Leave Links to Holiday Themed Poetry

Leave a link to a poem about the holiday season. Everyone else go check out the poems and comment.

Poetry Express

Anyone checked out Poetry Express? When I visited there were 60 members online at that particular moment. Seems to be a hopping site. Click here to visit them.

Poetry Matters Now

Have you checked out Poetry Matters Now,online collection of readings and video interviews with poets.

Click here to visit their site.

Back list

When you find a poet you enjoy online do you ever go back and read old poems of theirs (ones not on the first page)? Do you leave comments for those?

How often do you leave comments online? Anyone willing to admit they are just a lurker? If so, why?

Fun post!

I really enjoyed this post about poetry. Check it out and maybe you will too. That posts links to fourteen poems you may also want to check out and comment on.

Poetry Lovers Unite

Poetry Lovers Unite is a brand new blog where you can submit your poems if you are so inclined.Click here to check it out.

Online Audio Poetry Resources

By clicking here you will find a list of online audio poetry resources. Listen to poets read their work.

Peerscribe

Anyone a member of Peerscribe? Its a social networking site for writers. Click here to check it out. They are having a poetry contest too. The information for that is located here.

What sites on our blogroll do you read?

Leave a comment to let us all know which poetry blogs you enjoy.By commenting here you make PWb much more interactive instead of a just a magazine style site where I give information and you read. Lets make PWB a community again!

Poetry Network

Has anyone joined Poetry Network through Poetry Dances.com? Click here to read more about it and find a link.

Poem and Poet

Poem and Poet is a site that showcases poetry. Along with each poem is a short note about the poem from the poet to explain their inspiration or thinking when writing that work.

Click here to check out Poem and Poet.

First Poet You Read Online?

Do you remember the first time you went searching for poetry in the blogosphere? What was your introduction to poetry bloggers? Did you become one before you even read any? Or did you lurk for a while and the jump in.

This blogger talks about how Ron Sillman was the first poet she started to read online. Click here to read her post about being a poetry blogger.

Urgent Napkin Poets

A blog to record poems that hit you on the spur of the moment. Click here to check it out

Sublime Saturdays

Have you checked out the poetry prompts at Jane's Inspirations on Saturdays? If you take part today tell her that PWB sent you. I'm thinking of taking part myself, depending on if the prompt inspires me.

Click here to visit Jane's Inspirations

Also if you wrote a poem about Halloween and would like to share a link with us feel free to leave it in the comments section.

Congrats poets!

Congrats to all these Read Write Poem members who are getting published. Click here to read the list.

5 Movies Based on Poets

A blogger names their 5 favorite movies based on poets. Click here to read the post.

Guerrilla Poetry Fun

Last week Read Write Poem took on the concept of guerrilla poetry. Click here if you missed the post and want details about how to take part.

100 Great Sites for Poetry Lovers

College Online lists 100 poetry sites. To read the list click here.

Online Audio Poetry

A blogger shares 10 resources for listening to poetry online. Click here to read the post.

Some advice about getting published

Lee Stringer gives advice to unpublished poets. Click here to read.

Daily Poetry Chat- Sunday, October 25

A sad poem about poetry blogs that go dark. Click here to read: Mommy, Where Do Poetry Bloggers Go When They Die by Billy the Blogging Poet.

Where Poetry and Basketball Meet

Did you know that the New York Knicks host a poetry slam every year for teenagers? Click here to read all about it.

Add Me To Your Blogroll

I've majorly lost track of the new sites that want to be on the blogroll. Leave me a comment if you want to be added.

If you join our blogroll you are expected to visit one other site on the blogroll each week and leave a comment.

Poetry Site For Kids

Billy the Blogging Poet has relaunched his poetry site for children. Click here to visit LaureatesKids.com

Why I Started PWB

I started Poets Who Blog because I wanted a way to stop "Screaming into the dark," of the blogoshphere. That means posting and never knowing if anyone would read or care that I posted.

I wanted to create a supportive community.

I longed to bring poets together to review each other's work. We've had a lot of bumps a long the way but there were awesome times to. Playing poetry tag, hosting poetry carnivals, add a line poems, jigsaw poems, and our monthly poetry collections are all fond memories I have.

The best part of PWB though was the poetry groups that we made where we reviewed each other's work. Because those put into action the true purpose and meaning of this site.

Reading this post reminded me of why I started PWB.

The Future of Poetry?

A snarky post about the commercialism of poetry. Click here if snarky humor is your thing.

Daily Poetry Chat- Friday, October 23

Seeing this post also reminds me exactly why I started PWB.

Click here to read about a poet screaming into the dark of the blogosphere.

Lets all visit www.goodnightindigo. today and give this poet some encouragement. Tell him Poets Who Blog sent you.

We can use this site to be a positive force within the online poetry community.

Port City Poets

Have you visited this online community of poets? Click here to check them out.

Leave comments if you are familiar with this site.

Daily Poetry Chat- Thursday, October 22

Has the recession affected your poetic output? I think its affected my creativity somewhat. Its hard to be creative when you are worried about finances.

Anyone else go through this in the last year? Or ever?

The Poetry Warrior

Anyone checked out this new ezine yet? Click here to visit their site.

Leave comments if you are famialar with their site.

Daily Poetry Chat- Wednesday, Oct. 21

I used to take part in Three Word Wednesday for a short time. I really loved that site. Anybody still doing those prompts?

Did you write a poem for them today? Or a piece of fiction?

Click here to visit Three Word Wednesday

Little Lovin Mondays

At Black Eyed Susan's blog they spend every Monday spreading the word about blogs and posts that need a little more recognition.

Stop on by today and see the links from last Monday. Stop by next week and leave a link of your own.

Click here to visit the blog. Black Eyed Susan is a poet and member of PWB.

Prompt A Day in November

Rebert Lee Brewster of Poetic Asides will post a prompt a day in November. To read all the details click here.

Daily Poetry Chat- Tuesday, October 20th

For a while I'll put up a daily post where members can leave comments about what is going on today in the online poetry community. Which site does prompts on Tuesday? Who is doing the prompt today?

Get me back in the swing of things.

Leave a Link

To get me back in the groove of reading poetry and talking to poets leave me a link to one of your poems. I'll cruise on over to your site and see what you're up to.

Firstwriter.com Poetry Competion

You must submit your entry by November 30th. Click here for all the details.

Apologies

I have neglected and abandoned this site for the last six months. Basically I became consumed with writing fiction and did not focus on poetry at all during this time. Each time I thought about updating here it just seemed overwhelming and not fun.

I did enjoy this site for years and I did enjoy the poets I met. I really did owe our members more than disappearing without a trace.

For new poets who have tried to join recently I have not added any to our list because I have not been to blogger in months. It took me quite a while to remember my password to log in today.

What prompted me posting here?

Finding this blog:

www.poetswhoblog.com

Someone has taken our name and made a new site. At first I was kinda upset but PWB is certianly not trademarked and since I have disappeared from the poetry community its not like I have a lot of room to be offended.

I've chosen to look at it in the way that possibly whoever started that blog enjoyed this one and decided to expand on it. Its also possible the name is a coincidence.

I've decided to start updating this blog again but go slow. There will be no poetry projects or big events here anytime soon. Maybe next year if the site gets going again.

I really can't promise much because I don't want to become overwhelmed again or make promises I can't keep.

So to whoever is still around PWB is back. Thanks for stopping by our site. Today will be a fresh start for us. I realize I left everyone hanging and its possible no one will want to read this site anymore.

I don't want to post out of obligation, which is how I felt before, but because it is enjoyable. So if you still want this site to go on, let me know.

I tried to log into my poetswhoblog email address and found out it was deactivacted at yahoo dot com because I had not been there in four months. So whatever anyone sent me I'm sorry but its gone.

I know I had a responsibilty to this site and I've been slacking off but then again this is just a hobby, not a job, and I don't get paid for it. I'll try to get into posting here again, see if its fun, and see if I can find enjoyment in this hobby again.

Whatever happens I really did love PWB for a long time. It was a fun ride. Thanks for taking it with me. I hope the members here have enjoyed the site.

Your Blog Manager,

Sara

Postcard Poetry List

Want to have some fun with poetry? Then check out the Postcard Poetry Fest. What you will need are 31 postcards and lots of stamps to take part. Its already underway so if you're interested hurry up and jump in. Join other poets in sending your verses around the world.

For all the details click here.

Review Fuse Blog is having a poetry contest this month. The prize is $50. For more details click here.

Little Lov'n Monday at Black Eyed Susan is a underway again this week. This is where you are invited to leave a link to a post by a fellow blogger who you would like others to check out.

Cruise on by and leave a link to a poem by a fellow blogger that you particulary enjoy and would love other to get the chance to read.

You can take part in Little Lov'n Monday by clicking here

Online Submissions

A blogger has kindly put together a list of publishers who accept online submissions. Click here to read the list.

Father's Day Poems

Leave links to any father day themed poems you'd like to share with our readers. Or post the poem in the comments.

Punctuation?

I stumbled upon this poetry site where members review each other's work. Its called Mosiac Musings.

The poem I read had a discussion following it about punctuation and spacing in poetry. This is subject I often thought of when I was writing my own poems. I would use various methods (including italicizing, punctuation, lines breaks,etc) to try and get the reader to hear the poem in their head they way I intended it.

