THE WORK: SEPTEMBER 2010

Friends and poetry lovers,

A new season is nearly upon us. Some will return to the classroom. Some will reassess. I am about to begin my 40th year on the planet. What a marvelous adventure it has been. I want to thank everyone in the arts community who has made my time here in the Vancouver metropolitan area so filled with laughter, learning, words, music, and art. I look forward to the discoveries this next year will bring.

The fall marks the return of my workshop, known, like this newsletter, as “The Work,” after a line in “Memory Gardens,” a poem by Allen Ginsberg: “Well, while I'm here I'll/do the work –/and what's the work?/to ease the pain of living./Everything else, drunken/dumbshow.”

We will listen to spoken word recordings, discuss poetry and the poet’s role in the community, and do some writing together. Let me know if you’d like to speak to a former participant of the workshop to determine whether it would be right for you. I am also excited to announce that the workshop will take place in the newly opened Niche, a wine bar owned and operated by Angst Gallery Director Leah Jackson. Niche is located at 1013 Main, right next door to the gallery. The workshop costs $20 and will take place from noon to 2:30 on Saturday, September 11. Hope to see you there.

Congratulations to Dan Raphael on the publication of his selected poems. Dan is someone for whom I have a deep admiration and respect. I want to thank Dan for his freindship, encouragement, and support, and for all that he does to keep poetry alive in the Pacific Northwest.

Here is Dan's announcment about the new book: "I'm very excited about my new book, Impulse and Warp: The Selected 20th Century Poems; it contains poems from my first 13 books, representing over 26 years of work. More information at the publisher http://www.wordcraftoforegon.com/. First reading for Impulse and Warp will be 9/19, 4, at Hawthorne Powell's. Penelope Scambly Schott will also be reading, from her new book, Crow Mercies."
Would you like to see photos and hear audio from Our July 30 viewing party for "When You're Strange," the new Doors documentary? Thanks to Rich Lindsay for recording, editing, and posting the podcast of our Jim Morrison open mic, and Anni Becker for photographing the proceedings. Also, thanks to Jenney Pauer, Bernadette Barrio, Mokii, Rich and Debra Marshall, Kyle David Congdon, Lori and Jake Loranger, Angelo Luna, and Toni Partington for partying with us. Special thanks to my partner Toni for the delicious snacks and beverages:

http://christopherluna-poetry.blogspot.com/2010/08/photos-and-audio-from-special-viewing.html

Thanks to my old friend Jason Mashak for his kind mention of me in this interview for Black Heart Magazine (http://blackheartmagazine.com/2010/08/18/an-interview-with-jason-mashak/). There is a ridiculously long list of Portland poets whom I might never have met were it not for Jason. Please take a look at this interview and consider buying his book, "Salty As a Lip."

M’s poem “Salt” was recently featured on Rattle’s blog. If you go to the page, you can also hear her reading it: http://rattle.com/blog/page/2/

My friend Matt Meighan’s popular songwriting workshop is starting up again:

I've got a couple of spaces left in my eight-week "Songwriting as Truth-Telling" class that starts Tuesday, Sept 28. (It's limited to 8 or 9 people, and there are two classes: 3:30-5:30 pm and 7 - 9 pm). A description of the class can be found here: http://www.songwritingastruthtelling.com/classes.php.

The classes usually get full well before starting, so if you're interested or would like more information, please let me know. - Matt matt@mattmeighan.com

Ed Sanders performing with the Fugs in New York City, 1967

Ed Sanders recently made his seminal book, “Investigative Poetry,” available for free online: http://woodstockjournal.com/pdf/InvestigativePoetry.pdf. This book, which I first read in the Allen Ginsberg Library at Naropa University, cracked my head open and changed the way I thought about poetry forever. Check it out.

Neeli Cherkovski
Photograph by Jannie Dresser

Jannie Dresser has written a good article about Neeli Cherkovski for the SF Poetry Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/poetry-in-san-francisco/nexus-poet-neeli-cherkovski-walks-the-past-into-the-future

Please join us at Cover to Cover Books on Thursday, September 9,
when our featured reader will be Ed Coletti:

Open Mic Poetry

hosted by Christopher Luna

7:00pm Thursday, September 9, 2010

& every second Thursday

Cover to Cover Books

1817 Main Street, Vancouver

McLoughlin Blvd. & Main Street

“always all ages and uncensored”

For more info call

360-514-0358 or 360-910-1066

Poet, essayist and painter Ed Coletti graduated from Georgetown University and the Creative Writing Masters Program at San Francisco State University (under Robert Creeley). Coletti has published several books of poetry including thawts ($12), Jazz Gods ($9), and Bringing Home the Bones ($9), which will be available at the reading. Recent work has appeared in Big Bridge, divide, Lilliput Review, Italian Americana, Unlikely Stories, Blueline, The New Verse News, Jerry Jazz Musician, poem, and home An Anthology of Ars Poetica (Hill & Waber, 2009 Paper Kite Press). His work also appeared alongside that of Lawrence Ferlighetti and Diane DiPrima in Avanti Popolo, an anthology of Italian-American poets (edited by James Tracy for Manic D Press). Coletti is the publisher of Round Barn Press. He lives with his wife Joyce in Santa Rosa, California where he operates the respected Bay Area-wide Poetry Azul Reading Series. His internet presence includes ″Ed Coletti’s P3” (http://edcolettip3.blogspot.com/) and ″No Money In Poetry” (http://edwardcolettispoetryblog.blogspot.com/).

For more info on Ed, read this recent profile from the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/poetry-in-san-francisco/ed-coletti-s-swan-song-at-poetry-azul-sunday-september-5

blitz chess with eric bourdon & the animals
by Ed Coletti

may need to leave this game before it ends,
nation building is very much like that,
get to know your new-afflicted neighbor
divorce her as you would a coughing pup;

time for sending Christmas cards again arrives
no ritual will ever put the face of god on mystery
political genial jaguars primp and eat the camera
the pump don’t work cause the vandals took the handle

round table pizza prices soar like a rocket through the roof
all the clocks are running backwards once again
martial law about to be declared for the infinite time,
won’t anybody look at me including me?

speed kills, go slowly
Sergeant Pepper’s salt of earth
time hath no fury like a moment cornered
this letter of the law which killeth

let the white space do the talking
martha, mary, joseph,
we gotta get outta this place
before before

or stay awhile longer on the real scene
hoping that your progeny might glean
a bit from such crumbs your nonsense sews
less than a tapestry, more than just clothes.

Onward, instanter,
for there are
no weekends for poets,
Christopher Luna

THE WORK

SEPTEMBER 2010

NEWSLETTER TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. LiTFUSE Launch Party with Susan Rich, Mimi Allin, Elizabeth Austen, and Dan Peters at Hugo House (Seattle, WA) September 7.

2. The Writings on the Wall: Text-Based Interactive Art, Music, Poetry September 10th Launch Pad Gallery (Portland, OR)

3. Karen Tolley, margareta waterman, and David Lloyd Whited at St. Johns Booksellers (Portland) Sept. 11

4. The Studio Series with Barbara Drake and Scot Siegel + open mic at Stonehenge Studios/Ross Island Café Sept. 12 (Portland)

5. Judith Montgomery + open mic at Barnes and Noble Vancouver September 14

6. Figures of Speech: Crystal Williams and BT Shaw + open mic at 100th Monkey Studios September 15

7. Dennis McBride at Paper Tiger open mic September 16 (Vancouver, WA)

8. Spare Room: Jen Currin and Don Mee Choi at Concordia Coffee House (Portland) September 18

9. Paulann Petersen and Paul Merchant at Moonstruck Chocolate Café (Lake Oswego, OR) September 19

10. Two new articles and a publishing opportunity/contest from Sage Cohen

1.
LiTFUSE Launch Party, Sept. 7 @ 7pm @ Hugo House.
Words, music & wonder, featuring Susan Rich, Mimi Allin, Elizabeth Austen, Dan Peters & surprises. $5 donation.

LiTFUSE Poets’ Workshop 10.8.10-10.10.10. LiTFUSE is an annual weekend-long poets’ workshop held in Tieton, WA (near Yakima), for poets of all ages, abilities & styles. LiTFUSE combines writing, performance, meditation, music, camaraderie and natural beauty to IGNiTE your muse. This year’s featured artist, teacher & poet Ingrid Wendt, leads a faculty with deep experience and varied styles. For more information and to register, please visit www.litfuse.us, or email michael@litfuse.us - Northwest Writers, UNiTE!

