Contributors to Solace in So Many Words have been busy as usual. Ellen Bass who has four poems in our book (“And What If I Spoke of Despar,” “Don’t Expect Applause,””Jack Gottlieb’s in Love,” and “The Thing Is”) has poems in the latest issues of The Sun and The New Yorker. “At the Padre Hotel in Bakersfield, California” which appears on page 33 the February issue of The Sun, features a “deep decolletage exposed enough for open-heart surgery.” In The New Yorker, Ellen’s poem is titled “What Did I Love” but that doesn’t really give you a hint about the circumstances of the poem. I won’t give it away. I’ll just say it’s probably not what you think. But it is a must-read. Also, Ellen continues to lead many poetry workshops; there is one planned for September 28 to October 5 in Mallorca; check it out.
E. Michael Desilets shared with me the four poems he has on VerseWrights. They are “Bing Guy,” “Solid Gone,” “Breakfast Special” and “Katrina in Lake Cochiuate.” Do have a look. VerseWrights was started by Carl Sharpe who was an English teacher for forty years. In his retirement, he started swapping poems with friends and former students, which led him to create VerseWrights.
From a tweet I learned that Elizabeth Kerlikowske has four poems in Eye Socket Journal (which is now on Tumblr); they are: “Knowing Your Place,” “Don’t Cry Said,” “Every Minute Mattered,” and “Wisdom.” I don’t remember any early encounter with Santa Claus, but the images in “Knowing Your Place” did bring back my school days. The poem will probably connect with you, so give it a read. Eye Socket Journal is a monthly ezine deliberately designed for visual pleasure. Art, photography, music, book reviews and four poets are featured in an ezine posted monthly on the 1st. The site also features poems by Collin Kelley, Jon Tribble and others.
Fermoy International Poetry Festival sent me information that there is a call for submissions for this year’s International competition for entry into the Blue Max Review. This year’s festival will run from Thursday August 1st to Monday August 5th. The three international winners will be flown to Ireland for the Fermoy International Poetry Festival and will read at the festival. Poet Noel King is this year’s competition judge. Entrants must be residents outside the island of Ireland. Entrants can submit only once (three poems per submission). Poems submitted must be unpublished. Submissions will only be accepted by post to; Submissions Fermoy International Poetry Festival Festival Office 7 Store Lane Fermoy County Cork Ireland Submission costs €10.00 or US $13.50 for three poems (Payments via PayPal at www.fermoypoetryfestival.com). The closing date is March 31, 2013. For further information please email fermoypoetryfestival at gmail.com.
In some earlier post I told you of my admiration for Poetry Ireland; that journal has been mourning the loss of Dennis O’Driscoll, a poet, critic and essayist who had a long-time involvement with that journal as its editor and also for his “Pickings and Choosings” column. In the latest issue of Poetry Ireland News, American poet Thomas Lynch eulogizes Dennis O’Driscoll in an essay called “Hail and Farewell.” The February issue of Poetry pays tribute to Dennis O’Driscoll by printing the first stanzas of his poem “Tomorrow” on the inside front cover (the poem originally appeared in July 1999). I don’t have permission to reprint this poem, but I urge you to read it; it can be found on the Poetry Foundation’s website. As a tease, let me share the first line: “Tomorrow I will start to be happy.”
One more thing. If you are looking to read good stuff online or submit work to a paying publisher, I urge you once again to check out ARDOR literary magzine. Now through March 31, the magazine is hosting a short story contest. ARDOR was founded as a non-profit online literary magazine in September 2012 and published its first issue in January 2013. Joe Hessert is the founding editor. He is a native of Maine who has his MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Joe has worked as the Assistant Fiction Editor at the Iowa Review and has editing experience at several newspapers and magazines. Most recently Joe has been an undergraduate English and writing instructor in Maine. His hope is that ARDOR will come to be known as a wonderful place to read short stories, short-shorts, essays and poetry. To attract strong writing ARDOR is committed to offering payment to all writers.
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