What do you do? How does you typography affect your poetry? Is it even a consideration for you?

Ever visited The Poetry Showcase?

Check out this post and help this poet out with picking some work to send to publishers.

Click here for details.

Mittia Poetry Contest

The details, as explained by the judges of this poetry contest,:

Poems: Short poems only (under 100 words). This competition is FREE! Open to anyone, anywhere. We pick the poems that move to the judging round and post them on our "Fina-List" board. That's right, you're auditioning every time you enter. Enter as often as you like, but once you've made the "Fina-List" you can only appear once … one poem in the finals per poet is the rule. Of course you retain all the rights to your work. The rules are few and simple, but will be adhered to: No foul language—good poetry doesn't need it. Keep it under 200 words; we don't want a novel. More thatn 200 words will be deleted. Enter no more than 2 poems per day, or you will be deleted from the board. FINA-LISTS ONLY—must submit, with each entry, your full name, your e-mail address, and name of poem only to: Poetry Webmaster. We do not accept anonymous entries. Your submission means you acknowledge the work submitted is your own, and, you understand that you have given us the right to publish your poem on our web site. SPELLING/GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, except when clearly taken in artistic license, will result in immediate disqualification. We expect all entrants to at least use "Spell Check" if not the dictionary. (US/Canadian/British English). Published poets, previous entrants, honourable mentions and winners are free to re-enter this competition. You may re-enter poems from the previous competition. All decisions are final by the judges.

Click here to visit their site.

PWB Business Post- June 2009

I've been consumed with a fiction project so I haven't had time to update this site. I'm really behind on reading e-mails for PWB too. I'm sorry if I haven't returned your correspondence. I do want this site to come back from its haitus though.

Thank you for your continued interest.

Your Blog Manager,

Sara

Do you have a book for sale?

If you have a poetry book for sale email me or leave a comment here with a link to the site where your book can be bought for inclusion in a new section on our blogroll called: Purchase the Chapbook of a PWB Poet.

Watch Cendrine Marrouat

PWB's very own Cendrine Marrouat from And They All Rejoiced reads her poetry in videos on You Tube. Click here to watch the first video she made: Agnus Dei.

Jigsaw Poem 2 for May

2009: a Gleam of Hope

New Year's Day: seven a.m.
The warden trudged
through fresh snow
to tend a lone creature
of the night. Warm water
and glucose drip-
dripped from the syringe:
the owl allowed herself
to rehydrate, forgetting
her injured wing
and broken pride.
At nine, over a belated
breakfast of a bite
of toast, the warden
smiled. His bird
had made it: the word
'Fantastic!' swooped
from his lips, scattering
crumbs to the ends
of the earth.

© Caroline Gill 2009
from Caroline at the Coastcard.

Jigsaw Poem

Final Dream
by William H. Graffius from Watching the Wind Blow By

The gleam of sunlight on fresh fallen snow

conceals a lone broken syringe

at my frozen feet.

Ironic imagery, I think, for

seven years lost in alternating

pleasure and pain,

eventually numbness.

Even the bite of winter wind

fails to break through

and the blurring world becomes

A fantastic kaleidoscope of color

And light.

Across the park the old woman

feeds bits of burnt toast to the pigeons.

Death, albeit belated, has finally come

I think, for me, and I hope

I do not startle her in her daily

life giving ritual

as I sink into my final dream.

Is that a Poem in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Me?

Ready to take part in the second annual Poem in Your Pocket Day? Its on April 30th, 2009. The idea is to carry around a favorite poem all day and read it for co-workers, friends, waiters and waitresses, strangers at the laundry mat, basically anyone that might be interested.

To find more ideas for spreading poetry that day visit Poets. org by clicking here.

Poem In Your Pocket Day is made possible, in part, by the National Council of Teachers of English and the American Booksellers Association, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Day 23 of NPM

Today I have decided to link to Pamela Olsen, longtime member of PWB.

Click here to read Fork in the Road.


Pamela Olsen blogs at Amputated Moon where she often does prompts from Read Write Poem. This month she is updating everyday.

PWB Business

I am behind on reading and responding to emails. Leave comments for urgent stuff.

Day 22 of NPM, 2009

Our month of poetry would not be complete without showcasing the work of this artist. Click here to read Holes by Jodi Herman.

jodi herman is better known by the name paisley, the pen name that she uses on her blogs, ...why paisley??? and just paisley.... jodi is a forty something single female who lives in northern california. Make sure you check out her extensive poetic work online.

Day 21 of NPM, 2009

Anyone who is unaware of this talented young poet is lucky to be introduced to his work today. Another favorite here at PWB, click here to read Loose by Noah the Great.


Noah writes quite a bit of poetry. He took on the big project of writing his life through verse up to the age of 25. Because he is just a teen some of it is fictionalized. Don't mess this poet's work!

Day 20 of NPM, 2009

Today's poet is Scott Clawson. Click here to read Lost

Scott Clawson hails from Chesapeake Bay, Virgina where he shares his life with his wife, four sons and his love of sailing.

Day 19 of NPM, 2009

This is a special entry for me because this is one of my favorite online poets. Today I bring you a link from Brief Poems.

Click here to read a fantastic couplet of word.

Brain's work is as profound as it is thought provoking. He drifts in and out of every emotion from heartache to joy to lust to regret effortlessly, leaving you pondering how he can make you feel so much with one simple sentence, one meaningful line.I implore you to check this poet out.

Day 18 of NPM, 2009

Today we are blessed to read the work of Janet Leigh who posts at Poetmeister on the Road to Parnassus.

Click here to read A Plan Called Liberty

Janet Leigh is runs Poetmeister 4 Poets, a fantastic resource for poetry news from within the blogosphere.

Day 17 of NPM, 2009

Welcome again to another entry in our Celebration of Words. Today we bring you a visual poem by Cendrine Marrouat.

Click here to watch A Particle of You

Cendrine Marrouat posts her poetry at And They All Rejoiced. She has books available that you can find out more about by visiting her online boutique, on her website. Go ahead and click here for more information on her work.

Day 16 of NPM, 2009

Thanks for visiting PWB today to check out our latest poet of the day for our Celebration of Words during National Poetry Month.

On this day we feature the work of poet who blogs at 1,000 Voices. Please click here to read Transcendence by Telly McGaha and then tell the poet what you think of it.


Telly McGaha holds a BA in literature from the University of Louisville and enjoys writing poetry inspired by living down south, out east and in the midwest. His fiction has been published in Doorknobs & BodyPaint.

Day 15 of NPM,2009

Hello again poetry fans. Today I share with you the work of Katie Cappello.

Click here to read The Conservatory.


Katie Cappello lives and writes in a small farming town in Northern California. Her thoughts on writing and culture can be found at Drowning the Field.

Day 14 of NPM, 2009

I'm happy you decided to stop in today to check out our latest poet featured this month in our Celebration of Words for National Poetry Month.

Today I ask you to travel through the blogosphere to Poetic Endeavors to read the work of a poet who goes by the moniker "Just Someone".

Click here to read Indenture.

Just Someone is a aspiring part time poet, who absolutely loves rhymes, which are collected in 'Poetic Endeavors' and currently is an enthusiastic participant of NaPoWriMo 09.

Day Thirteen NPM, 2009

Hello poetry fans. Today we sample the work of Bernadette for The Regina Mom.


Click here to read Marriage, with children



Bernadette's a poet and activist who writes blog posts, political essays and news stories to feed her poetry habit. Her first collection of poems, This Hot Place, is forthcoming from Thistledown Press in 2010


Would you like your poem linked to this month? Email me at poetswhoblog at yahoo dot com with poetry in the subject line. Send me a 1-3 line bio, a link to your poem on your blog, and your screen name.

Day Twelve of NPM, 2009

Isn't it wonderful to have a whole month of daily poetry posts? Spring is here and its raining poems!

Today I share with you a poem by Rachel Green. She blogs at When The Dogs Bite.
Click here to read I Remember Earth.


Rachel Green is a novelist who thinks poetry is harder than writing novels. She works hard at them, though.

Day Eleven of NPM, 2009

Today we are lucky enough to be able to feature the work of Ayesha from Bird Droppings.

Click here to read An Initiation.



Ayesha spends her time drooling over her English Literature textbooks, listening to music from her parent's generation, and occasionally, gets inspired enough to haul her lazy ass out of bed and write some poetry. She lives in Bombay, India.

Day Ten of NPM, 2009

Hello again. Are you enjoying National Poetry Month so far? I hope PWB is making it an even better experience for you. Today I share the work of poet Tony Renner who blogs at Contraption.


Click here to read A House But Not a Home


Tony Renner is a St. Louis artist who is celebrating Poetry Month by posting a
poem-a-day from an old folder dating back to 1979!

Day Nine of NPM, 2009

I'm happy to be able to share with you the poetry of Hannah Stephenson today.


Click here to read Leathers, Feathers and Paris.


Hannah Stephenson is a writer living in Vancouver, BC. She updates The Storialist every weekday, and encourages all poets to make a space for writing in daily life.

Day 8 of NPM, 2009

Welcome back poets and poetry fans. Today I bring you the work of Mairi Graham.

