“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.” Joseph Brodsky
Well life happened – as it usually does until it doesn’t – and I missed Banned Book Week, September 25- October 1 – but it’s never too late to ponder banning and the unreason that often leads to it. One of the more humorous examples is:
How Not to Have to Dry the Dishes
If you have to dry the dishes
(Such an awful boring chore)
If you have to dry the dishes
(‘Stead of going to the store)
If you have to dry the dishes
And you drop one on the floor
Maybe they won’t let you
Dry the dishes anymore
– Shel Silverstein from A Light in the Attic (Harper Collins, 1981)
I wouldn’t blame you if you are surprised to think that a work by the recipient of a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards would be banned. Consider also that Shel Silverstein’s books have been translated into thirty languages and have sold over twenty-million copies. He may have written for children but adults are enamoured of his writing too. So why was A Light in the Attic banned? According to Cunningham Elementary School in Wisconsin, Shel’s book would encourage children to break dishes in order to avoid having to dry them. Apparently some people are missing a funny bone.
Ginsberg’s Howl was famously condemned as obscenity. Publisher Lawrence Ferlighetti and City Light’s Bookstore Manager Shig Murao were arrested, Ferlighetti for publishing obscene literature and Murao for selling it. There was a protracted and very public trial. Ultimately, it was determined that the book was protected under Freedom of Speech. The judge also pronounced the book “not obscene.” Here is a clip Howl, a movie about the trial. James Franco plays Allen Ginsberg.
If you are reading this post from an email subscription, you’ll likely have to click through to the site to view the video.
Not too long ago we celebrated the life and work of Gwendolyn Brooks. In this video she reads her poem We Real Cool and explains why some chose to ban it …
Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass was withdrawn from libraries for “explicit language. Six poems from Les Fleurs du mal by French poet Charles Baudelaire were considered an insult to public decency. Baudelaire and his publisher were fined and the poems suppressed. The Roman poet Ovid’s Ars Amatoria – essentially a relationship guide in a series of three books compossed in elegiac couplets – was considered “licentious.” Some speculate that Ovid was banished from Rome for it.
Some poets suffer worse than banishment, banning and fines. PEN America reports HERE (scroll down) on writers and poets around the world who are on trial, imprisoned or murdered for the perspectives revealed in their work. Such poets often remind us of social injustices that remain simmering but unaddressed in a back corner of our minds. They create awareness of current injustices and inspire us to act. They call on us to hold ourselves and the powerful to account, often pointing out the ways in which we are complicit. That these poets and their work are found so threatening is a testimony to the power of words. There’s some solace in that.
Here’s the good news: There are thousands of peace-loving, peace-living artists who gather in solidarity in some 120 countries around the world each year on the fourth Saturday of September and who connect and continue to work and stay connected even after the main event is over. The main event is 100,000 Poets for Change (100TPC), which is in its sixth year.
If we were rioting in 120 countries, for sure you’d see us on CNN, but we bare witness to the desire for and possibility of peace and apparently that doesn’t qualify as news: won’t get the adrenalin going, won’t sell laundry soap, won’t create division among us so that the wealthy and powerful can use us for their own ends. The world in all its strife is left to learn about 100TPC through social media. So be it …
THE BACK STORY:
I wasn’t there at the beginning, but I imagine that 100 Thousand Poets for Change founders, Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion (both of Big Bridge Press), were having dinner one night – maybe with some other poets and some artists and musicians – contemplating the state of the world, the disconnection among communities and nations and trying to think of some way to connect positively, to come together in the service of shared ideals such as harmony, stewardship and compassion. And so it happened that in 2011, Michael put out a call on Facebook for 100,000 Poets for Change and a movement was born. If memory serves there were 700 events held simultaneously around the world that first September.
The first night of the 100TPC World Conference in Salerno, Italy in 2015. Over 80 poets from 22 countries and 6 continents came together to share and to plan for the future of 100TPC
Michael and Terri recently stated that peace and sustainability …
. . . are major concerns worldwide and the guiding principles for this global event. All participants hope, through their actions and events, to seize and redirect the political and social dialogue of the day and turn the narrative of civilization towards peace and sustainability. We are living in a world where it isn’t just one issue that needs to be addressed. A common ground is built through this global compilation of local stories, which is how we create a true narrative for discourse to inform the future . . .