Michael Schein
LiTFUSE Director
206.714.3178

http://www.litfuse.us/
http://www.michaelschein.com/

2.
The Writings on the Wall
ONE NIGHT ONLY: Text-Based Interactive Art, Music, Poetry
September 10th - 25th, 2010

SECOND FRIDAY
September 10th, 2010
7pm-1am
FREE! ALL AGES!

Northern Soul 45’s lovingly laid down by DJ Asher Loverdi

WHAT IS IT??
Home-made Magnetic Poetry vs. Freestyling vs. Improvisation vs. Live Painting vs. Open Mic

We’re having a happening Happening of sorts, because we believe that YOU, our art-loving public, have something to say, so we’re taking a chance to experiment and providing the tools to make something unique and wonderful! We require YOUR HELP to make the art this month! Bring your FAVORITE WORDS to include in a gigantic text-based experiment in collaborative writing, music and art making.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Come prepared with your thesaurus in tow, ready with ideas and images to share and work into a grand text masterpiece of our collective creation….

We will provide hundreds of blank 3×5 index cards, push pins and markers, along with 40 feet of empty wall and pre-made pronouns, prepositions and nouns- just basics, basically.

YOU and your friends bring ideas along with your favorite adjectives, nouns, verbs. Feel free to bring poems of your own to translate onto the wall, but know that your words will hopefully be cannibalized into other peoples sentences, just like on the fridge.

(you can pre-make 3×5 cards with word on them if you’d like to get extra fancy!)

Over the course of the night, the wall will change and evolve as musicians, artists, DJ’s, MC’s and poets integrate your words and ideas into their flow alongside, as well as performing their own original material.

In between music acts, we will have OPEN MIC opportunities for YOU to share poems, stories and snippets that you have created during the night using the words on the wall.

LIVE PAINTERS
(Artists will sell the work they create through out the night via silent auction)
CHRIS HABERMAN
JENNIFER MERCEDE

LIVE MUSIC, IMPROVISATION & FREE-STYLING

CHILDISH: Poet & songwriter Rob Childish will be bringing original songs as well as lyrics and poems created on the fly

REED WALLSMITH & TIM DuROCHE
Improvisational Jazz

THE WORD ASSOCIATION
Featuring Variant & Pecos B.
Beats, rhymes and stories

NORTH VOID COLLECTIVE & START FIRES:
Featuring: Joe Cyrus, Wellis Fool, Daltonic, DMLH, DJ Shermstixx
Freestyling! Pass the mic….

Launch Pad Gallery - 534 SE Oak Street, Portland, OR 97214 - 971.227.0072

NEW HOURS: Wednesday-Saturday 12 - 4pm, & by appt.

3.
Market Day Poetry Series
Curated by Dan Raphael

*Karen Tolley*
*margareta waterman*
*David Lloyd Whited*

saturday, september 11
12:00 noon
Free admission

St. Johns Booksellers
8622 N. Lombard
503-283-0032
http://www.stjohnsbooks.com/

The Market Day Poetry Series is a collaboration between St. Johns Booksellers and the St. Johns Farmers' Market (located in the nearby plaza), taking place each Saturday at noon during the market season.

About the readers:

*Karen Tolley* announced her love of the written word when she was two years old. she reads and reads and occasionally writes -- as the spirit moves her. her creativity, not limited to words themselves, enhances her environment in many projects of literary focus: a bookstore which is the cultural center of the county; an artisan bookbindery; guiding boards of library and bookfair. local writers value her support and inspiration. she seldom publishes or presents her own writings. this opportunity to hear her read is rare and precious.

*margareta waterman* (author of many books of poetry and fiction, founder of *nine muses books*) is known to most of you. now semi-retired, she reads publically less and less and enjoys it more and more, is very happy to put her voice out into portland air.

*David Lloyd Whited*, currently a planner for the Puyallup Indian Tribe in Tacoma, Washington, lives on Vashon Island with his wife, four cats, a ragged family of raccoons, and various other critters. his reputation as a distinguished poet rests on the integrity of his poetic voice. his recent books include */Shadow Dance/*; */Wet Way Home/*; */The Elevens/*; */3 & 1/*. Now in manuscript, */Olde Man Coyote Goes to Towne/* will be published by nine muses books.

4.
The Studio Series: Poetry Reading and Open Mic will feature Barbara Drake and Scot Siegel on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 at Stonehenge Studios/Ross Island Café, 3508 SW Corbett Avenue, Portland 97239 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Free and open to the public, the Studio Series is held monthly on second Sundays. For additional information please contact organizer and host leahstenson@comcast.net.

5.
BARNES & NOBLE VANCOUVER WELCOMES ANOTHER OREGON BOOK AWARD WINNER. Judith Montgomery will read from "Red Jess" and introduce other poems after she drives over from Bend. We are very fortunate to host Judy, our 2nd OR Book Award-winning author in a row and someone who comes highly and widely recommended. The reading, along with an open mic afterwards: Tuesday, Sept. 14th at 7 pm, Barnes & Noble Vancouver, 7700 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., 98662. Order "Red Jess" now and have it come to your home before the event so Judy can sign it! Just click here or paste into address bar: http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=red+jess&box=red%20je&pos=-1 This is a pre-paid title, and one in plentiful supply. Order on or before Sept. 6th! See you soon, Shawn Sorensen, crm2679@bn.com

6.
Figures of Speech: Join hosts Steve Williams and Constance Hall for our next event on September 15th at the 100th Monkey Studios (110 S.E. 16th Ave, Portland) for a reunion of sorts. B.T. Shaw and Crystal Williams will renew their friendship in person. Earlier, B.T. published an interview with Crystal in the Oregonian. Crystal has been out of the state until recently so this is one of your first chances to hear her since her recognition as a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. And as always, open mic, a writing prompt, cookies, and other fun.

Crystal Williams, a native of Detroit, Michigan, is the author of three books of poetry, most recent of which is Troubled Tongues, winner of the Long Madgett Poetry Prize and finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Her work appears or is forth oming in journals and anthologies including, The American Poetry Review, 5AM, Callaloo, Ploughshares, and The Norton Anthology of African American Poetry, among others. She is a MacDowell Fellow and a recipient of a 2009 Oregon Arts Commission fellowship. She is an associate professor at Reed College.

B.T. Shaw lives in Portland, where she edits the Poetry column for The Oregonian and teaches at Portland State University and in the certificate program at the Independent Publishing Resource Center. Her debut collection, This Dirty Little Heart, won the 2007 Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry. She is afraid of staplers.

Figures of Speech is sponsored by the Oregon State Poets Association.
Third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Starting January 2011, we’re moving to the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
http://figuresofspeechpdx.wordpress.com/

7.
From Dan Nelson:

Hey there wordsmiths,
Thanks to everyone who attended, read, or publicized August's poetry event at Paper Tiger. It just keeps getting better and better. The variety of subjects and styles and the high quality of the verse make little feet of joy (even the misplaced pride of vicarious identification) go pitter pat through the tunnels of what passes for my mind. We were particularly blessed by the profound words of our featured reader, Kori Sayer, whose honesty is eclipsed only by her talent for creative elucidation of the pains and joys and gray areas of existence. Thank you Kori!

For September I am excited as a vulture over carrion (death smells sweeter to them than lilacs to us) to announce the appearance of Dennis McBride. Dennis is a Portland based free lance loiterer, writer, and part time barfly who barely graduated from Lincoln High School after completing his GED with marginal honors. He received an honorable discharge from the US Air Force after 4 years of service, despite being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital in Texas for 1 month due to a misunderstanding. He later attended Wichita State for 2 consecutive months. He later spent most of his working life as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the medical/industrial complex. His work has appeared in 'The Oregonian', 'The LA Times', 'The Washington Post', 'NBC Radio-Los Angeles', and numerous poetry anthologies and periodicals including the Canadian magazine 'Open Minds' and the California magazine 'Journal'. He has recieved positive notice of his work from Edward Albee and the late, Pulitzer Prize winning author William Styron. He is the author of two works of poetry and satire, "Looking for Peoria" and "Killing the Mockingbird" He was the recipient of the 1996 Andreas Berger Award for Poetry. He is still alive and lusts, lies, cheats and steals--but only when it's the right thing to do.