Click here to read her thought provoking poem.

Mairi Graham is new to the world of blogs. She mines the TLS for inspiration and posts the results at Secret Poems from The Times Literary Supplement.

Day Seven of NPM, 2009

Today I have the honor of featuring a new poet to our blogroll. The poem we are lucky enough to read today is In You by Bill Graffius.

Please click here to check it out.



Bill Graffius shares poetry, musings, opinions, prose and occasional pix at Watchin the Wind Blow by. He resides in Oregon with his wife of twenty four years, Beverly.

Day Six of NPM, 2009

Today's poet is Ralph Murre from Arem Arvinson Log. This poem first appeared in "Knock" Magazine.


Click here to Inquire Within by Ralphe Murre.

Ralph Murre is the author of "Crude Red Boat", author and illustrator of "Psalms", a book of poetry and art, and he is editor/publisher of "Bar Code", a 31-contributor anthology of prose, poetry, photography, and drawings of saloons, bars and their denizens. Ordering information for these books is available from littleeaglepress@gmail.com

Day Five of NPM, 2009

Today I ask you to check out a new poet, who has never been featured on PWB before, Dorla Moorehouse from Dorla's Poetry and Prose.

Read the sensual and seductive Tango by Dorla Moorehouse by clicking here.

Dorla Moorehouse is a writer living in Austin, Texas. In her free time she studies Iynegar yoga and performs with the Body Positive Dance Company

Day Four of NPM, 2009

Thanks for stopping in again. I hope you are taking the chance to visit the blogs that are highlighted. Please leave comments so the poets know you stopped by.

Today I am pleased to share with you the work of Nicole Nicholson from Raven's Wing Poetry. Her poem is inspired by Rick Mobbs’ painting, “City Lights". You can read Awake by Nicole Nicholson by clicking here.

Nicole Nicholson is a poet from Columbus, Ohio who draws inspiration
from history, legends and folklore, people, nature, the vast cosmos of
being…and upon occasion, the voices in her head. She blogs her poetry
over at Raven's Wing Poetry. Her work can be found in Young American
Poets Young American Poets and in her chapbooks,Raven Feathers and Word.

Day Three of NPM, 2009

Good day, poets. Its April and that means its National Poetry Month. Every day we will link to a new poem by a member of our blogroll.Today I offer you the work of Lawrence Gladeview from Righteous Rightings.


Click here to read American News by Lawrence Gladeview.



Lawrence Gladeview is a Washington, DC poet whose work will be featured in the May issue of Word Catalyst Magazine. The title of the poem featured is Neighborhood Noir.

Day Two of NPM, 2009

Hello again, poets. Thank you for making Poets Who Blog a part of your day today. I share with you the work of another one of our members, Keith Wallis from wordsculptors.

Click here to read Prayer by Keith Wallis.


Keith is a published poet with decades (!) of experience from the era of the 'small press' to the era of 'the web'. He's been on this planet since 1949 when, by a strange manipulation of the universe, he arrived early and half cooked.

His blogsite : wordsculptures integrates poetry with photographs in ways that always inspire and sometimes amuse.

Day One of NPM, 2009

Welcome to PWB's Third Annual Celebration of Words for National Poetry Month. We kick off our month long dip into poetic waters by featuring a poem from a new member, Gene Meyers from The Rattlebag Blog.

Click here to read Another Angel by Gene Meyers. Leave comments for him on his site and help our event get off to a fantastic start.

Gene Myers is a poet & journalist living in Northern New Jersey who writes a syndicated weekly column. His columns and interviews appear in over 40 newspapers. He is the co-editor of Now Culture literary magazine (nowculture.com). His own work has appeared in various publications. He was just awarded First Place in Arts and Entertainment Writing by The New Jersey Press Association.

A New “Word” in Columbus, OH Poetry

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:



Columbus, OH – March 29, 2009 – Central Ohio poet Nicole Nicholson has
released a new “word”.

word. is Nicole Nicholson’s second poetry chapbook, and is the first
in a series of mini-chapbooks to be released in 2009. This collection
contains Nicholson’s latest works in which a unique voice can be seen
emerging, breaking away from traditional forms and embracing spoken
word influences.

“I think word. is more representative of my heart, soul, and style —
or the voices that I hear in my head when I write,” says Nicholson.

Nicholson has been performing material from word. at open mics and
other recent performances, including the February and March 2009
editions of Poetry Super Highway’s Worldwide Open Reading. She
performed "Fables" during March’s broadcast and "Off" during February’s broadcast.

word. was produced in a very small run — only 20 copies — and is
available ONLINE ONLY. No reprint is planned once copies are sold out.

To purchase word. or for more information, please visit:Raven's Wing Press

Nicole Nicholson
Raven's Wing Poetry
ravenswingpoetry@gmail.com

The Free Verse Project

From Poets.org:

Inspired by the 2009 National Poetry Month Poster design, the Academy of American Poets invites you to capture and share your own ephemeral bits of verse.

Write lines from a favorite poem on a sandy beach, assemble twigs on a hillside, or chalk the sidewalk. Take a photo before it disappears and post it in the Free Verse group page on Flickr, or on the Academy's Fan Page on Facebook, or email your photo to freeverse@poets.org

Include the source of your lines in the photo caption.

All photos posted by April 15 will be automatically entered in a contest to win the new Poem in Your Pocket anthology and a commemorative piece of jewelry by San Francisco designer Jeanine Payer, who specializes in hand-engraving lines of poetry on earrings, necklaces, and other items. Selected entries will be featured on Poets.org.

Please note: your submission may be selected by the Academy of American Poets to appear on Poets.org and in National Poetry Month promotional materials. We reserve the right to publish contributions at our discretion unless requested otherwise in the submission. If you are sending a photo for which you do not own the rights, please indicate and specify the content owner in your submission.

To read more about The Free Verse Projectclick here.

The Second Annual Shine Journal Contest

This is a free poetry contest with a prize of up to 100 dollars and publication in The Shine Journal,a webzine of flash literature and art.

Deadline is April 30th.

For all the details, click here/

American Public Media Launches Poetry Radio Project

American Public Media and the Poetry Foundation collaborate to bring great poetry and poets to radio

( St. Paul , Minn. & Chicago , Ill. ) March 25, 2009—American Public Media™, creator of distinctive, signature programs for public radio and the Internet, and the Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, today announced the Poetry Radio Project, a new initiative using poets and poetry to enrich public radio programming and listeners’ experiences.



A partnership between the Poetry Foundation and American Public Media, the Poetry Radio Project incorporates poets and poetry into select features and conversations across several programs produced and distributed by American Public Media, including Marketplace®, Marketplace Morning Report® and Marketplace Money®, Performance Today®, Speaking of Faith®, The Story™, and The Splendid Table®. Through informative and engaging presentations of poets and poetry within a variety of contexts, the initiative is intended to broaden listeners’ perspectives on global events and American culture and to expand listeners’ engagement with contemporary and classical poetry.



From conversations with poets-on a wide variety of subjects and genres, to the inclusion of archival audio for historical perspectives on current events, to adding a moment of contemplation or complexity to a broadcast, the pilot project demonstrates poetry’s contemporary appeal to a wide and varied audience.



Recent broadcasts of poetry features include:



· The Splendid Table—recently featured a poem by Yale Professor and Inaugural Poet Elizabeth Alexander



· Performance Today—a project which follows the creative process of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet C.K. Williams, who will write a new, original poem inspired by a piece of classical music chosen by the Performance Today audience.



· Marketplace—spoke with former hedge fund recruiter and poet Katy Lederer, who found inspiration for the poems in her latest book from an unusual source—finance.



Upcoming segments are scheduled to include conversations with Rita Dove, Paul Muldoon, Nikki Giovanni, Tony Hoagland, Todd Boss, and more.



For additional information about the Poetry Radio Project and links to other American Public Media poetry features, visit
www.americanpublicmedia.org/poetryradioproject
by clicking here.



About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine and one of the largest literary organizations in the world, exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit www.poetryfoundation.org by clicking here.



About American Public Media
American Public Media is the largest owner and operator of public radio stations, also producing top programs reaching more than 15 million listeners weekly. A complete list of stations, programs and additional services for the American Public Media national network can be obtained at www.americanpublicmedia.org
by clicking here.

Time for National Poetry Month. Here at PWB we post a link to a new poem by one of our poets each day. If enough poets do not send me links I will link to poems I find enjoyable from the poets on our blogroll.

If you want a poem of your linked to then send:

a link
the name of your blog
your screen name
and a very short 1- 3 line bio to poetswhoblog@yahoo.com

Examples of bios:

Sara has been blogging her poetry at The Shores of My Dreams for the last few years. She is the founder of Brand New Aspiring Writers and Poets Who Blog.

or

Chicago born poet Writer Woman shares pieces of her soul at The Shores of My Dreams. She currently is blogging a poem a day in April.

or

Javier Gomez is published in The Valparisio Poetry Review. His work can be found at The Memoir of a Starved Artist.

or

Starving Poet lives in San Antonio with his two kids and three cats. You can find him hiding from his love ones down at the local coffee shop as he tries to pen a few verses. Read more of his work by visiting The Memoir of a Starved Artist.

