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“not of war” and other responses to the last Wednesday Writing Prompt

These are the responses to the last Wednesday Writing Prompt, August 8, do not make war. Enjoy and be sure to support and encourage these intrepid poets by liking, commenting and visiting their blogs. Thank you for joining us. Tomorrow another prompt will post and you are invited to come out and play and share your own prose or poetry.  All work shared will be featured in The Poet by Day the following Tuesday.

not of war, it …

not of war, it is peaceful here.

I have heard such dreadful stories

of casualties, these days

and before. senseless.

I would screw my words

if it would help.

I can help this one,

a victim of the

hot and dandy night.

I will show you his photograph.

I took her into the woods, the grass was

too long, though cooler there,

she was too small.

© 2017, Sonja Benskin Mesher (Sonja Benskin Mesher, RCA and Sonja’s Drawings)

.white feathers.

i dream i dream of porcupines.

white feathers dipped in blood.

bloody mess wars,

bodies rotting there. there

are thoughts while stitching that

this could save the world.

a quiet thing. no injuries, the blood

comes small in useful drops.

drops down, meditative sound.

white feathers fall.

porcupines.

© 2017, Sonja Benskin Mesher (Sonja Benskin Mesher, RCA and Sonja’s Drawings)

The Open Shop At War

As robust earth tumbles to an end
Whilst delivering value
I need an extra jumper.

As robust war is inevitable
whilst delivering value
I need a warmer coat.

As robust discussions are futile
whilst you deliver effective service solutions
I need to upgrade my phone.

As robust cease fires are temporary business models that deliver value
I need an extra pair of socks

All is end to end
Earth to end,
War continues.

Sharpen your core business
in a controlled manner,
grow your operations.
People must shop.

Open shops are a sign of peace
whilst buildings fall around them.

Open shops are a sign of calm
when dead people lie in the street.

Open Shops are a sign of order
amidst bomb craters, bullet holes
Open shops let people go on.

2017, Paul Brookes (The Wombwell Rainbow, Inspiration, History, Imagination)

I’m Just About

managing between the barricades.
My kids play between sniper targets.

I fetch the shop through broken
buildings perforated by gunshot,

past cars jammed across streets.

I’m just about managing between regimes.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/20/just-about-managing-families-to-be-2500-a-year-worse-off-by-2020-study?CMP=share_btn_tw

2017, Paul Brookes (The Wombwell Rainbow, Inspiration, History, Imagination)

An Infinity of Stars Woven

Within the landscape of time are
the shadows of war residing
casting doubts of fear
over hope filled integrity

for if I could but ease the pain
& erase the memory of horror
that slices through hearts
once laden with joy
I would

but there will always be those
who seek righteousness loaded
with weapons of destruction
their efforts devoid
of compassion

and soldiers who participate
on the battlefields of wars
whether at home or across seas
will carry scars always

and if it were possible within
me as a wordsmith to pen a poem
of salve and healing
I would

so that children may once again play
on peaceful soil under watchful eyes
of mothers and fathers
who can rest assured
of a tomorrow

filled with the spirit of love
& that fireworks will be celebration
& not the deafening voices
of bombs falling

for my soul cannot rest within me
until the vision of the universe
is the essence of peace shining
like an infinity of stars

the threads of woven fabric
like none that has ever been made
containing naught of the shadows of war
but a humanity of peacemakers
the gardeners sowing
seeds for the
future

© 2017, Renee Espriu (Renee Just Turtle Flight and Haibun,  ART & Haiku)

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

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

BLUE EARTH REVIEW, MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO’S LITERARY MAGAZINE publishes a journal bi-annually, which includes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and art. Submissions are read year-round. Details HERE.

THE MILLIONS “regularly publishes pieces from guest contributors.  The Millions also has several paid staff writers.  The number of staff writer spots is limited and we typically pull from our frequent guest contributors when adding new staff writers.” Details HERE.

PROLE “is a print magazine that publishes high quality, accessible poetry and prose. We aim to challenge, engage and entertain – but never exclude.” Submission guidelines HERE.

THE 2018 FILM AND VIDEO POETRY SYMPOSIUM is accepting “submissions of poetry films, filmpoems, digital-poetry, poetry video, Cin(E)-Poetry, spoken word films, videopoema, visual poetry, poetrinca, media poetry, and all films that are visually driven by text. Performance material, virtual reality projects, installation proposals, and video art presentations that hybrid or contain strong aspects of poetry are encouraged.