So do yourself a favor and be at Paper Tiger, 703 Grand Blvd. (between Mill Plain and Evergreen in Vancouver) on September 16th at 7pm . Please bring a poem or 2 to read at our open mic (5 minute max due to the number of readers), and join with some of the best poets in the Northwest declaiming their heartfelt musings. Plus the coffee can't be beat, as well as a host of other hot and cold beverages. Here's a sampler of Dennis's work to spark a flame of desire.

Dan Nelson 360-334-1129 or nelsondaniel59@yahoo.com

Grace by Dennis McBride

What strangeness comes over us.
The things I've done that don't
belong in a poem and the other
things I've wanted to do that
could not be put in one and the
mind that wonders what that
means about the poem and about
me and why it is the poem saves
us from these things and from
the ones yet to come like an
exit door in a bad movie.
We hope there is a God,
silly, and sinful, and wise
who grades on a curve
from an endless blue sky
almost as large as the heart
which keeps hurting and healing us
and ends when it must like the poem.

Mustard by Dennis McBride

The wrists and mind are weak tonight
and there's so much to do.
I think of all the dirty windows of the world,
the lost keys to locked doors,
and I drift toward the longing of
a slightly burnt hot dog with mustard
like a single engine plane on empty
looking for a sure place to land.
My dog Alfie and I are still alive
and I know this is a miracle.
He's 21 years old.
That's a hundred and forty seven
in human years, but sometimes,
when he's chasing a grasshopper,
he forgets that and his arthritis vanishes.
It's good to desire what you don't have,
even lilacs come back again and again.
Suddenly he's four and a half,
following something inside
the dark cave of his mind,
glittering and sparkling.

The Future of Rome by Dennis McBride

Let's say having increases hunger,
that light makes it harder really to see.
Then suppose, like me, you don't have eyes,
suppose you don't have ears to hear
and there is no nose.
Imagine, like me,
you don't even have a mouth
to put the sweet, soft black berry in.
But suppose there are Red and Green and Yellow,
that you feel them.
Then suppose you had a lamp
bigger than you to lean against,
a dark maroon red carpet to sit on
and a blue teacup large as your chest.
Then imagine, like me,
you were made of gold,
that you were willing to be idle
and were the one to come after Man.
Think of having only to sit,
of the heart's thoughts,
of fear leading finally to safety,
speech to silence.
Think of enough.

8.
From David Abel (Spare Room Collective):

[please note that this reading takes place on a Saturday, not our usual Sunday slot]

Spare Room Presents
Jen Currin
Don Mee Choi

Saturday, September 18
7:30 pm

Concordia Coffee House
2909 NE Alberta
$5.00 suggested donation

www.flim.com/spareroom
spareroom@flim.com

Upcoming Readings

October 3 Robert Mittenthal & Standard Schaefer
November 7 Lewis Warsh & Alicia Cohen
November 14 Les Figues press authors
December 12 Kristen Gallagher & Chris Alexander

==================================================

Jen Currin was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and lived in Boston, upstate New York, Denver, and Tempe, Arizona, before settling in Vancouver, B.C. in 2002. Jen teaches writing and literature at Vancouver Community College and Langara College. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and an MA in English, and has published three books of poetry: The Sleep of Four Cities (2005), Hagiography (2008), and The Inquisition Yours (2010).

Don Mee Choi was born in South Korea and came to the United States via Hong Kong. Her first book of poems, The Morning News Is Exciting, has just been published by Action Books. She lives and works in Seattle and also translates contemporary Korean women's poetry. Her translations include When the Plug Gets Unplugged (Tinfish), Anxiety of Words: Contemporary Poetry by Korean Women (Zephyr), and Mommy Must Be a Fountain of Feathers (Action Books).

Grafitti or You are on Yew Street
by Jen Currin

We have been busy hating
& making home-spun slogans.

Very busy. A canister of you
is a canister of me.

Walls: We can climb them,
knock them down, or dissolve…

Someone wants to respond,
to enter an egoless room.

You are on Yew Street
facing audio charges,
half-stepping, afraid of drama & editing.

But the undo mob isn’t angry.
They’re busy loving everything.

Taking fire-walking classes,
wondering if the compost worms will eat glass.

It’s not just manipulations on a page.

She let the children throw rocks at her.

It’s not just paragraphs someone wants to call emotional.

Every dog must learn repetition:

Hey, let’s go downtown and pick up some costumes.

& unlearn:

My mask—doesn’t quite fit.


To All Boys and Men!
by Don Mee Choi

Dandelions may not be weeds. They are related to chrysanthemums. Girls should.

May all weeds dislocate themselves. Girls should. I clench my fist and watch the morning news. Dandelion leaves are bitter yet tender. Girls should.

Chrysanthemums are admired. Beware. The early morning news is exciting.

9.
From Joan Maiers:

A HARVEST OF POETRY AND MUSIC FOR AUTUMN

Arrive early to order chocolate or beverages and enjoy hearing two local illustrious authors read their work. Featured are: Oregon Poet Laureate, Paulann Petersen and Oregon Book Award Nominee, Paul Merchant, as well as guitar music by Casey Killingsworth before and after the reading.

Hosted by Joan Maiers.

Free and open to the public.

$5 suggested donation to assist relief work in Haiti.

Sunday, September 19
6:30 PM

Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe
45 S. State Street in downtown Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Accessible with abundant parking.

503-697-7097

10.
Want to be more productive with your writing process and results than ever before? Two, new articles from Sage Cohen can help!

Check out "10 Ways to Be a Productivity Pro" in the "Big 10" (September) issue of Writer's Digest -- available now in your favorite bookstore. This issue can also be purchased here: http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/print-issue-writers-digest-september-2010/?r=wdbktw072110WD0910-jenkinspromo

Cohen's companion piece, "Top 10 Productivity Pitfalls For Writers To Avoid" is available for FREE on the Writer's Digest website: http://writersdigest.com/article/productivity-pro

Both pieces offer some of the greatest tips from Sage Cohen's latest book: The Productive Writer: Tips and Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success -- to be released in December of this year.

MAKE YOUR POEM AN iPOEM! DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 1

Want to see your poetry appear in a poem-a-day iPhone app? Submit up to three, 20-line poems that express the spirit of "the life poetic" to "The Life Poetic iPoem Contest" by November 1.

Sponsored by Sage Cohen, author of Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry and The Productive Writer: Tips and Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success, the contest offers a range of prizes with a total value of more than $400.

Get all the details here:

http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com/writing_the_life_poetic/2010/08/the-life-poetic-ipoem-contest.html

SUBMISSION CALLS AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.
From: allenbraden@comcast.net

2010 WABASH PRIZE FOR POETRY
Final Judge: JANE HIRSHFIELD
http://www.sycamorereview.com/contest/

First Prize: $1000 and winning entry published in Winter/Spring 2011 issue

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS
Deadline: October 1, 2010

1. For each submission, send up to three poems.
2. A $15 reading fee (check or money order) payable to Sycamore Review must accompany each submission. The reading fee includes a copy of the prize issue.
3. Additional poems (beyond the initial three) may be included. Increase the reading fee $5 for each additional poem.
4. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable only if Sycamore Review is notified immediately upon acceptance elsewhere.
5. All entries must be typed and must include a cover letter with the author's name and contact information (mailing address, telephone number, and email address) as well as the titles of all poems submitted. Information that identifies the author should NOT appear on the manuscript itself.
6. Manuscript pages should be numbered and should include the title of the piece.
7. Please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard if you wish to be notified upon receipt of your manuscript.
8. Manuscripts will not be returned. Winners will be announced by Dec. 30, 2010. For information on winners and runners-up, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with entry.
9. All contest submissions will be considered for regular inclusion in Sycamore Review.
10. All poems must be previously unpublished.
11. Questions may be directed to (replace (at) with @)

Send 2010 Wabash Prize for Poetry submissions and reading fee to:

2010 Wabash Prize for Poetry
Sycamore Review
Department of English
500 Oval Drive
Purdue University
West Lafayette , IN 47907

2.
From: allenbraden@comcast.net

CONSEQUENCE Magazine: Call for Submissions

CONSEQUENCE Magazine is the literary, print magazine addressing the culture of war. We are interested in the personal and social consequences of armed conflict worldwide, and seek multi-national perspectives.