Second Annual Celebration of Words

Well its that time of year again. Time for National Poetry Month. Here at PWB we post a link to a new poem by one of our poets each day. If enough poets do not send me links I will link to poems I find enjoyable from the poets on our blogroll.

If you want a poem of your linked to then send:

a link
the name of your blog
your screen name
and a very short 1- 3 line bio to poetswhoblog@yahoo.com

Examples of bios:

Sara has been blogging her poetry at The Shores of My Dreams for the last few years. She is the founder of Brand New Aspiring Writers and Poets Who Blog.

or

Chicago born poet Writer Woman shares pieces of her soul at The Shores of My Dreams. She currently is blogging a poem a day in April.

or

Javier Gomez is published in The Valparisio Poetry Review. His work can be found at The Memoir of a Starved Artist.

or

Starving Poet lives in San Antonio with his two kids and three cats. You can find him hiding from his love ones down at the local coffee shop as he tries to pen a few verses. Read more of his work by visiting The Memoir of a Starved Artist.

Stonegarden . net publishing is now accepting pre-orders of G Emil Reutter’s latest release titled “Blue Collar Poet” selected poems 1994-2008.


What others say about the poetry of G. Emil Reutter:


"Reutter’s poetry has the keen ability to focus on people in a variety

of situations, and to add his own unique twist to each poetic experience.”

- Diane Sahms-Guarnier, Past Poetry Board Editor, Philadelphia Stories Magazine



“The stench of cigarette ash and the resinous swell of pines are as much

a part of these moments as the wise and careful worry, the sharp memories, and

quiet hope.”

- Louis Mckee, Publisher, One Trick Pony Magazine



His work reflects a love of life and a concern for humanity; it is the epitome

of the idea that with every single moment we learn something about ourselves.”

—Eileen D’Angelo, Editor, Mapoets Review



“Always ready to tell the truth and shame the devil, he can take you places from the

road to the barroom and so many stops between.”

- Vincent Quatroche, Professor, Fredonia State University



To order this selected poetry collection please click here.

Utmost Christian Writers Free April Contest:

Free to enter with a prize of 100 dollars for the winning poem. The poem can be up to forty lines, on any subject. This contest is open to all writers, regardless of religious affliation.


To read the rules click here.

Watch Cendrine Marrouat on You Tube

One of PWB's poets shares her poetry on You Tube. Check out Cendrine Marrouat's latest video by clicking here to watch From Dust to Stars.

Tweet the Verse

Do you twitter about your poetry or life in general?

You can follow poet Cendrine Marrouat on twitter.com/soulpoetrysite. Every week, she holds a contest and gives away one of her books in e-book format.

PWB makes Top 100 Creative Writing Blogs list

Though we are site 100 we did breakthrough and make this site of Top 100 Creative Writing Blogs list from Best Colleges Online.

Read the whole list by clicking here.

Artists Embassy International Poetry Contest

From Winning Writers newsletter:

Three Grand Prize Winning Poems to be Danced and Filmed
Postmark Deadline: May 15

3 Grand Prizes will receive $100 each plus their poems will be danced and filmed. Each Grand Prize winner will be invited onstage for photo ops with the dancers and a bow in the limelight.
6 First Prizes will receive $50 each
12 Second Prizes will receive $25 each
25 Third Prizes will receive $10 each
All prize winners will receive a prize certificate suitable for framing, a ticket to the Dancing Poetry Festival 2009, and be invited to read their prizewinning poem at the Festival. The top three poems chosen as Grand Prizes will be choreographed, costumed and recorded live in an on-stage performance at the Festival to be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, Noon-4pm, at San Francisco's Florence Gould Theater in the California Palace of the Legion of Honor Art Museum. See pictures from our 2008 Festival.

Last year's Grand Prize winners included Lucille Lang Day, Janice P. Egry and Allison Joseph. Recent topics of winning poems have touched on the travels of Matisse, a Picasso painting, falling leaves, love, Iraq, China, history, dance, current events, reverie, socially significant situations and even some humor sprinkled here and there. Please don't feel constrained to write a poem about dancing.

The entry fee is $5 per poem or $10 for 3 poems. Each poem may be up to 40 lines long. Send two copies of each poem. One copy should be anonymous (just title and poem), the other should have your name, address, phone, email address and where you heard about this contest (e.g. Winning Writers Newsletter). There is no limit on the number of entries.

When the judges evaluate entries, they look for innovative perspectives on ordinary or unusual subjects as well as excellence of craft. Your entry should be suitable for a general audience since our following is comprised of people of all ages and ethnicities. English translations must be included with non-English poems.

Our judges consist of poets, dancers, musicians and visual artists of various media, all members of Artists Embassy International. Judging is done with the anonymous copies of the poems. Artists Embassy International is a non-profit, volunteer, arts and education organization whose goal is to further intercultural understanding through the arts.

Three poets, the Grand Prize winners, will be rewarded with seeing their poems danced by Natica Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company, a well-known dance troupe that has performed around the world and throughout America. This company is dedicated exclusively to creating new avenues by combining poetry, dance and music together for presentation and the expansion of poetry with dance in the life of our culture.

To enter the contest, please visit our website at www.dancingpoetry.com or submit to AEI Contest Chair W, Judy Cheung, 704 Brigham Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. Questions? Please email Ms. Cheung at jhcheung@comcast.net.

Press release:

In celebration of National Poetry Month we are looking for "Poets on Poets" poems for the April issue of Quill and Parchment. Please take a look at April 2008 to get an idea of our format, guidelines, etc.

Quill & Parchment: April 2008~ vol 82


Click here please for more info.




Poetically yours,
Sharmagne Leland-St. John
Editor-in-Chief
Quill & Parchment

Subscribe now to view the September 2008 through February 2009 issues

From Poetrydances.com:

Poem of the Week
To read the new poem of the week please visit:Poem of the Week


Great poems so far this period:
To see -the 20 Great poems so far this period please visit:Poetry Dance's Great Poems List


Submissions

After much consideration we have regretfully decided to suspend accepting direct submissions to the site.
This is mainly due to time pressures involved. We would like to thank each and everyone of you that has submitted poems to us in the past and we apologize that this feature is being withdrawn. In future, we ask people instead to please send Read Requests should they have poems they would like us to take a look at (their own work or that of others).

Blog

Well- we opened the doors of http://poetrydances.ning.com last week and have already seen many wonderful writers come on board.

We had a few issues with the design of the blog initially but these have now hopefully been ironed out.

Please visit or join if you can and read some of the great poetry on the site- or/and share your work with others.

We also read poems posted in the poetry section of the blog site for possible inclusion on the main site at poetrydances.com.

Be Part of our NPM Bloggers List

Are you posting every day for National Poetry Month? Let me know so you can be added to our NPM Update List on our blogroll.

There is poetry widget plug in you can now add to your your blog. Not sure if it works on all sites though. You can find information about it clicking here.

The Poetry Widget will show random poems from a list of 50 poets in your sidebar, obtained from Poems and Poetry.

Poet Cendrine Marrouat was recently a guest on "That's my Word", which is Mari Torres's blog talk radio show. To listen to the episode where she is on click here.

You can learn more about Marrouat's work by visiting her at And They All Rejoiced and you can purchase her work by clicking here.

Check out Coffeeconnections.com, a free online poetry submission community, by clicking here.

Thier content includes personal poetry, classic poems, slam poetry videos and articles. Post a poem instantly with automated notification of comments, unique poem and profile page for each poet. Friendly global community, constructive criticism welcome.

Check them out today!

The One Line Contest

Mark Budman, author of 'My Life at First Try', a semi-autobiographical novel, is offering $50 and a signed copy of his book to the person who can write the best one-sentence semi-biography (a biography based on a true story, but fictionalized). Open to US or Canadian residents aged 18+.

Deadline: May 1st.

For details click here.

From poet Nabina Das:

Three Rooms Press is releasing it's Dada poetry journal Maintenant 3, where two of my poems "Newsroom Novena" and "When Kali Speaks to Us" will be featured. The journal release is on March 20, Cornelia Cafe, NYC. Also, Shalla Magazine has re-printed my poem "in Perspective" (first published in The Cartier Street Review in January 09).

It can be read clicking here to visit Shalla Magazine.

Visit my blog for details.

XXXXXXXXXX

Note from Blog Manager:

Do you have poetry news? Send it to poetswhoblog@yahoo.com with poetry in the subject line for inclusion on PWB.

Slant is a brand new poetry webzine featuring three poems per author on the subject of dysfunction.

Editors say, "We're interested in poetry that explores various dysfunctional environments be it mental, familial, natural, political, societal and others. If you have a poem addressing your dysfunctional sunglasses, send them in, too. We're interested in the humorous, the serious, and the rebellious. Because we are theme based, we like reading and publishing poetry in batches and therefore require that the poetry showcased by each author stands as a cohesive whole." Send 1-3 poems by email to slantpoetry@gmail.com, pasted into the message, along with a brief bio and contact information.

Put "poetry submission - [your name]" in the subject line.

This information was found at WinningWriters.com. You can visit Slant by
clicking here.

How to Publish Poetry

Are writing contests your way to get a foothold in the literary publishing world or is it a fruitless effort? Leave your thoughts in the comments. To read what Vicki F.Chavis thinks on this subject click here to read her Suite 101 article.