“The Film and Video Poetry Symposium also calls for experimental film and video work that explores language and/or literature whether it be oral, written, visual, or symbolic. This includes the film essay or cinematic essay, non-narrative work, and the avant guard. We will also strongly consider work that challenges traditional and current visual communication methods while continuing to function as a mode for exploring narrative and personal expression.” Further detail HERE.

JEWISH FICTION . NET is “currently the only English-language journal, in print or online devoted exclusively to publishing Jewish fiction.”  The zine is currently open to submission of literary short-fiction or excerpts from novels – longer than flash fiction but no longer than 6,000 words. Details HERE.

THE FLORIDA REVIEW and AQUFIER: THE FLORIDA REVIEW ONLINE publishes work from the international community and welcomes emerging writers and those who are well established. The review is published semi-annually. The Aquifer is a new online supplement. Further details and submission guidelines are HERE.

THE BeZINE September issue is the prequel to our virtual 100,000 Poets for Change (100TCP) 2017 event on September 30. Michael Dickel is master of ceremonies.  Watch this site for more detailed info or email Jamie Dedes at bardogroup@gmail.com. There are no demographic restrictions. The submission deadline for the magazine is the 10th as always and then visit on the 30th to participate in the virtual event.

CONTESTS

Opportunity Knocks

BLUE EARTH REVIEW, MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO’S LITERARY MAGAZINE annual summer contests (poetry, creative nonfiction and flash fiction) will close on August 15. Submission is electronic. If you have something prepared you can submit it in time. $5 entry fee. Cash awards. Details HERE.

PROLE is accepting submissions to its Laureate Poetry Competition, 2018 through January 31, 2018. Cash award. £3.00 for first entry, £2.00 for any subsequent entries. Details HERE.

UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, Etchings Press Whirling Prize for recently published books on Social Justice. Two $500 awards. Deadline September 17. Eligibility and other details HERE. (Thank you, Michael Dickel.)

EVENTS

  • New Orleans Poetry Festival and Small Press Fair, 2018 “will feature three days and nights of poetry readings and performances, panel discussions, fiction events, a small press fair with books for sale and display, musical acts, slam events, walking tours, open mic at the famous Maple Leaf Bar, and much more…” Further details HERE.
  • Bridgewater International Poetry Festival, 2018 at Bridgewater College, 402 E. College St., Bridgewater, VA 22812 Details and registration HERE.
  • World Poetry Day, 2018, to be held world-wide. on March 21. Details and history HERE.
  • The 2018 Film and Poetry Video Symposium, April 27 & 28, Details HERE.

NOTE: On The Poet by Day Facebook Page, I often post events, news, calls for submission that never make it here due to timing or space. For example, as they’ve been coming in through various venues, I have been posting the 100,000 Poets for Change events from around the world.

KUDOS

  • Carole Bromley and Mendes Biondo: to Carole for the publication of her new children’s poetry collection Blast Off and to Mendes for his interview of Carole, an award winning poet
  • James Burkowitz for the inclusion of his poem Tears for Peace in an upcoming (2018) anthology from San Francisco Peace and Hope
  • Diaphanous Press and DeWitt Clinton for the upcoming publication of Fishing with the Chinese Masters, poems by DeWitt Clinton. This will be Diaphanous Press’ first book publication. It’s first journal issue was published earlier this year.

OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION

YOUR SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS may be emailed to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Please do so at least a week in advance.

If you would like me to consider reviewing your book, chapbook, magazine or film, here are some general guidelines:

  • nothing that foments hate or misunderstanding
  • nothing violent or encouraging of violence
  • English only, though Spanish is okay if accompanied by translation
  • though your book or other product doesn’t have to be available through Amazon for review here, it should be easy for readers to find through your site or other venues.

DISCLAIMER

Often information is just that – information – and not necessarily recommendation. I haven’t worked with all the publications featured in Sunday Announcements or elsewhere on this site. Awards and contests are often a means to generate income and publicity for the host organizations, some of which are more reputable than others. I am homebound due to disability and no longer attend events. Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Some product links within posts are Amazon affiliate links. The Poet by Day is supported in part by these links. Your use of them costs you nothing and helps to keep this site running. When you click on a affiliate link (not all links are affiliate) and/or make a purchase I sometimes receive a small percentage of the purchase price. Thank you for your support.

