICTION CHAPBOOK COMPETITION is open for submissions through August 31. The award is $300 and ten printed copies.  There is a $10 entry fee. Details HERE.

THE 2017 BARBARA MANDIGO KELLY PEACE POETRY AWARDS “is an annual serious of awards to encourage  poets to explore and illuminate positive visions of peace and the human spirit.” The three age categories: Adult, Youth 13-18, and Youth 12 and under. The contest is open to people worldwide. Poems must be original, unpublished, and in English. Deadline: July 1, 2017. Cash awards. Entry fees. Details HERE.

FAIRYTALE REVIEW, a yearly publication of Wayne State University, 2017 Poetry and Prose Awards close on July 15. $10 entry fee. Details HERE.

SLAMBASSADORS, The Poetry Society, 2017 UK National Championship Competition closes 30 September. Details HERE.

DRUE HEINZ LITERATURE PRIZE 2018 Call for submissions is open through June 30, 2017. This award is sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. “The award is open to writers who have published a novel or a book-length collection of fiction with a reputable book publisher, or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in magazines or journals of national distribution. Digital-only publication and self-publication do not count toward this requirement.” Details HERE.

LEIF AND INGER SJOBERG AWARD to encourage translation of Scandinavian literature is open through June 15, deadline. $2,000 award is given “to the best English translation of poetry, fiction, drama or literary prose written by a Scandinavian author in Danish, Finish, Icelandic, Norwegian or Swedish after 1800.” Details HERE.

LEDBURY POETRY COMPETITION 2017 is open through 13 July 2017. Details HERE.

EVENTS

LEDBURY POETRY FESTIVAL (UK)  runs from 30 June- 9 July 2017. Details and booking HERE.

HILL-STEAD MUSEUM (Connecticut) its 25th Sunken Garden Poetry Festival beginning on June 20 with Billy Collins. Details and calendar are HERE.

NEWS & OTHER INFORMATION

Jamie’s THE WORDPLAY SHOP: books, tools and supplies for poets, writers and readers

 

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

From anywhere in the world, you are welcome to send announcements to thepoetbyday@gmail.com These may include calls for submissions, contests/competitions, events, book launches, awards, poetry readings, classes and other news and information of interest to poets and writers. Publication is subject to editorial discretion. 

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HEADS-UP: Call to register and prepare for 100TPC global event and Last call for submissions to the June issue of “The BeZine”

Notice from founders Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carion ~

Dear Friends of 100 Thousand Poets for Change,

It is that time of year again when we begin to sign up organizers and events for the next Global 100 Thousand Poets for Change Day–September 30, 2017. Please let me know if you will be organizing in your town.

Also, as you know, 100 Thousand Poets for Change is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 and we need your donations to keep this movement going strong.

We would be grateful if you would take a moment to make a donation through Paypal at 100 Thousand Poets for Change Donation Link at http://100tpc.org/?page_id=14104 or send a check donation to 100 TPC, Box 180052, Tallahassee, Florida 32318, USA.

We need your support so that we can continue to provide a global platform for poets and artists to speak about peace, justice, sustainability, and community.

Now more than ever! Show your support!

Sincerely,

Michael and Terri

100 Thousand Poets for Change

100TPC.org

The BeZine will host a 100,000 Poets for Change virtual event. Poets are welcome to contribute from anywhere in the world and we encourage disabled poets to participate, especially those who are homebound.  Michael Dickel (Meta / Phor(e) / Play) takes the lead.

Deadline for the June issue is tomorrow (June 10th) at midnight PST.

THE BeZINE submissions for the June 2017 issues (theme: Environmental Justice/Climate Change: Farming and Access to Water) should be in by June 10th latest.  Publication date is June 15th. Poetry, essays, fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music (videos), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration. Please check out a few issues first and the Intro./Mission Statement and Submission Guidelines. No demographic restrictions.

The theme for the July issue is Prison Culture, Restorative Justice. The deadline is July 10th at midnight PST. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again) takes the lead.

Jamie’s THE WORDPLAY SHOP: books, tools and supplies for poets, writers and readers