Second Annual Celebration of Words at PWB

Well its that time of year again. Time for National Poetry Month. Here at PWB we post a link to a new poem by one of our poets each day. If enough poets do not send me links I will link to poems I find enjoyable from the poets on our blogroll.

If you want a poem of your linked to then send:

a link
the name of your blog
your screen name
and a very short 1- 3 line bio to poetswhoblog@yahoo.com

Examples of bios:

Sara has been blogging her poetry at The Shores of My Dreams for the last few years. She is the founder of Brand New Aspiring Writers and Poets Who Blog.

or

Chicago born poet Writer Woman shares pieces of her soul at The Shores of My Dreams. She currently is blogging a poem a day in April.

or

Javier Gomez is published in The Valparisio Poetry Review. His work can be found at The Memoir of a Starved Artist.

or

Starving Poet lives in San Antonio with his two kids and three cats. You can find him hiding from his love ones down at the local coffee shop as he tries to pen a few verses. Read more of his work by visiting The Memoir of a Starved Artist.

Another Jigsaw Poem

Baltimore by Telly Mcgaha

look closely:
this seaport still sparkles
over the icy harbor
where waters bite
and hide her cast aways-
syringe after syringe after syringe
not all the water can rinse
away her dirty secrets
up the hill
seven men raise a belated toast
to the lone town they love
the fantastic city for them
still seems to gleam
when masked in late night
flashing blue lights and snow

Ready for NPM?

image © 2009 by The Academy of American Poets

Did you know that April is consider National Poetry Month? Online that means that many poets will be vowing to write a poem a day? Will you take part this year? Do you have any offline things you plan to do to celebrate the month?

Want to learn more about NPM? Then visit Poets.org frequently asked questions page by clicking here.

News from one of our poets:

Alice J. Byrd has changed the name of her poetry blog, (which was formerly "Don't Take My Wings.") Now it is simply called "My Wings" -- so that's still me on my blogroll if it changed. I also have a new blog, Don't Ask Alice (dont-ask-alice.blogspot.com).

Press release:

Digestive CARE Gastroenterologists Launch 'Bottom Line Poetry Contest' for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month During March 2009
Friday March 6, 10:05 am ET


South Florida’s Digestive CARE™ is Offering a $500 Prize For Best New Original Poem About Colonoscopies



CORAL SPRINGS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Digestive CARE™, a medical group of 46 gastroenterologists in Broward and Palm Beach County, today launched the “Bottom Line Poetry Contest” in honor of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (March 2009).
Digestive CARE™ is offering a $500 cash prize (or the option of a free colonoscopy) to the poet who submits the best new original poem about colonoscopies.

The original submission can be a simple verse like Joyce Kilmer: “I don’t think I’ll ever see a useless colonoscopy…”

Or an epic stanza in the style of Alfred Lord Tennyson: “Half an inch, half an inch, half an inch upward…”

Or even a basic limerick: “There once was a lass from Nantucket, who was irked by a bothersome bucket…”

“By launching this Bottom Line Poetry Contest, we hope to bring more attention to the life-saving value of regular colonoscopies as part of a person’s ongoing professional medical care,” says Kenneth Rosenthal, M.D., the Boca Raton-based gastroenterologist who chairs Digestive Care’s PR Committee.

“The original new poems can be heartfelt or humorous,” adds Dr. Rosenthal. “We hope Digestive CARE’s Bottom Line Poetry Contest will help publicize the deadly serious message of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – and that’s the real bottom line.”

Original poems about colonoscopies should be submitted directly to info@digestivarecareonline.com. Please write “COLON POEM” in the subject line. The deadline for submission is April 30, 2009, the last day of National Poetry Month.

To view submitted poems or for a complete list of rules, please click here

The winning poem will be selected by the 46 gastroenterologists of Digestive CARE™ and be announced in May.

About Digestive CARE™:

Since its inception as an organization, Digestive CARE™ has grown to more than 50 providers, 46 of which are physicians, providing gastroenterology services at 25 locations throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties, covering 17 hospitals and 13 Outpatient Surgery Centers. All Digestive CARE™ office and surgical locations are centers of excellence, designed with the comfort and care of the patient in mind, delivering services in a friendly, convenient and compassionate environment. For more information, please call 954. 344.2522 or visit www.digestivecareonline.com.




Contact:
For Digestive CARE, Coral Springs
PR-BS, Inc.
Gary Schweikhart, 561-756-4298
gary@pr-bs.net

News from Poetrydances.com

Poetrydances. com now has a blog! Cruise on over and check it out clicking here.

Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series

From Winning Writers.com newsletter:

Prairie Schooner Book Prizes in Poetry and Short Fiction: $3,000 and Publication
Postmark Deadline: March 16

Enter the Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series contest—now in its seventh year! Winners of the annual competition for a book of short fiction and a book of poetry receive $3,000 and publication by the University of Nebraska Press. A runner-up in each category receives $1,000. Competition is open to new and established writers. Mail manuscripts with $25 entry fee to:

Prairie Schooner Prize Series in [specify Poetry or Short Fiction]
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
201 Andrews Hall
P.O. Box 880334
Lincoln, NE 68588-0334

Complete guidelines and information are always available at: prairieschooner.unl.edu. Click on the "Prairie Schooner Book Prizes" link. And be sure to visit our blog for updates: www.prairieschooner.typepad.com.

Congrats to PWB's very own Nicole Nicholson

Over the last few months one of our own poets has had her work published. In December 2008, she had two poems published. "Cremation" was published
by Shoots and Vines Zine. It can be read clicking here.

She also had "The Alternative" published in the Orlando Artist's
Collective Zine, a print magazine.

In January, Young American Poets published "Shattered Mirror", which you can check out by clicking here.

SlamNation on iTunes

Press release:

SlamNation is one of the first films to document the art and competition of the poetry slam: a spoken word competition where judges, randomly chosen from the audience, score poets on a scale from one to ten and the poet with the highest score at the end of the evening wins. The well done documentary follows the 1996 Nuyorican Poetry Slam team (Saul Williams,Beau Sia, Mums Da Schemer and Jessica Care Moore) as they competed at the 1996 National Poetry Slam held in Portland, OR. It is a must-see for poets, poetry enthusiasts, appreciative poetry followers, and newcomers.


The flick is now available on iTunes and can be found by clicking here.

Deborah Ager of 32 Poems discusses 5 Ways to Find Time to Write Poems in this article. Click here to read her advice.

Contest for Kids

The Walt Whitman Birthplace Association presents its 23rd Annual Poetry Contest. The deadline for submissions is March 9, 2009.

For all the details click here.

Poetry News?

If you have a poetry project going on at your site, want to announce your chapbook being released, your poem being published online or in print, or a poetry contest then send your "press release" to poetswhoblog at yahoo dot com. Make sure to allow two weeks before any deadlines for contests. Make sure you mention poetry in your subject line.


Sara
Manager at PWB

Saturday Share a Link

Leave a link to a poem you would like our readers to check out.

Seventh Jigsaw Poem

Gleam

there is a gleam, a snow-white pause
belated in a broken shrine
toasting a fantastic colossal bite
a syringe-like drip, a lone flame
hiding underneath the seventh sun
ameliorating the ordinary day

By Lissa from Just Writing Words.

Sixth Jigsaw Poem

Tired All by Samuel Tan


Nine boys, tired all, run

Boots crunching as they fly

Toasted, one said, for he saw

Monstrous, gleaming eyes



Seven girls, sages all, walk

In the gleam of snow-fall land

Happy all, run, fantastic

Smiling, this day will end



Five men, dying all, lie

In the pool of frost-cold blood

Belated long, their death tonight

They cry in tear-fall flood



Three wolves, hungry all, stalk

Each hears the sages laugh

Sharp all, their teeth, they bite

Blood at the end of the path



Lone bird, seeing all, flies

Above petty aimless fights

High up, towards the sky

The freedom of the flight



By Sam from Thinking Cities

New Poet?

Are you an inspiring poet looking for direction to take your ideas from your head to the page? Then click here to visit the Literary Mamm Blog: Poetry for the People to read details about award-winning poet Sage Cohen's class.

There is a nearly two hundred dollar fee.

Disclaimer: Poets Who Blog only passes along information found online. We can not research any contest, class, publisher, etc.

Another Jigsaw Poem for Your Enjoyment

19.february 09

by the lakeside of a fantastic voyage
through syringes belated by withdrawal
lie seven gleaming onyx stones
broken from the same snow-covered hopes
that parade in a lone requiem
to the melodic submission
of the ground beneath weary steps
like morning toast dying bite by bite
in the greedy mouths of adolescence

By Jared Hasbrouck

The Naisaiku Challenge

There's an exciting new poetry prompt site that debuted last week. Its focused on creating Naisaiku poems. For instructions on how to write one of these poems click here.

To find links to many Naisaiku poems written last week for the first prompt, to read the prompt details, or to leave a link to your own poem click here.