CONSEQUENCE is currently accepting submissions of exceptional short fiction, poetry, non-fiction, interviews, and visual art.

Submissions will be accepted until November 1, 2010.

For information about how to submit your work, please visit our website:

http://www.consequencemagazine.org/

3.
http://www.writeonwhidbey.com/Publications/

Soundings is currently reading for the fall issue, including our two contests, Founders' Circle Award and First Publication Contest. Deadline for these for the fall issue is September 15, but any submissions received at that time will be considered for the spring issue. All entries are considered for publication in the magazine.

Founders’ Circle: $300 award, open to all except staff of the magazine.

All genres, prose and poetry

Length: poetry up to two pages; prose (fiction or nonfiction) up to 3,000 words

Entry fee: $5 for WIWA (Whidbey Island Writers Association) members; $7 for nonmembers

Winner receives publication and $300 & publication

Follow standard submission guidelines for magazine: 12 pt. Times Roman font, double space prose, include small SASE for response or larger envelope for return of manuscript.

Write “Founders Circle Contest” on manuscript.

First Publication Contest: $100 award, open to those who have never before published in a book or magazine open to national submissions nor in a publication advertised or circulated nationally.

Entry fee: $5 for WIWA members; $7 for nonmembers

For this contest, if we receive no entries that do not meet the quality standards of Soundings Review; reading fees will not be returned.

Follow standard submission guidelines for magazine: 12 pt. Times Roman font, double space prose, include small SASE for response or larger envelope for return of manuscript.

Write "First Publication Contest " on the manuscript.

All entries will be considered for publication.

Currently, Soundings Review reads all year. Manuscripts received too late for one issue will be considered for the next. Published authors include Kelli Russel Agodon, Marvin Bell, Larry Cheek, Lorraine Healy, Bruce Holland Rogers, and David Wagoner. Full guidelines at our Website. www.writeonwhidbey.org/Publications

THE WORK: JUNE 2010 Poetry newsletter compiled by Christopher Luna

THE WORK JUNE 2010

POETRY NEWSLETTER BY CHRISTOPHER LUNA

Toni Partington and I have been invited to participate in the North Bank Artists Gallery’s exhibition entitled “Skin.” Our poetry and art will be on display throughout the month of June. Please join us tonight between 5 and 9pm for an opening reception and poetry reading to celebrate. North Bank is located at 1005 Main Street. And don’t forget to check out the other great galleries and vendors at First Friday and Craft in the Village.

To Be Named and Other Works of Poetic License

An Art Book

by Christopher Luna, David Madgalene, and Toni Partington

 
In July, Toni and I will be joined by Windsor, CA poet David Madgalene as we present “To Be Named,” a new 200+ page book that features five years worth of collaborative poetic travelogue written by the three of us with the help of a cast of thousands. The cover for each book will be a one-of-a-kind, extremely limited edition album cover that has been altered by all three of us. Many thanks to Leah Jackson for allowing us to debut this project at Angst. More details to follow! David will also be reading at Cover to Cover Books.

There is plenty of poetry to hold you off until then.

Open Mic Poetry

hosted by Christopher Luna

7pm Thursday, June 10, 2010

& every second Thursday

Cover to Cover Books

1817 Main Street, Vancouver

McLoughlin Blvd. & Main Street

“always all ages and uncensored”

For more info call 360-514-0358

or 360-910-1066

With our featured reader, Kristin Berger:

Kristin Berger lives with her husband and two young children in Portland, Oregon, where she serves as an Associate Editor of VoiceCatcher. She is the author of a poetry chapbook, For the Willing (Finishing Line Press, 2008, $12), and her non-fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Kristin’s poetry and essays have appeared in CALYX, New Letters, and The Pedestal Magazine among other publications, and currently in Mothering Magazine and Cup of Comfort for Mothers.

For more about Kristin, visit her website at http://www.kristinberger.wordpress.com/.

***********************************

Two days after Kristin’s reading, I will once again be facilitating The Work, a monthly workshop at Angst Gallery. The workshop will take place Saturday, June 12 at noon. This will be our last workshop until September, so don’t miss it!

**************************************

I am very excited to be participating in Dan Raphael’s Market Day Poetry Series in St. Johns again this year. On June 19 I will be hosting Peter Ludwin, Gail Moore, and Eileen Elliott. Please join us. Here is Dan’s announcement about the series:

dan raphael will be reading Saturday, June 5th, noon, with Rick J and Mary Slocum at St Johns Booksellers, 8622 n lombard. this is the first of 17 readings to be happening same time same place every saturday until 9/25, which just coincidentally is the run of the St Johns Farmers Market, half a block away, from 9-1, It’s a good place to visit, with several good places to eat and drink around, cathedral park, the st johns bridge, etc.

6/12 is hosted by Christine Broller Spangle
6/19 is Christopher Luna w/ Peter Ludwin, Eileen Elliott, and Gail Moore
6/26 is Melissa Sillitoe w/ J M Harris and Celestial Concubine

For more info on the reading I will be hosting on June 19, see item 8 below.

I think you’ll enjoy “Frenzied Sweetness,” my recent interview with Michael Rothenberg and David Meltzer for Rain Taxi Review of Books. We talked about Michael Rothenberg’s “CHOOSE” and his and David’s recent multi-city, multimedia ROCKPILE ON THE ROAD tour:

http://www.raintaxi.com/online/2010spring/rothenberg-meltzer.shtml

Finally, a few shout outs.

Here is an article about Tacoma’s new poet laureate, Tammy Robacker, who will be coming to Vancouver to read for us this summer:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/30/1206288/lessons-from-tacomas-poet-laureate.html

The Columbian recently acknowledged two of the newest and most exciting art venues in the “Couve, The Space and The Stray Gallery:

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/30/other-places-to-see-art/

Rock on this summer,
Christopher Luna

THE WORK
June 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Final chance to participate in one of Sharon Wood Wortman’s Bridge Walks (Portland)


2. Sage Cohen readings in June and an invitation to submit to "THE LIFE POETIC iPOEM CONTEST"


3. Children’s Poetry with Susan Blackaby at Barnes & Noble Vancouver June 9


4. Carolyne Wright at King’s Books (Tacoma, WA) June 11


5. The Studio Series: Poetry Reading and Open Mic featuring Paulann Petersen and Carl Adams 7-9 pm, June 13 at Stonehenge Studios/Ross Island Café (Portland)


6. Figures of Speech Series: Sid Miller and Alison Apotheker at 100th Monkey (Portland) June 16


7. Christi Krug + open mic at Paper Tiger Coffee (Vancouver, WA) June 17


8. Market Day Poetry Series with Peter Ludwin, Eileen Elliott, and Gail Moore June 19 (Portland)


9. Tacoma Poet Laureate Tammy Robacker at Tacoma Public Library June 24

10. SAVE THE GULF MUSIC AND POETRY FESTIVAL with David meltzer, Sharon Doubiago, Neeli Cherkovski, Geri DiGiorno, Terri Carrion, Pat Nolan, Bill Vartnaw, Katherine Hastings, Michael Rothenberg, Zack Fortune, David Madgalene and Sonoma County Poet Laureate Gwynn O'Gara June 27 (PETALUMA, CA)


SUBMISSION CALLS AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

THE WORK

JUNE 2010

Compiled by Christopher Luna

1.

Sharon Wood Wortman is retiring from leading the bridge walks she has done for Portland Parks & Outdoor Rec since 1991 so that she can spend more time on other things, including being with her 11 grandchildren. So catch one of these before they are no more. .

FOUR PORTLAND BRIDGE, POETRY, AND MUSIC WALKS ANNOUNCED FOR 2010

Contact: Nancy Harger, Portland Parks - 503 823-5127
or Sharon Wood Wortman 503 222-5535 sharon@bridgestories.com

Sharon Wood Wortman, author of The Portland Bridge Book, and leader of waterfront bridge walks for Portland Parks & Outdoor Recreation since 1991, announces four guest performers for the 2010 bridge walking series:

Saturday, June 5 - Poet Sage Cohen
Saturday, July 24 - opening day of PDX Bridge Festival 2010 - Poet Paulann Petersen (Oregon's newest Poet Laureate)
Saturday, August 7 - closing of PDX Bridge Festival 2010 - Musician Mary Flower
Saturday, September 18 - Poet David Hedges http://david.hedges.name/

Sage Cohen, author of Writing the Life Poetic, and The Productive Writer (both published by Writer's Digest Books), will be the featured poet for the June 5 walk.