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Consolation, fun and gusto . . .

“I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, and the noise of wind under the tiles.  Also, of endless books.” Surprised by Joy, The Shape of My Early Life, C.S. Lewis

Life happens – sometimes with breathtaking speed – until it doesn’t; so we are happy after all with the activities of these times:  dealing with some rather major life-changes … along with balancing work on The Poet by Day, the evolving Coffee, Tea and Poetry, and monthly issues of The BeZine, themed theatre for August. I am excited to be collaborating on this issue with my son, Richard Lingua, as well as a cascade of talented writers and poets and The BeZine core team (The Bardo Group, now The Bardo Group Beguines), recently dubbed The BeZiners by John Anstie.

This year has been a struggle and I’ve finally have to admit that the practical strategy for the moment is to cut back on various activities until I can reorganize to accommodate new circumstances. I know you understand. No one’s life is free of challenges to the status quo. That is, perhaps, a good thing.

“It is a very consoling fact that so many books about real lives – biographies autobiographies, letters, etc. — give one such an impression of happiness, in spite of the tragedies they all contain … Perhaps the tragedies of real life contain more consolation and fun and gusto than the comedies of literature?” The Letters of C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves

Meanwhile, I am determined at the very least to bring you Sunday Announcements (yesterday’s will post later today), Tuesday responses to Wednesday Writing Prompts, and Wednesday Writing Prompts. They may go up late, but they will go up.

Having said that, I have a slew of reviews and other material to share with you – all resting in wait for time and energy to do right by all the fine poets and writers I love and love to share with loyal and supportive readers who just happen to be writers and poets as well. You rock. Things are looking up even for bringing back the American She-Poets series. Please bare with me. Thanks for your patience … and poem on. Reading and writing is the stuff of magic. Literature, like life, does in fact offer consolation, fun and gusto. One vs. the other might just a matter of degree.

Warmly,
Jamie

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Compassionate Poetry Projects courtesy of The Grass Roots Poetry Group, White Rat Press, and Silva Merjanian

Not only do some poets use their work to raise the general consciousness but they often donate their work to help fund worthy efforts. Here are three collections that have been featured here before in greater depth. I believe you’ll appreciate  should you decide to read them.

A bit of research reveals there are many other such published collections or anthologies in process. As just two examples, I found one for asthma awareness and another to help support a local ambulance service.

If there’s a cause you’d like to support through poetry, rummage around the Internet or consider producing a collection or anthology yourself.  Not easy work, I know, but you might enjoy it and it would surely be rewarding.

John Anstie whose poem was featured yesterday is a member of The Grass Roots Poetry Group, a collaboration that created and published Petrichor Rising. The proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to UNICEF. The backstory is Petrichor Rising  and how the Twitterverse birthed friendships that in turn birthed a poetry collection. You’ll find links in that feature to purchase the book. John is also one of the earliest members of The BeZine team.

One day some time ago a few books arrived in my mailbox from Anne Stewart of  poetry p f and  Second Light Network of Women Poets Founder, Dilys Wood. Among the books was an anthology that deserved special attention: Hands & Wings, Poems for Freedom from Torture (White Rat Press, 2015).  For information to purchase contact: dorothy.yamamoto@whiteratpress.co.uk. Dorothy Yamamoto is a poet and the editor of this collection. The poems in it are freely shared by A-list poets. The proceeds from the sale of the collection go to help with the rehabilitation and support of torture victims seeking protection in the U.K.

When last I chatted with Silva Zanoyan Merjanian, she’d raised $682.70 for Mer Doon Inc. from the proceeds of Rumor (Cold Water Press, 2015). Mer Doon is an organization that houses orphaned eighteen-year-old girls aging out of care. This support gives the girls a chance to become financially independent and safe from human traffickers. So far the sales of Rumor have  generated over $5,000 for charities. Quite remarkable. If you buy the book directly from Silva’s site (as opposed to Amazon), all proceeds go to these charities. Rumor won the 2015 Best Book Award in the poetry category from the NABE. Three poems from the book were nominated for the Pushcart Prize.  It is Silva’s second published collection.

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