Press release:

Dawn Raymond of Epping, NH Wins Sixth Annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest

Dawn Raymond is the winner of the sixth annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest sponsored by Tom Howard Books. This contest awarded $5,350 in cash prizes, including a top prize of $2,000, for the best original poems in any style or theme. Raymond's poem "Ghosts", which recounts a girl's retreat into grief and fantasy after her father's death, was judged the best of hundreds of entries from around the world. The top 15 winners and runners-up are published at http://www.winningwriters.com/tompoetry

Northampton, MA (PRWEB) February 15, 2009 -- Tom Howard Books is pleased to announce the results from its sixth annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest. Dawn Raymond of Epping, New Hampshire won first prize and $2,000 for her poem "Ghosts". Hundreds of entries were received from around the world.

Raymond's raw, heartfelt poem takes readers inside the psyche of a girl haunted by her father's death from cancer. Retreating from the trivial concerns and crude taunts of her schoolmates, the bereaved child takes refuge in the memories that arise from her father's lovingly handled possessions. Meanwhile, darker forces pursue her into her adult life--depression, family conflict, loneliness--personified by the bewildered child as ghosts more frightening than any poltergeist from a late-night horror movie. Contest judge John H. Reid said, "Dawn Raymond has succeeded in the almost impossible. A frank, totally candid, personalized mood poem in which the writer dissects her own soul... Raymond's grip on the reader is so intense, it's impossible to be objective and move away."

Second prize of $1,000 went to Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. of Shreveport, Louisiana for "The Old Salty Poems", a charming narrative of an old sailor who passes down a wealth of stories--and perhaps more--to the little girl who befriended him. Reid said, "It has often been suggested that poetry would still be as popular and best-selling with the masses today, if mainstream verse had continued in the character/narrative vein. Certainly such a delightful, vastly entertaining throwback as 'The Old Salty Poems' lends a great deal of credence to this idea."

Joseph Gorman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania won third prize and $500 for "Anxiety Disorder", an incisive poem in which the temptations of pettiness, greed and insecurity threaten to divide a loving couple. Reid called it "an unusual yet spell-binding mood piece".

Wolstan Brown of Bayside, New York won fourth prize and $250 for "Do Not Be Kind to Robots That Love Humans", a dark fantasy from the point of view of robot servants who have superseded their masters. Reid said, "While there are tens of thousands of short stories on this subject, there is very little poetry. Wolstan Brown has wittily and intriguingly remedied this deficiency in his adroitly crafted piece."

Five High Distinction awards of $200 each went to Gilleland, Victoria Gouldthorp, Joanne Lau, Meryl Raw and Tamar Diana Wilson. Six Highly Commended awards of $100 went to Helen Bar-Lev, Tom Berman, Louis Girón, Phyllis Jean Green, Dixon Hearne and Martin Steele. The winning entries are published online at WinningWriters.com (http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tompoetry/2008/tp08_pastwinners.php).

About Tom Howard Books and John H. Reid:

The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest accepts original poems of any length, style or theme. Both published and unpublished works are accepted. The current contest opened on December 15, 2008 and will be accepting entries through the postmark deadline of September 30, 2009. The prize pool is $5,350, with a top prize of $2,000. Entries are accepted online and by mail. For guidelines, please see winningwriters.com/tompoetry (http://www.winningwriters.com/tompoetry).

Contest sponsor and final judge John H. Reid is a former journalist and magazine editor who has published several novels, a collection of poetry, a guide to winning literary contests and fifteen books of film criticism and movie history. He lives in Wyong, Australia. Mr. Reid is assisted in the judging by Dee C. Konrad. A leading educator and published author, Ms. Konrad was Associate Professor in the English faculty of Barat College of DePaul University, and served as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the year 2000-2001.

About Winning Writers, Inc.:

Winning Writers assists with entry handling and publicity for the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Poetry Contest and other literary contests sponsored by Tom Howard Books. Winning Writers is today's leading source for timely and comprehensive literary contest information. Our online database, Poetry Contest Insider, includes complete guidelines and rankings for over 750 poetry contests, plus over 300 of the top fiction and essay contests. Our free email newsletter, with over 25,000 subscribers, offers news about quality free contests and literary resources.

Winning Writers was named one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" by Writer's Digest in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. It was founded in 2001 by the husband-and-wife team of Jendi Reiter and Adam Cohen. Learn more at WinningWriters.com

You can visit WinningWriters.com by clicking here.

Jigsaw Poem Four, Feb. 2009

RAINBOW
(for Layne Staley)

we toast your life
ended with a broken syringe
yet giving us unbroken words
spinning
spiraling around like
your kaleidoscope eyes
looking for your dad
spinning
swirling around like
fragmented, lost colors
in shadow
spinning
like those lost colors, these
shattered prismatic lights
living in the abyss
inside your seven-year old mind

because one day, you figured out that Daddy wasn't coming home again

and you hoped that fame
would call him back
bring him home
erase the shadows
negate the abyss in your mind
where your nightmares lived
these nightmares that declared that every lost fragmented spectrum
was a wicked lie
meant to make you hope again
when hope
is the stuff of angels and fairies
and dreams
are the stuff of everlasting torment
meant to remind you of never-lasting promises like
"I'll be home again"
torment that takes the place of childhood boogeymen in closets
and becomes fantastic nightmares
that last forever and ever
Amen

so you gave us your all
you gave us your call
of pain
you spoke of rivers of deceit
and men in boxes
and the Heaven beside you
just out of reach
like those faded kaleidoscopes
those colors
the gleam of that Heaven
not meant for you to enjoy

but then you drowned yourself in snow
beneath its depths
told yourself to bite off
and swallow chunks of Hell on the way down
smacked by smack
you never got up again
and your fall to Earth
was an unspoken, belated cry
one last lone wail
for Daddy

the imprint of your rainbow soul
lies in your words
still left behind
spinning in record grooves
spinning in plastic digital chrome
spinning in hard drives
spinning in minds
spinning in hearts

and so we toast your life
and hope that the same nightmares that engulfed you
do not yet again open their jaws
to swallow more wordmen
more wordwomen
but we sigh, bow our heads,
and know that they will

By Nicole Nicholson from Raven's Wing Poetry
Her first chapbook Raven Feathers is available for sale by clicking here.

Poetry Toolbar

For quick access to over fifty poetry blogs and other journals, check out The Poetry Toolbar from World Class Poetry. Click here to read more about it.

Welcome our new member

Another blog has joined our list. Take a moment to check out The Form of Sound: Bridging the Gap Between the World of Myth and Mundanity

Advertise Your Blog

Check out Blogging Fusion if you would like another place to get the word out about your poetry blog. Click here to visit the site.

Poetry Website Poetrydances.com Now Showcases Selected Work from Over 140 Writers – and Creates a Wave of Interest Within the Online Poetry Community

The number of writers with selected works listed on poetry website Poetrydances.com has grown to 140 as the Site enjoys its highest levels of interest yet within the online poetry community.

Busan, South Korea, February 10, 2009 --(PR.com)-- New poems are discovered and linked to on a continuous basis by Poetrydances.com during its visits to other poetry sites, and blogs across the Internet. Many writers also submit poems directly to the Site. A proportion of the writers behind the poems are listed as Favorite Writers on the Site.

Interest in the Site and the idea behind it has been steadily growing within the online poetry community. Recently, more people than ever have been coming forward to give voice to their opinions:

"Poetrydances.com has been an amazing resource for the poetry community online. Its the site to search when looking for fantastic poetry.”
Sara Pufahl, Blog Manager at poetswhoblog.blogspot.com

"As a relatively new poet, I was flattered when Poetry Dances chose to feature my poems on their site, giving my work more exposure by bringing more readers, which in turn gives me support and encouragement. Since Anthony French started the website, it has continued to grow steadily with an impressive and varied collection of interesting poetry. My thanks and appreciation to Poetry Dances for giving a voice to relatively unknown poets".
Beatrice van de Vis http://www.owlnight.com

"There are countless sites where writers and poets exhibit their art. What I find extremely unique about your site, is that you search out talent from all these sites. Any writer, who says they are not honored to be chosen by your site, has written his or her first fictional piece. You also give writers a chance to read the many talented, but unnoticed works your site has selected. You deserve all the admiration, and respect your site is receiving for the difficult and time consuming efforts you have put into your site. Your hard work and dedication to all writers and poets are deeply appreciated."
Ray Neighbor (Rain) www.my.com/109879404

"Having a poem of mine selected to appear on the Poetry Dances website has been a humbling experience, such is the caliber of the work it represents. There's no shortage of poetry websites in cyberspace but there's a lot of weeding out to do before landing on a quality one. Within PoetryDances.com you'll find a huge variety of poetry – every style; every subject. What you won't find is mediocrity. - It's also your 'one-stop-shop' for poetry resources, acting as a central warehouse that provides links to worthwhile poetry blogs and websites the world over. You can submit your own work or, if you have your own blog or website, you can ask to be added to the Reading List, becoming part of a 'writers helping writers' network you can be proud of. - In the past, I've wasted a lot of time searching the web, trawling through one disappointing site after another, looking for resources that met my stringent standards. I stopped at PoetryDances.com–and stayed!"
Melinda Kahler http://www.writingroom.com/shakatoah

"Many thanks to Poetrydances.com for its support and encouragement of poets around the world. Your efforts to single out aspiring word-builders should be commended. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation for the words of praise that have been sent to poets such as myself. "
- Emily Burns http://www.myspace.com/emilyburns0917