About a mile long and easy-paced, each walk includes a tour of the Oregon Dept. of Transportation’s Traffic Management Operation Center and the tower and bascule pit of the Morrison Bridge. See eight bridges in all.

Registration not required. Begins at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of NW Second & Everett (steps of the Northwest Natural Building). Ends with lunch (extra $) in Chinatown. $16 for adults, $10 for children.

Supporting the Divine, by Sharon Wood Wortman

A kiss is like a cantilever bridge—
Two lips meeting in the middle,
Air jumping up and down
(vortices exciting the molecules);
tension and compression
at such an angle two hearts
can safely walk hope across
no matter how many miles
or old the ground.

2.

Sage Cohen and Christopher Luna
at Cover to Cover Books

in Vancouver, WA

POETIC ADVENTURES WITH SAGE COHEN IN JUNE

Portland bridge and poetry walk
Saturday, June 5, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Starts at the corner of NW Second & Everett (steps of the NW Natural building)
Ends with lunch (extra $) in Chinatown.
$16 for adults, $10 for children

Learn more: http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com/writing_the_life_poetic/2010/05/join-me-for-a-bridge-and-poetry-walk-on-saturday-june-5-.html

Free poetry workshop at the Chinese Garden
Monday, June 7, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Scholar's Study (Celestial Hall of Permeating Fragrance)
239 Northwest Everett Street (@NW 3rd)
Portland, OR 97209

Learn more: http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com/writing_the_life_poetic/2010/05/join-me-for-a-free-workshop-at-the-chinese-gardens-on-june-7.html

SUBMIT TO "THE LIFE POETIC iPOEM CONTEST"

Submission deadline: July 4, 2010

Sage Cohen invites you to submit up to three, unpublished poems that represent "the life poetic." She'll be choosing 365 for inclusion in a "Life Poetic" iPhone app that features a poem a day. Enter to win prizes valued at more than $400!

Get all the details: http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com/writing_the_life_poetic/2010/04/youre-invited-to-submit-to-the-life-poetic-iphone-poetry-contest-.html

"THE LIFE POETIC iPHONE CONTEST" OFFERS A NEW FORUM FOR POETS AND POETRY LOVERS

Poet and author Sage Cohen is seeking submissions for a new poem-a-day iPhone application. Offering 365 poems that explore "The Life Poetic," this virtual anthology will let viewers easily read poems on their iPhone and then share them by text or email.

Poets interested in appearing in this anthology are invited to submit up to three poems to "The Life Poetic iPoem Contest" by July 4. In addition to publication opportunities, prizes include a free class, manuscript review, and many books -- with an award value of $350+.

All contest details and submission guidelines can be found here:

http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com/writing_the_life_poetic/2010/04/youre-invited-to-submit-to-the-life-poetic-iphone-poetry-contest-.html

Sage Cohen is author of Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry (Writer's Digest Books, 2009) and The Productive Writer: Tips and Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success (Writer's Digest Books, 2010). She blogs at http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com.

3.

"Strand by strand a spider strings
Her scaffold stalk to stem,
And when a passerby drops by
Midflight, she draws him in…"

Would you like to witness some great poetry for children? Poetry appealing to literature lovers of all ages?

We welcome local poet Susan Blackaby for a reading of her beautifully written and illustrated book Nest, Nook and Cranny. Nest, Nook and Cranny is broken into different sections - Desert, Wetland, Woodland, etc. and contains work that's visually appealing, with a large variety of metaphors that also provides a great way to learn about our natural world. It’s intented for kids ages 8-12 but would make a good gift to anyone.

This is a rare event for our Poetry Group regulars - and their children and grandchildren.

Barnes and Noble Vancouver 2nd Wednesdays Poetry Group
Wednesday, June 9th
Critique Group in café: 6 pm
Author Reading in back corner: 7 pm
Open Mic in back corner: 7:45 pm
7700 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., 98662

You’re Invited,
Shawn Sorensen (crm2679@bn.com)
Community Relations Manager
Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Vancouver Plaza

7700 NE 4th Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98662
tel: (360) 260-3854
fax: (360) 253-5414

http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/

4.

The City of Tacoma and Puget Sound Poetry Connection Presents

Carolyne Wright

Distinguished Writer Series

Friday, June 11, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.

at Kings Bookstore, 218 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma

Open mic to follow featured reader--So come read a poem with us!

*To learn more about local poetry readings, writer workshops, local lit events and lots of poetry publication opportunities, join Puget Sound Poetry Connection on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=88695587874&ref=ts
or our webpage: http://pugetsoundpoetryconnection.art.officelive.com/default.aspx

5.

The Studio Series: Poetry Reading and Open Mic will feature Paulann Petersen and Carl Adamshick at its first event on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at Stonehenge Studios/Ross Island Café, 3508 SW Corbett Avenue, Portland 97239 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The readings by the featured poets will be followed by a 20-minute intermission before an open mic begins at 8:00 and continues until 9:00. During the intermission there will be an opportunity to sign up to read during the open mic and the café will serve food and drink, including alcoholic beverages. The café is not usually open on Sunday nights but it will be open on second Sundays from 6:00 to serve café fare such as burgers and gourmet sandwiches for those who wish to have a light meal before the event. Free and open to the public, The Studio Series will be held monthly on second Sundays. For more information, please contact organizer and host Leah Stenson at leahstenson@comcast.net.

Directions to the Studio Coming from the south, take the Corbett Exit on I-5. Turn left off the exit ramp onto Corbett and head downhill to the Studio, which will be on your right. If you are coming from the

north, take Macadam to Boundary. Make a right on Boundary. Go one block and make a right onto Corbett. Continue on Corbett past the blinking red light at Hamilton and head downhill to the studio on your right.

Paulann Petersen’s books of poetry are The Wild Awake (Confluence Press), Blood-Silk (Quiet Lion Press), A Bride of Narrow Escape (Cloudbank Books), which was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award, and Kindle (Mountains and Rivers Press). A fifth full-length book, The Voluptuary, is scheduled to be published by Lost Horse Press in late 2010. A former Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and the recipient of the 2006 Holbrook Award from Oregon Literary Arts, she serves on the board of Friends of William Stafford, organizing the annual January Stafford Birthday Events.

Carl Adamshick is the winner of the Walt Whitman Award selected by the Academy of American Poets. His book Curses and Wishes is due out in the spring of 2011 by LSU Press. He has published poems in American Poetry Review, The Harvard Review, and The Missouri Review.

6.

At Figures of Speech this month we have Sid Miller and Alison Apotheker (see below). Also, as usual, open mic., writing prompts, books, cookies and a new art show at the 100th Monkey. So mark your calendars, key into your phones, your computers, your personal electronic devices, Wednesday June 16th at 7 p.m. The 100th Monkey is located on the east side at 110 S.E. 16th. 503-232-3457 for directions.

And don't forget our monthly critique group at Looking Glass Books in Sellwood on the second sunday of every month at 5 p.m. We hope to see you and 10 copies of your poems on June 13th. So come on by for a couple hours, say hi to Charlie (the best book store dog ever) and have a good time with the group.

http://www.the100thmonkeystudio.com/
http://www.lookingglassbook.questoffice.net/
http://figuresofspeechpdx.wordpress.com/

Thx again for supporting the community, looking forward to seeing you all soon.

warmly,
Steve and Constance

Bios:

Sid Miller's first two full length poetry collections were published in 2009,Nixon on the Piano (David Robert Books) and Dot-to-Dot, Oregon (Ooligan Press). This coming fall he will be the writer-in-residence atthe Sitka Center for the Arts. He is the founder and editorof the Portland based independent press, Burnside Review..

Alison Apotheker's poems have been published in many literary magazines,including Alaska Quarterly Review, Mid-American Review, and PrairieSchoooner. Her work has received the C. Hamilton Bailey fellowship fromOregon Literary Arts, twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and wasrecently featured on the NPR radio show, "The Writer's Almanac."Her first book of poems, Slim Margin, was released in 2008

7.