“What kind of change are we talking about? The first order of change is for poets, writers, musicians, artists, anybody, to actually get together to create and perform, educate and demonstrate, simultaneously, with other communities around the world. This will change how we see our local community and the global community. We have all become incredibly alienated in recent years. We hardly know our neighbors down the street let alone our creative allies who live and share our concerns in other countries. We need to feel this kind of global solidarity.”
What started as a poets’ event now includes artists, photographers, musicians, drummers, mimes, dancers, arts lovers and other peacemakers.
Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion created a website where anyone who wanted to organize an event could register. It is to this site that you may go to register an event or to find an event in your area. If you want to organize an event and it sounds rather onerous to you, keep in mind that while an event might be big and attended by many in a park or town square, it might also be a small gathering of like-minded artists at your home or a local cafe. I organized The BeZine 100TPC virtual event because I am largely home bound and assume there are others out there like me who would like to participate in 100TPC but would find it difficult to spend the day out. This virtual event also gives people anywhere a place to participant in 100TPC if there is no event scheduled in their vicinity. So just use your imagination and be creative about this. You might dedicate a book club meeting to it or an afternoon at church. This year, Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) has organized a peacemaking circle to be held at her church in Seattle. Bravo!
Organizers generally make flyers for their events. These are often small works of art. Depending on religious or national holidays, in some countries the events are held on days other than the fourth Saturday of September. In other countries – Morocco is one – events are held monthly. The main consistency is spirit and shared vision.
If you are reading this post in an email, you will likely have to link though to view this slide show.
THE BeZINE 100,000 POETS FOR CHANGE, virtual event
The BeZine 100,000 Poets for Change will start on September 15th with our September issue. Priscilla Galasso (scillagrace) is the lead for that issue. The theme is Environment and Environmental Justice, which is our chosen theme for 100TPC 2016. If you’d like to submit work on topic for that issue, send it to bardogroup@gmail.com. Please review submission guidelines first.
Our 100TPC event is hosted from our blog. The post will go up at 12 a.m. PST on September 24 and you can begin including work immediately using either the comments section or Mister Linkey. Direction will be included in the content of the post. American-Israeli Michael Dickel (Fragments of Michael Dickel) is the Master of Ceremonies again this year. He does a fabulous job of it and will keep the action and commentary running via the comments section. You are encouraged to share your own work and to read the work of others. I’ll be on hand to give Michael breaks and to keep the dialog going until midnight PST – California. Ultimately all work shared is archived on site and at Standford University. Please keep in mind, that this is not just for poetry. You can share appropriately themed fiction, music video, creative nonfiction – whatever can be shared in a comment. Long pieces can be shared by putting in the url link to your work on your blog or website.
To help get you going, we’ll do 100TPC writing prompts here at The Poet by Day on Wednesdays, August 23 and August 31, so that you can begin working on something for September 24. Comments will be open for sharing and – in fact – as of today, comments are open again on this site.
100,000 PEACEMAKERS FOR CHANGE, Seattle, WA
This event is organized by The Bardo Group Beguines‘ Rev. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, 3118 S 140th Street, Tukwilia, Washington 98168 on Saturday, September 24th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. with a social gathering after from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Terri will lead a peacemaking circle that will focus on earth justice. She says, “We want to make a public witness of peace and peace for the earth. Hope to see you there!” The Facebook Page for this event is HERE.
That same afternoon there will also be a food drive in process at Riverton for the Tukewila Pantry Emergency Food Bank and donations of food or money are welcome. Here is the wish list if you are able to help:
Remember, wherever you are in the world, go to 100TPC to find an event in your area or to register to hold one and no matter where you are, you can also participate in The BeZine’s 100TPC virtual event.