“I would like to say what a wonderful opportunity Poetrydances.com offers to poets, allowing their poetry to be enjoyed around the world. It feels good to be able to share my words and thoughts, to spread my love of poetry...and Poetrydances.com is the perfect venue. Thank you”.
- David Hixon

"It's like my favorite little coffee shop where I can read some of the great poems hidden away in the nooks and crannies of the Internet over a cup of coffee!"-
Mama Madhaven http://mamta-glimpsesofme.blogspot.com/

"Poetrydances.com is a great place to find amazing poems. The Poetry dances team is very helpful and friendly. I would recommend them to anyone wanting to publish or just read great poetry".
Kathrine Hill http://www.writingroom.com/khill

"I see things are moving along quite well on your wonderful site. So much positive energy surely is continuing to reap rewards. How can it not? Poetry Dances is a class act and a gift to all who search the web looking for words to inspire them . . . especially in these times!" -
Joanne Cucinello http://icthebridge-moonspirit.blogspot.com

"Writing poetry has been a natural impulse for me since I could write. I write my diary in verse, I keep a notebook with me at all times, ready for any line, any phrase that enters my head. Reading poetry came later, but is now such a huge part of my life, I can't imagine being without it. I use it to convey all of my emotions and many of my experiences and it gives me real pleasure and release. - It is a time-consuming business, getting your poetry out there to as large an audience as possible, so what a great idea Poetrydances.com is, searching a range of online poetry sites and selecting a range of poetry, which is inspiring and impressive. It has the potential to create an impact on the literary world and for the poets involved, connecting those with a passion for poetry." –
Anya Fay http://www.writingroom.com/Anyafay

"I've enjoyed writing for years now, but since I became a member of the WritingRoom.com, it has enhanced my confidence as well as encouraged me to continue with my life long dream. Poetrydances.com is a new site to me, but I am so glad I was referred to it. After reviewing the site, I read some of the most beautiful poetry. I am truly inspired by the opportunity that the WritingRoom as well as Poetry Dances has given me as a poet to share my writing.. I appreciate both sites for all that they do for the poetry world. I am sure that there has been and will be great writers discovered with the opportunities that the Writingroom and Poetry dances have given! Thanks you guys!" -Debbie Campbell http://www.writingroom.com/deb

Due to elements of the Site’s design, it is returned on page One for searches made on Yahoo.com or Google.com, for many poetry related search criteria. This offers the potential of increased exposure for the writers and work listed on the Site.

These search criteria include: Great poetry website, Great poetry site and Read great poetry, among many others. A full list of the searches that return the Poetrydances.com on page One of Yahoo.com or Google.com are shown on the Site itself.

Over the last three months Poetrydances.com has been building on its recent affiliation with WritingRoom.com, a diverse and resource filled site for a great many talented writers. Poetrydances.com ‘Read Request’ buttons have been added to all poems on the WritingRoom.com site, which make it easier for users of the site to submit work for consideration and possible selection by Poetrydances.com. WritingRoom.com poetry contest winners are also now being hosted on the Poetry dances site.

-Lindsay Preston, Creator and CEO of WritingRoom.com recently offered these comments regarding the growing ties between the two sites:

"WritingRoom.com is pleased to have affiliated with Poetrydances.com. PoetryDances.com is a fabulous site made up of the highest quality poets and poetry. We feel the affiliation with such a high caliber site is beneficial, not only for WritingRoom, but for our members who have been and will be featured on the Site.”

In other developments Poetrydances.com has been in talks with premier poetry blog resource Poets Who Blog (poetswhoblog.blogspot.com), with a view to including a Read Request button on its site also.

The Poets Who Blog site hosts links to many of the blogs on which poems were originally discovered by Poetrydances.com.

Additionally, Poetrydances.com recently reached agreement with South Africa based Whisperpoetry.com, to offer marketing and promotional support for its book publication and distribution program. A program designed to help often disadvantaged children in Africa.

As mentioned earlier in this release many of the writers on the Site enjoy 'Favorite Writer' status.. The last quarter saw nineteen new Favorite Writers created. These writers along with their poems and the sites hosting are as follows:

Shana E. Purves with 'River of Passion' on poetrydances.com
Leanne Hancher (midsummer21) with 'Learning to Breathe' -on writingroom.com
Anya Fay with Willow on writingroom.com
Michele Stephenson (Michele) with 'Pair Of Poets' on writingroom.com
Melinda Kahler (shakatoah) with 'A Lady In Waiting' on writingroom.com
Debbie Campbell (deb) with 'I know You are There' on writingroom.com
Michael Estabrook with ‘Smooth and Sweet’ on poetrydances.com
Ronald Kilgore with ‘Final Hug’ on poetrydances.com
Danny F. McMahan with ‘Paradise Drizzles’ on poetrydances.com
Elijah Hamlin with ‘Dreams’ on poetrydances.com
Lily T. Bilsland (LTB) with ‘Human Swamp Water’ on writingroom.com
Jan Teaford (autumnmoon) with ‘A Study In Blue’ on autumnmoon.wordpress.com
Joe Kruppenbacher (Sojourner) with ‘Broken’ on writingroom.com
Cody Robinson (NativeLeader777) with ‘Moment of Silence’ on writingroom.com
Rebecca Derossett (Wannabe) with ‘I Am’ on writingroom.com
Janie Ruth Ryals with ‘Waiting’ on writingroom.com
David Angel with ‘Of Eternity To Rest’ on poetrydances.com
Rick Doerscher with ‘Iowa Fields’ on poetrydances.com
Jamie Alan Rhines with ‘Freedom’ on poetrydances.com

As indicated earlier in this release, poetry can also be submitted directly to Poetrydances.com along with links to great poems found by users themselves. Additionally, the Site accepts general read requests, which allow its staff to visit and read the work of specific writers on various poetry sites or blogs across the Internet.

The Site has also recently introduced a 'Poem of The Week' feature.

Poetrydances.com is free to use subject to its disclaimer and terms of use document.

www.poetrydances.com

Poetrydances.com news

Cruise on over to Poetrydances.com and check out their Poem of the Week. Click here to read Hope in Unison by Rio and Mamta.

Poetry Website Poetrydances.com Now Showcases Selected Work from Over 140 Writers – and Creates a Wave of Interest Within the Online Poetry Community

Third Jigsaw Poem

Transformation

In my dreams I heard the silent incantation
tumbling through the orange night
woke to find seven inches of magic
wrapping my hard-bitten street
like a belated Christmas present
the gleam of broken syringes
transmuted into the glitter of snow
wool-snuggled, I go searching for a lonely faun
to invite back home for tea and toast.


By Lirone


Words That Sing

Welcome our latest blog

A new blog joined our site today.Click here to read 1,000 Voices: a collection of experimental poetry

Second Jigsaw Poem- Feb 2009

Frost by Ofira Sephiroth

Snow falls on my broken gleam.
A lone syringe transfers frost
from our seven year storm.
Toast to victory
while I bite the tongue
that once tied around your heart -
accentuating passion,
hindering forgiveness.
Fantastic were my hopes and dreams -
belated are your wishes.


______________

To read more of this poet's work click here.

Press release from HarperCollins Publishers:

From the author of ACOLYTES comes BICYCLES a companion work to Nikki Giovanni’s much acclaimed and bestselling LOVE POEMS.

Listen to Nikki Giovanni read a rap she wrote for President Obama on NPR’s All Things Considered and her interview on NPR’s Tell Me More.

Browse inside now by clicking here.

Listen to Nikki Giovanni read from Tell Me More.BICYCLES by clicking here.


For a review copy for your blog, email us at morrowmarketing@harpercollins.com





Tell Me More.BICYCLES

First Jigsaw Poem- Feb 2009

A Jigsaw haiku

Sun gleam reflected
on broken syringe in snow.
Dreams lost forever.

By William H. Graffius

Press Release:

The Academy of American Poets inaugurated National Poetry Month in April 1996 as a month-long, national celebration of poetry, whose goals include highlighting our poetic heritage and introducing more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry.

To celebrate National Poetry Month this April, we are now accepting submissions of Poets on Poets for our April 2009 issue. Check out April 2008 in the archive section of Quill and Parchment to see what we are looking for.

Please click here for more information

Jump in and do our Jigsaw Poem

The idea behind a Jigsaw Poem- as created at PWB- is that first two different bloggers leave one word each in a reply. Then whoever is intrested, whether you left a word or not, makes a poem that uses those ten words. Send your poem to Poetswhoblog at yahoo dot com with Jigsaw Poem in the subject of the email. Also included whatever name you want your poetry credited under and a link to your blog.

Who wants to leave the first word?

If enough poets join this you could create a real poetic presence in this community.


Press release:

Blogging Daily is a New online newspaper created by your blogs. Submit your news, reviews, views, feeds and weblinks to create the world news. Join and create your own communities.

Submit articles on Travel, Health, Sports, Entertainment, Technology, Business or the Environment.

All blogs automatically posted to our homepage and to your own blog page.
100% commission on your google ads.

Join and help us build a real online community where real people interact and share their thoughts.



Click here to visit Blogging Daily

The MAG Poetry Prize 2009

Press Release:


An Open Online Poetry Competition
Innovative, exciting, challenging and democratic – the greatest ever online poetry competition.