From Daniel Nelson

Greetings and celluloid mutations wordsmiths,

Many thanks to all who supported our last reading in word or deed. For those who missed it Tommy Gaffney delighted us with his hilarious and meaningful poems from a life rooted in dirt but soaring into space. Thank you again Mister Gaffney. For June we will have, in addition to a pride of local literary lions, the fine verse and wry pathos of Christi Krug. Christi Krug's poetry has appeared in print and online in The Fossil Record, sixlittlethings, the Aroostook Review, Salal Journal, Umbrella, and Bumbershoot. Her fiction and nonfiction have been published in qarrtsiluni, VoiceCatcher, Halfway Down the Stairs, Colored Chalk, sub-scribe, Defenestration and elsewhere. Awards include Inscape Best of Nonfiction, Whidbey Island Poetry, and Oregon Christian Writers Fiction. As a writing coach, Christi teaches "Wildfire Writing" at Clark College and independently. She is a northwest native who has sampled several cities and believes Vancouver, Washington to have the finest quality rain anywhere.

Hope you all will come out and join us on Thursday, June 17 at 7pm at Paper Tiger, 703 Grand Blvd. in the 'Couve.

Dan Nelson
nelsondaniel59@yahoo.com
360-334-1129

8.

Market Day Poetry Series

Curated by Dan Raphael

Every Saturday at noon from June through September

a block from the St. Johns farmer’s market

Saturday, June 19

12 – 1 pm

Poets Peter Ludwin, Eileen Elliott, and Gail Moore

Hosted by Christopher Luna

St. Johns Booksellers

8622 N. Lombard Street

Portland, OR

Bios and poems

Peter Ludwin will be reading from his first full length poetry collection, A Guest in All Your Houses (Word Walker Press 2009, $14). A review of the book is available here: http://www.lochravenreview.net/2010Spring/doss.html

For the past nine years he has been a participant in the San Miguel Poetry Week in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he has workshopped under renowned poets such as Mark Doty, Tony Barnstone, Forrest Gander, Linda Gregg, C.D. Wright, Patricia Goedicke, Alfred Corn and C.K. Williams, to name a few. In 2007 he received a Literary Fellowship from Artist Trust, an adjunct of the Washington State Arts Commission. He was the 2007-2008 Second Prize Winner of the Anna Davidson Rosenberg Awards, and during the same year he was also a finalist for the Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award. He is a 2009 Pushcart Prize nominee.

His poems have appeared in many journals, among them Antietam Review, Briar Cliff Review, California Quarterly, Coal City Review, Common Ground Review, The Comstock Review, Concho River Review, Connecticut River Review, Cottonwood, Flint Hills Review, Front Range, The Fourth River, Hawai’i Pacific Review, Hurricane Review, Interdisciplinary Humanities, Karamu, Kyoto Journal, Lake Effect, Lullwater Review, Mad Poets Review, Midwest Quarterly, Peregrine, Permafrost, The Prague Revue, Quercus Review, Red Wheelbarrow, River Oak Review, The Rockford Review, Slant, Small Pond Magazine of Literature, The Raven Chronicles, South Carolina Review, South Dakota Review, Whiskey Island Magazine and Writers Without Borders.

He currently has work forthcoming in Cider Press Review, RiverSedge, Tribeca Poetry Review, Willard and Maple and Wisconsin Review.

He has been a featured reader in Washington, Oregon, California, South Dakota, Minnesota and in the Czech Republic. In 1996 he read over the radio during the Cleveland Bi-Centennial. He has twice read for the Distinguished Writers Series in Tacoma, Washington. In the fall of 2009 he read for the John R. Milton Writer’s Conference at the University of South Dakota, and featured with noted poet and fiction writer Frank Gaspar at Whittier College in Los Angeles. He also has a background in folk music, and plays acoustic guitar and autoharp. He has both taught and performed at the Pacific Northwest Folklife Festival.

Forest Camp, Pahvant Range, Utah
by Peter Ludwin

From up here I could summon wolves
to circle my sleeping bag, I could
call down the moon on my tongue.

The sun on the red cliffs behind me,
the stream roaring through rabbitbrush
while cottonwoods dance in the wind—

these tell me, like the handwriting
that condemned Belshazzar, that I
have been judged and found wanting.

I must stay here, in mind if not in body.
I must cultivate the heart of a whisper,
of the artichoke buried in spines.

It’s late in the harvest season,
and I must gather enough of me up
to make it through the winter.

Eileen Davis Elliott was born to the Great Plains, polished by the winds of the world and continues to be fine-tuned by daily experience. She writes of seeking and sometimes finding, of sinning and sometimes redemption. Her book, Prodigal Cowgirl ($15), reflects journeys and partial resolutions.

Her second book Miles of Pies is well under way. She is a mixed media artist and continues to travel since her recent retirement as a psychologist.

Excerpt from Canis Lupus by Eileen Elliott

We sing our choruses in yelping voices
cadences from long-gone times
now faded into whispers
made near-inaudible by passing years

And the cracking of long bones in our jaws is electric
like the borealis
on deep snow

Gail Moore was a voiceless poet most of her life. She finally began writing in 1990 after a vision of a strange animal emerging from a cave and shaking off wool. She lives in Newport, Oregon, and after a long love affair with the rain, misses the sun and wants to go home to LA.

Gail was the recipient of the Pacifica Foundation Award for Best Poet of 2001 and the Dorothy Daniels Honorary Writing Award competition in 2000. She is the author of two books: Poems on the Half Shell ($14) and Post Card Poems ($10).

Spillage
by Gail Moore

In the house of mistakes
I grafted your name into the future.
Your name was shadow. My name was dust.

Sibilant or still, I slid down the dry wall;
I joined you in the court of redress as
we had spilled our best over the edge of time.

Your face melted into an astonishing silence.
I find you only in sleep or in the leftover
parts of myself.

I have rattled the door of your mind
but you do not answer.
Still, your name sleeps on my floor.

9.

NEW TACOMA POET LAUREATE ROBACKER GIVES PREMIERE READING JUNE 24 TACOMA, WA --Urban Grace: the Downtown Church is excited to present poet Tammy Robacker for a premiere reading to celebrate being named 2010 Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate on Thursday, June 24 at 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library—Main Branch. This event is free and open to the public.

After thoughtful deliberation, a panel of five local judges chose Robacker’s application for its excellence in poetry, commitment to the Tacoma arts community, and strength in leadership. Judges included current Laureate Antonio Edwards, former Laureate William Kupinse, Emily Noelle-Ignacio, Grace Livingston, and Holly Senn.

“Tammy Robacker has been a consistent and productive artist on the poetry scene of Tacoma for several years. When I heard that that judges had chosen her to be our next Poet Laureate I thought it was an excellent choice,” said Tad Monroe, Pastor at Urban Grace: A Downtown Church. “Tammy has worked hard to forge strong relationships within the diverse and eclectic world of Tacoma poets. Finally, her work speaks for itself. She is a fine crafter of words without sentimentality or cliche and she explores the widths and depths of the human experience from the funny, to the painful, to the socially conscience and the spiritual. She can make you laugh and she can make you cry and at the end of the day; what else is there?”

At the June 24 premiere reading, special guests will also be joining Robacker to celebrate poetry, Urban Grace’s poet laureate program, and her introduction to the local community. Both former Soul of the City Poet Laureates Antonio Edwards and William Kupinse will be reading their work in honor of the event. Also, three of this year’s 2010 Poet Laureate contest candidates, Brittany Short, Deborah Renee Crespo, and Pamela McCauley, will share poetry they submitted for application to the competition. Robacker has also invited Puyallup High School senior, Maddison Hamel, to open her premiere with a special poem recital. Hamel was the winning 2010 Poetry Out Loud competition finalist in Pierce County this year.

As Poet Laureate, Robacker will perform once a month at Urban Grace, by request at Urban Grace events, as well as lead two FREE public poetry workshops in Tacoma for the community. Over the next year, Robacker will also participate actively by supporting poets, poetry and literary arts education in the local community, and hosting monthly poetry writing workshops. If you are interested in working with Robacker or having her read for your school, organization or event, please visit her website: www.tammyrobacker.com and send her a personal request. If you would like more information about the Soul of the City Poetry Competition or the Poet Laureate position, please email Nicolette Paso, Urban Grace Program Associate at npaso@urbangracetacoma.org, call 253.272.2184 x106, or visit http://www.urbangracetacoma.org/

10.