DELAWARE POETRY REVIEW is currently sponsoring a national (U.S.) open call-out for “Previously Unpublished Poetry Dedicated to Prince.” Deadline: July 15, 2016Details HERE
BUTCHER’S DOG is a biannual poetry magazine that is currently reading submissions. The deadline is 31 July 2016. Editors “welcome submissions from writers living in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, particularly those with a connection to Northern England. There is no set theme, we just want you to send us your best work.” Details HERE
LIMINAL STORIES is currently reading poetry and fiction submissions and will close again on June 30 at 11:59 p.m. The search is for poems of “a particular tone.” Editors “like poems with strong imagery and precise language. Fantastical elements are encouraged, but not required. Some of the editor’s favorite poets include, but are not limited to, Claudia Emerson, Jamaal May, Judy Jordan, Jack Gilbert, Ai, and David Kirby.” Poems may be any length and payment on publication is $50. Editors will consider fiction up to 10,000 words and pay six cents a word on publication. No reprints, non-fiction, simultaneous or multiple submissions. Details HERE
THE RUMPUS accepts submissions year round for essays, reviews, interviews, advice, music, film and poetry and – heads-up – comics. More than a few readers here do comics – yes!, I do pay attention. Writer’s Guidelines for The Rumpus are HERE.
YES! MAGAZINE – Each issue of YES! includes a series of articles focused on a theme—about solutions to a significant challenge facing our world—and a number of timely, non-theme articles. “Our non-theme section provides ongoing coverage of issues like health, climate change, globalization, media reform, faith, democracy, economy and labor, social and racial justice, and peace building.” Submission Guidelines HERE
THE BeZINE is open for submissions of essays, feature articles, book and movie reviews, short stories, poetry, art, photography and video. (We might take a good cartoon as well!) The theme for the June issue is “Friendship” and the deadline for June is the 13th. Send to bardogroup@gmail.com Submissions guidelines and themes for upcoming months are HERE
ARTEMISpoetry deadline for Issue 17, November 27 has not yet been announced. Submission is open to women only, including non-members. “We aim to publish new work, so submissions should be unpublished (by ‘published’ we mean: in print, on the internet or by way of media broadcast or on CD), and not ‘out in submission’ elsewhere, whether to magazines or competitions.” Details HERE.
NIGHTJAR REVIEW is a new publication that is currently reading submissions of poetry and also welcome art. The reading period will close at the end of July. Details HERE.
CONTESTS/COMPETITIONS/GRANTS
Opportunity Knocks
SUSTAINABLE ARTS FOUNDATION, SUPPORTING ARTISTS AND WRITERS WITH FAMILIES: Online Application available July 15, 2016; Deadline to apply September 2, 2016; Awards announced November 18, 2016 Applicants must have at least one child under the age of 18 years.
Sustainable Arts Foundation Visual Arts Award: $6,000
Sustainable Arts Foundation Writing Award: $6,000
There will be multiple winners for each award.
“Additionally, we will be awarding a number of smaller Promise Awards to those applicants whose work may not qualify for the main awards, but nonetheless demonstrates both skill and potential.”
RESCUE PRESS presents the BLACK BOX POETRY PRIZE, “a contest for full-length collections of poetry, open to poets at any stage in their writing careers. This year’s submissions will be accepted between June 1st and June 30th.” Details HERE.
SECOND LIGHT NETWORK POETRY COMPETITION for long and short poems by women to be judged by Alison Brackenbury.The deadline is 31 August 2016 with winners to be announced on 30 October 2016.
£300 First Prize for each of Long (no upper limit) and Short (max 50 lines) poems
£150 Second Prize (1 poem from either category)
£75 Third Prize (1 poem from either category)
Winning & Commended Poets published (in full or extract) in ARTEMISpoetry. Details HERE.
EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS (IFOA): presents the finest international novelists, poets, playwrights, short story writers and biographers, and provides Canadian writers with an internationally recognized forum in which to present their work. Toronto, Canada. October 20-30, 2016 Details HERE.
BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL – is an annual book fair held in Brooklyn, New York. It was begun in 2006 by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who wanted to showcase the “Brooklyn voice” in literature, as numerous authors reside in the borough. However, in subsequent years the fair has expanded its scope and hosted many non-Brooklyn writers, including Joan Didion, Dennis Lehane, John Reed, Rosanne Cash and Dave Eggers.
Unlike most book fairs, the Brooklyn Book Festival caters to the adult readership, although they also feature numerous activities and readings for children.[4] In 2009, attendance reached 30,000. Also in 2009, St. Francis College established a biannual Literary Prize worth US$50,000 to support a mid-career writer. The winner of the prize is announced by a panel of authors during the Brooklyn Book Festival every other year in September.
The festival includes themed readings, panel discussions, vendors, and author signings.
Brooklyn Book Festival Sunday, September 18, 2016 Brooklyn Book Festival Children’s Day Saturday, September 17, 2016 Bookend Events September 12 – 18, 2016
So TIRED of “Amazing” … I wonder why people – writers! – can’t find another word …. astonishing, astounding, surprising, stunning, staggering, shocking, startling, stupefying, breathtaking; awesome, awe-inspiring, sensational, remarkable, spectacular, stupendous, phenomenal, extraordinary, incredible, unbelievable, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping; wondrous …. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! ….okay, just kidding on that last …. And if you are surprised that with my dyslexia I could spell that one, I can’t. Did a copy and paste. I love technology. J.D.
TIDBIT
Steve Garside responds to Dr. Aprilia Zank’s photography. Look for poetry by the multi-talented Dr. Aprilia Zank is the June issue of The BeZine.
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.
NORTHWEST FOLK FESTIVAL: Popular storyteller Naomi Baltuck (Writing Between the Lines) and her husband Thom Baltuck are performing this weekend (Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30) at the Northwest Folk Festival in Seattle. The performance schedule is HERE.
NAOMI BALTUCK (Writing Between the Lines)~ is a Contributing Editor and Resident Storytellerat The BeZine. She is a world-traveler and an award-winning writer, photographer. Her works of fiction and nonfiction are available through Amazon HERE.
Naomi conducts workshops such as Peace Porridge (multicultural stories to promote cooperation, goodwill, and peaceful coexistence), Whispers in the Graveyard (a spellbinding array of haunting and mysterious stories), Tandem Tales, Traveling Light Around the World, and others. For more on her programs visit Naomi Baltuck.com.
Naomi says, “When not actually writing, I am researching the world with my long-suffering husband and our two kids, or outside editing my garden. My novel, The Keeper of the Crystal Spring (Viking Penguin), can be read in English, German, Spanish, and Italian. My storytelling anthology, Apples From Heaven, garnered four national awards, including the Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice. I am currently working on a contemporary women’s novel.”
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erbacceprise 2016: Congratulations to Liliana Negoi and Reuben Woolley for making the long-list of 100 for this prize. They were chosen from among 8,000 entries world wide. According to erbacce press website the finalist are to be featured poets in their quarterly publication, erbacce journal. Read the long list of 100 HERE and watch for further announcements. (The site has great but loud music, so if you are at work when you read this, you’ll want to turn off the sound.)
Liliana Negoi has been on the core team of The BeZine since 2011 (back when it was a collaborative blog, not a zine) andis a contributing writer.
Ruben Woolley was featured for poetry month in the April edition of the zine, introduced to us by Contributing Editor, Michael Dickel. We are proud of both these poets and wish them luck in the next steps.
Liliana is also the author of a novel, Solo-Chess, available for free reading HERE. Many of her creations, both poetry and prose, are published in various literary magazines.
REUBEN WOOLLEY has been published in Tears in the Fence, The Lighthouse Literary Journal, The Interpreter’s House and Ink Sweat and Tears among others. A collection, the king is dead, 2014, Oneiros Books. A chapbook, dying notes, 2015, Erbacce Press. A poetry pamphlet on the refugee crisis, skins, 2016, Hesterglock Press. Runner-up: Overton Poetry Pamphlet competition and the Erbacce Prize, both in 2015. Editor of the online poetry magazines, I am not a silent poet and The Curly Mind. You can read more on Reuben’s Blog.
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