Prize fund accumulates at £2.00 per entry (up to £10,000 maximum)

1st Prize - 50%, 2nd Prize - 25%, 3rd Prize - 15%, 4th Prize - 10%

Poetry Competition Rules
We have no appointed judges – the entrants judge the competition themselves. It’s a knockout system in three rounds (see Poetry Competition Rules for details) – but beware, if you don’t participate in the judging, you will be knocked out yourself! In each round the entrants read 12 poems. In the final round everyone reads the last 12. The judging will take place in the 2 months following closure of the competition.

Any subject. Style: Poetry or Prose Poetry. Maximum 42 lines. £6 per entry.

All profits from the poetry competition will be donated to MAG (Mines Advisory Group). MAG is a neutral and impartial humanitarian organisation that clears the remnants of conflict for the benefit of communities worldwide.

Our target is to get 1,500 entries in the first year. Tell your friends – the prize fund grows!

Closing Date: 30th April 2009

Visit their site by clicking here.

Freelance Job for a Poet

I stumbled along an add looking for poets to write reviews of poems. If you would like to look into this job offer click here and visit Top Freelance Projects.

Poetry and the Superbowl

John Lundberg asks "Is the Superbowl Poetic?" to read his thoughts on the subject read his article at The Huffington Post by clicking here.

If anyone writes a poem inspired by the clash of titans going on in American football today, leave a link for the rest of us to check out your work in the comments.

I would love to see more comments at this site and more interaction between the poets who are members here. Lets grow a community.

Hello, poets.

Below you will find a list of poems I have found at our member's sites. I enjoyed each of them. Please take a moment to check them out and leave comments.

Thank you.

Your Blog Manager,

Sara

Poets Who Blog January Poetry Collection

1.River by Zouxzoux.
2.Monochromatic by Paisley.
3. Untitled by John Barthel.
4.Homeby Noah the Great.
5.How by Leigh Lear
6. Between You and Air by Sarayu
7. In Norse Mythology by Carol
8.Unrequited by Monkeyboy
9.October 7th poem posted at Brief Poems by Brian
10. Eyes For the Stars by Corinne Elizabeth.

New Blog on our Blogroll

I'm pleased to announce we have added the site Appreciating Poetry to our blogroll. This site is quite unique. First the poet finds a poem online that he likes, then he pens a poem that has been inspired by it.

If you stop in to check out his work, tell him PWB sent you.

Press release:

ReadMe Publishing is offering a FREE writing contest for all poets where winning poems will receive cash prizes and the top entries will be published in a print collection.

Details:

Everyday Musings
Everyday something around you happens that is poetic if you notice. We want your best poems (up to 6 entries) covering life in a daily setting. All forms and styles of poetry will be considered.

Schedule: Submissions will be accepted between December 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009. Winners will be selected by March 31, 2009


Prizes: Winning poem will be paid $50.00, Second place $25.00, Third Place $10.00. The top 35 - 50 poems will be published in a poetry chapbook to be published in June of 2009.

Entry Fee: FREE!

For More information:please visit ReadMe

The Poetry and Prose Webzine recently posted a new podcast.
To listen to the poem Invoking St. Ciaran by Maureen Boyle visit Ink, Sweat and Tears by clicking here.

Have you visited the visual poetry network Poetry Visualized? If you want to check it out click here.

Welcome to a New Era

Hello, poets. Today we kick off our Poetry: Project Hope which is Poets Who Blog's very own inaugural celebration for the newly sworn in President of the United States of America, President Barack Obama.

Not only is this an important day in my country's history but it has ramifications globally, as the election of any leader would, and it is also a remarkable sign of the times concerning race relations.

This is a time of tears, joy, relief, excitement and change for many of us. No matter your political beliefs let us all take a moment to recogonize the importance of the events taking place in Washington, DC today.

What better way do we, as poets, know to express our thoughts and reflections on this day than with our words? I share with you the work of some of our poets:

Heirloom Diamonds by Tiel Aisha Ansari
Knocking From Inside

I'm too young to remember most of that:
the marches, Connor's dogs and Little Rock
the noose, the burning cross, the midnight knock
the woman on the bus who simply sat
and wouldn't move, the brave young volunteers
whose bodies lay in Mississippi mud.
My vote was paid for with their guiltless blood
transformed to treasure by the passing years.

They didn't care how long they had to wait:
the old folks queued to vote. I watched them cry
for joy this time, instead of grief or fears
or bitter anger. We drove back the hate
another step this time: and you and I
inherit diamonds in these old men's tears.

The Blood of Many by Sara Pufahl
The Shores of My Dreams

We
We shall
We shall over
We shall overcome.

We have overcome.

Baltimore Whistlestop, January 17th, 2009 by David Drager
Recycled Poet


Crowds stream from Light Rail & buses

Golf cart lane down Baltimore Street.

Coldest day of year

Strange light of mid-winter late afternoon.



Barricades everywhere

Buses blocking roads

Police of every agency & uniform

Clumps of unarmed soldiers

The big line

The metal detectors

Secret service on roofs

Scoping the crowd


Then the plaza

Where did the homeless go?

Standing in the middle of Fayette Street

Amidst the crowd

All races, all classes

Integration

Only seen at Artscape

Or maybe a ball game



Then the moment

No one had foreseen

With a thousand cameras & phones

Held over heads

A black man taking the legacy

1776, Fort McHenry

On streets

Where black folks were chattel.


A recreation of Lincoln’s

Inaugural train

Except without the disguises

And the sneaking



First blood of the Civil War

Spilled blocks away

As rioters

Attacked northern volunteers

Rioters still honored

In our state’s anthem

“Avenge the patriotic gore

That flecked the streets of Baltimore”



The next day rail bridges burned

On our mayors command

Telegraph lines to DC

Torn down

Then occupation

Federal Hill cannon turned

So many things have turned

And turned again



Are we truly

A people

Of common hopes

Of common dreams?



Eleven minutes from the crowds roar

To “God bless America”

Then the magic ended

And music resumed



Marching back

Watching family portraits taken

I spoke with a fifty-something black couple

Who on a normal day I would never meet

They missed the speech

“How long?”

“Only 10 minutes”

“We were expecting more”

I play them the speech

Recorded on my phone



You can tell the poet

Everyone snapping pictures

And this fool

Recording words and dreams

Everyone will say “you should have seen it”

I will say “you should have heard it”
© 2009, David Drager

Today in America by Sara Pufahl
The Shores of My Dreams


Today is our day

when the dream
becomes not just a dream

when the blood becomes spilled
for something the world can see

when the blisters on their feet
and the marks on their backs become victory scars

when the word "never"
becomes "now"

when tears flow not for injustice
but for hope

For hope
For hope
For hope

No longer do we wait
today is our day


SONGS OF HOPE SUNG IN FERTILE FIELDS by Bryan Borland
SHAKE: the poetry of Bryan Borland

This one
is for the Martins
and the Daisys and the Fredericks,
the Harriets and the Rosas and the Sojourners
and the prayer
that they can feel this now.
This is for
all the nameless
and forgotten
heroes and heroines,
kings and queens
left out of our small-town
history books.
But this one is also for
the Abrahams and Jacks and the Bobbys,
the leaders and the followers,
for the conductors of railroads above and below
that traveled steadily along midnight countrysides
and through swamps with mud ankle deep.
This one dances gracefully but with power
beyond black and white,
beyond Mason and Dixon
and calls together all names and syllables from
Southern drawls to
midwestern mouths and immigrant tongues to
ghosts of great great grandparents
to rise from their songs of hope sung in fertile fields
and to make this mass more perfect.
It’s for Alaska and Maine and Florida and Oklahoma,
for the resurrection of the States and the image and the spirit.
It’s for the Statue in her regal, raceless beauty
standing guard over our freedoms and virtues.
It’s for our brothers and sisters and sons and daughters
and the tomorrows as much as the yesterdays.
This one is for
the broken chain of slavery
and the stains of segregation
and the brilliance of that first ballot cast.
It’s for the Union and the Confederacy,
for all forty acres and every mule,
for sore feet and bleeding fingers and reconstruction.
It’s for the illusion of the separate and the equal
and the timeless reality of August 28, 1963.
It’s for the can’ts and don’ts and you’re not alloweds
as they transform and transcend into the
Yes we cans!
It’s for our mother’s right to speak, right to stand, right to vote,
for our gay friend’s right to love, right to
come out
from the shadows and the silence.
It’s for internment camps and backs of buses and inferior schools and
oh yeah
it’s for courage of ‘em all.
This one
is for
the African American
as much as the Asian American
as much as the Irish American
as much as
the blue-eyed blond-haired American.
It’s for the American
as much as you or I.
It’s for the tapestry of the United States
from Atlantic to Pacific
and everywhere and everyone in between.
It’s for our men and women
fighting in foreign countries
and resting in foreign graves.
This one is for
dreams yet to be dreamed
and walking with your head held high
through crowds who don’t want you
to the nation that craves you,
to destinations
yours as well as mine.
This one
is for the freedom
to persist
and assemble
and move ahead hand in hand
and the right
to rise up
and move beyond
and accomplish
and achieve.

This one is for November 4, 2008,
and the first poem of hope
I’ve written
in years.

© Bryan Borland