From: Michael Rothenberg

SAVE THE GULF
MUSIC & POETRY FESTIVAL


A Benefit for The Louisiana Bucket Brigade
SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010 2:00 — 5:00 p.m.
The Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington St., Petaluma 707-762-3565http://www.thephoenixtheater.com/

POETS INCLUDE: DAVID MELTZER, JUDY GRAHN, SHARON DOUBIAGO, NEELI CHERKOVSKI. Also: Geri DiGiorno, Terri Carrion, Pat Nolan, Bill Vartnaw, Katherine Hastings, Michael Rothenberg, Zack Fortune, David Madgalene and Sonoma County Poet Laureate Gwynn O'Gara

MUSIC BY ANNE CAROL and
PETALUMA'S FABULOUS HIGH CLASS!

ADMISSION: $5 — $5,000! NO ONE TURNED AWAY

All proceeds go to The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a non-profit 501(C)3 environmental health and justice organization tracking the impact of the BP oil spill and preventing the impact from being "swept under the rug". Donations are tax-deductible. Checks accepted.
www.labucketbrigade.org
oilspill.labucketbrigade.org

SUBMISSION CALLS AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

1.

From: Michael Rothenberg
Date: Sun, May 16, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Subject: LONG LIVE NEW ORLEANS!!! BIG BRIDGE TRIBUTE

Complete New Orleans Tribute Issue

Dear Friends of Big Bridge,

We are pleased to announce the final Supplement of Big Bridge's Epic Tribute to New Orleans. When we set out to offer this tribute to the magical and great City of New Orleans we had no idea it would take two years and three installments. Gratitude to Jack Krick and Mary Sands Woodbury for webmastering us through this enormity. And thank you for your patience in allowing this tribute to evolve. There is no shortage of wonders to be found within!

Love to you all! And LONG LIVE NEW ORLEANS!!!

BIG BRIDGE
http://www.bigbridge.org/

Complete New Orleans Tribute Issue

2010 SUPPLEMENT

FEATURES

Photographing the Ninth Ward
Images of New Orleans After Katrina by John Rosenthal

Diane di Prima
A Retrospective Collection of Essays

Home Again, Home Again
A Memoir by Ron Loewinsohn

Perfiles de la Noche / Profiles of Night
Mujeres poetas de Venezuela/Women Poets of Venezuela
A Selection from the Bi-lingual Anthology
Original complete text selected and translated by Rowena Hill
Co-edited by Pen de Venezuela and bid and co.
Selection for online edition by Terri Carrion

Poetry by

María Auxiliadora Álvarez, Edda Armas, Enriqueta Arvelo Larriva,
María calcaño, Laura Cracco, Ida Gramcko, Patricia Guzmán, Veronica Jaffe,
Maritza Jiménez, Rowena Hill, Martha Kornblith, Luz machado, María Isabel Novillo,
Cecilia Ortiz, Hanni Ossott, Yolanda Pantin, Emira Rodríguez, Margara Russotto,
María Clara Salas, Elizabeth Schön, Blanca Strepponi, Ana Enriqueta Terán,
Alicia Torres, Elena Vera, Carmen Verde Arocha, Miyo Vestrin

FEATURE POETS

Wendy Babiak Jim Christy Hans Plomp Robert Priest

FEATURED ARTISTS
Ed Coletti Jeff Crouch Diana Magallon and Jeff Crouch John Martone Spencer Selby

FICTION
edited by Vernon Frazer

Tom Bradley Seth Phelps Stefani Christova Jordan Zinovich
Jefferson Hansen Joe Clifford Christopher Brookhouse Andy Stewart

REVIEWS
Allan Graubard reviews Gherasim Luca
Paul Martinez Pompa reviews Francesco Levato's translation of Tiziano Fratus
Jack Foley reviews Katherine Hastings
Roberts French reviews Anne Valley-Fox
Art Beck reviews Neeli Cherkovski
Steve Dalachinsky & Yuko Otomo review Gerald Nicosia
Billey Rainey reviews Stephen Bett
Wanda Phipps reviews a performance by Delirious Dances

An Interview with Choreographer Edisa Weeks
Interviewer: Wanda Phipps


2.

From: Victory Lee Schouten/RS Gallery
Date: Sun, Apr 18, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Subject: Brave New Words 2010 Events!

Hi All,

If you caught the first two Brave New Word's 2010 events: Poetry and Music of Ancient Mexico with Cindy Williams Gutiérrez & Gerardo Calderón in March and this past Saturday's launch party & reading for Nashira Priester's new book Mystic Glyphs from Onyx Larynx, which also featured jazz artist Julian Priester and Cuban poet Jorge Enrique González-Pacheco, you know these are "do not miss" events.

Below is the schedule for the rest of 2010. However we may well add a few more as the spirit moves us and the funds appear! We all loved Jorge Enrique González-Pacheco's poems so much we may need to fit him into this year's schedule too! We'll keep you posted.

If you would like to support BNW checks can be made out to: "BNW / Greenbank Farm". Mail donations to:

BNW
765 Wonn Road, Bld. C - #103
Greenbank, WA 98253

Brave New Words 2010


June 12
Launch Party and Reading for new award-winning book:
"The Habit of Buenos Aires"
Lorraine Healy

Lorraine Healy is a poet, writer, and photographer living on Whidbey Island, Washington. The winner of several national awards, including the Hackney Prize, she has been published extensively both in the U.S. and her native Argentina. Her poem "An Artifact of Light" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2004 soon after it appeared in her first chapbook, The Farthest South, published by New American Press in 2003. Her first full-length manuscript, The Habit of Buenos Aires, has won the Patricia Bibby First Book Award and will be published by Tebot Bach Press in 2010.

July 17
"Finding Water, Holding Stone"
James Bertolino and Anita K. Boyle

James Bertolino¹s poetry has been appearing internationally in books, magazines and anthologies for over 40 years. Bertolino¹s poetry has been recognized nationally by the Book-of-the-Month Club Poetry Fellowship, the Discovery Award, a Hart Crane publication award, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, two Quarterly Review of Literature book awards and, the Jeanne Lohmann Poetry Prize for Washington State Poets. Ten volumes and fifteen chapbooks of his poetry and prose have been published. He holds an MFA from Cornell University and taught creative writing at Cornell, Washington State, University of Cincinnati and Western Washington University. He has since retired and lives on five rural acres with Anita K. Boyle near Bellingham, Washington.

Anita K. Boyle graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in Art (graphic design, illustration) and English (creative writing). She is a director of the Whatcom Poetry Series: The Poet As Art, and the publisher/editor of Egress Studio Press. She was a winner of the 2004 Red Sky Poetry Theatre statewide competition, and is included in the anthology Red Sky Morning. Boyle received a Willard R. Espy Literary Foundation residency in Oysterville, WA during October 2003. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications. Her chapbook, Bamboo Equals Loon, was published in 2001. She also writes collaborative poetry with James Bertolino. Their poems have been published in literary magazines, as well as the collaborative poetry anthology, Saints of Hysteria (Soft Skull Press, 2006), and in two chapbooks, Pub Proceedings and Bar Exams.

http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2010/02/22/read-write-interview-james-bertolino-and-anita-boyle/

July 24/25 Loganberry Festival
Interactive Art/Poetry Installation
A. K. Mimi Allin

A.K. Mimi Allin has produced numerous installations for groups such as LitFuse, Studio-Current, The Urban Wilderness Project. In 2006 she gave a year-long public performance, "The Poetess at Green Lake", for which she sat outside for 9 hours every Sunday, at a small wooden desk, offering intimate poetry exchanges. She¹s produced magazines in matchbooks and has read poetry through a hole she melted in a 300-pound block of ice. Allin fuses poetry with visual and performance art.

September 18
"Music Maker"
Matt Gano

Matt Gano is a nationally known poet, writer, and performance artist residing in Seattle, Wash. He was a member of the National Poetry Slam team for Seattle in 2004 and 2005, and remains one of the top performing artists in the national and international poetry circuit.

Matt works as a full-time teaching artist with local arts organizations such as Seattle Arts and Lectures: Writers in the Schools and Arts Corps. In addition, he is the arts-in-education facilitator and a writing mentor for Youth Speaks, Seattle¹s nationally renowned youth poetry program. His published work includes chapbooks "Art Barker" and "Welcome Home," as well as "I Eight The Infinite," a self-titled poetry LP and a live recording entitled "A Giant¹s Pulse." Matt Gano returns to Seattle in 2010 after teaching Spoken Word poetry and Creative Writing as Artist in Residence at Lee Shau Kee, Hong Kong School of Creativity.

October 16
"Moonlight in the Redemptive Forest"
Michael Daley and Felicia Gonzalez

Felicia Gonzalez was born and raised in Cuba. An alumna of Hedgebrook Writers Retreat, she is a recipient of a 2007 Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship. In 2006, she was awarded an individual artists grant from the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the chapbook, Recollection Graffiti.

Michael Daley was born in Boston, and is a graduate of UMass with an MFA from the University of Washington. He¹s worked as a laborer, taxi driver, waiter, tree-planter, editor, Poet-in-the-schools, and high school English teacher. The author of three books of poems, a book of essays and several chapbooks, his work has appeared in numerous literary journals , and on Garrison Keilor¹s Writer¹s Almanac. In 2001 he received a Fulbright grant to live in Hungary for a year. Twice the National Endowment of the Humanities has awarded his work, as has the Seattle Arts Commission, Bumbershoot, and the Fessenden Foundation. This year Pleasure Boat Studio published Michael's newest collection of poetry Moonlight in the Redemptive Forest He received a grant from Artists Trust to produce the book¹s accompanying CD, Frankie the Milkman¹s Song & Other Poems.

November 20
Native American Violinist and Storyteller
Swil Kanim

Swil Kanim is a world class virtuoso violinist who advocates self-expression to create stronger community. He intertwines his music with storytelling, poetry, and audience interaction. His original compositions are mesmerizing and inspiring to all ages alike. While quickly becoming the most popular Native American Violinist, Swil Kanim is also a key-note speaker and notable actor; he starred as "Mouse" in Sherman Alexie¹s highly acclaimed movie The Business of FancyDancing. A Lummi tribal member Swil Kanim lives in Mt. Vernon, WA.

Brought to you by Brave New Words the spoken word production group of Greenbank Farm, a qualified 501 C-3 not-for-profit. info@bravenewwords.org

Brave New Words
Spoken Word Productions
For More Information Contact:
Victory Lee Schouten, ED
Phone: 360.331.7099 or 360.222.3070
765 Wonn Road, Bld. C, #103
Greenbank, WA 98253

Brave New Words operates under the auspices of Greenbank Farm, a qualified 501 C-3.

3.

Call For Art Opens
It's time to submit... your creativity!

PDX Bridge Festival, in partnership with Portland City Art, is pleased to announce our 2010 Call For Art!

We are looking for artists of all types—painters, sculptors, photographers, collagists, installation artists, film makers, performers, and musicians—to take part in this community-sourced, citywide celebration of the bridges. Using “Bridge” as a thematic or metaphorical element of your work is encouraged, though it is not required. The “Bridge” theme may include—but is not limited to—bridging communities, bridging styles, bridging time periods, concepts, politics, perspective, mediums, etc. In other words, we are open to all quality works of art and performance, and leave it up to you to explain the bridge link.

Art will be exhibited at PDX Bridge Festival in a variety of traditional and non-traditional venues, including Olympic Mills Commerce Center, City Hall, Pioneer Place Mall, East Bank Esplanade, and at galleries throughout the city.

To submit your art for consideration at PDX Bridge Festival, please visit the submissions page on our website (http://portland-bridge-festival.com/callforart/index.html). If you have questions, please direct additional inquiries to submit@pdxbridgefestival.org.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 16th, 2010!

POETRY E-NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2010

Happy new year, poets and poetry lovers!


Please join us for the book launch for Toni Partington’s new book, Wind Wing, on January 14. More info below. (Also, check out Alex Birkett’s excellent profile of Toni and the VoiceCatcher anthology on Guerrilla Media: http://www.guerrilla-media.com/profiles/blogs/voice-catcher-4-a-must-read)

Join us as we celebrate three years of open mic poetry at Cover to Cover Books with a special reading and potluck. Please bring a dish and some poems to share.

Christopher Luna and Toni Partington would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for helping us to make the 2009 season a success: Mel Sanders and Cover to Cover Books, Angst Gallery, Urban Eccentric, Mermaid Music, Mint Tea, Coffee Lounge, The Catalyst, The North Bank, the Wiener Wagon, and Moe’s Barber Shop.

We would also like to express our gratitude to our featured readers for 2009, who generously donated their time, poetry, and energy to this community: Catherine Warner, Lorraine Healey, David Abel, David Meltzer, Michael Rothenberg, Jeff Lair, Judith Arcana, Jim Martin, Eileen Elliott, Sage Cohen, Neeli Cherkovski, Melissa Beal, and Casey Bush.

Finally, thank you to all those who attended a reading in 2009. Without your love, support, and positive energy, this series would not exist.

Open Mic Poetry
hosted by Christopher Luna
6:30pm Thursday, January 14, 2010
& every second Thursday
Cover to Cover Books
1817 Main Street, Vancouver
McLoughlin Blvd. & Main Street
“always all ages and uncensored”
For more info call 514-0358 or 910-1066
christopherjluna@gmail.com


With music by Alisha Judge


and our featured reader, Toni Partington:

Toni Partington is a poet, editor, collage artist, life/career coach, and grant writer. Her new book, Wind Wing, a collection of poems dedicated to the women who transformed her life, will be available for $10. The author of a poetry chapbook, Jesus Is A Gas (2009). Toni serves as an associate editor for VoiceCatcher, an annual Pacific Northwest anthology of women writers. Toni is a regular columnist for Writing The Life Poetic, an online Zine that complements the print version of the book by Sage Cohen, http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com.

Toni holds a BA degree in Social Work from Chapman University and an MA in Humanities with a focus in Literature and Literary Editing from the California State University, Dominguez Hills. She spent over ten years teaching and advising women in transition returning to college. Toni is involved in promoting poetry, writing and art in Vancouver, Washington with a lively group of friends and peers. She facilitates Life In The Moment, Poetry & Other Riches, which can be found on the web at www.poettone.blogspot.com.

Christopher again:

I would like to thank Tommy Gaffney for inviting me to read at the book launch for his new book, “Whiskey Days” at Alberta Street Pub on December 7. It was fun to read Ghost Town poems to an enthusiastic crowd that was ready to hear some poetry. I really enjoyed hearing Tommy’s work, which is both poignant and funny. He is a compelling performer as well. Tommy’s book was published by Chris and Amber Ridenour at Night Bomb Press (www.nightbombpress.com), which also publishes Night Bomb Review. If you’d like to submit to this publication, see item 5 below.

On January 9 I will begin facilitating a new workshop at Angst Gallery, and there is still space available – see item 1 below for more details.

I am proud to announce that I will be a featured reader at two locations this month. Daniel Nelson has graciously asked me to be the first featured reader for his new open mic reading at the Paper Tiger Coffeehouse (703 Grand Blvd at Evergreen Blvd.) on Thursday, January 21 at 7 pm. I will be accompanied by my new friend Olin, who will do some live painting.

I will also be reading at Moonstruck Chocolate at 6:30 pm January 31 with bassist Julio Appling. This event also features Dennis McBride, David Rutiezer, and guitarist Peter Zisa (www.zisaguitar.com). Moonstruck Chocolate Café is located at 45 South State Street in downtown Lake Oswego, 97034. Call 503-697-7097 for more information.

I just posted my Ghost Town poems for October, November, and December:
http://christopherluna-poetry.blogspot.com/2009/12/ghost-town-usa-october-november.html

I was recently published in Chiron Review. See item 4 below for information on how to order the special all-punk issue that includes my work.

Would you like to hear some good music? Toni and I recently attended Matt Meighan’s weekly Songwriter Roundup at Artichoke Music (see item 6 below), and were astounded by how consistently great the music was. The space is beautiful, and the musicians are top-notch. Check it out.

I would really like to thank all of you who attended one of my readings, invited me to read in your town, or bought a copy of my book this year. I am truly fortunate to have reached so many readers and listeners in 2009.

Finally, I want to thank my friend and fellow activity demon Sage Cohen for everything she has done to support my work and the poetry community in 2009. Check out her book, Writing the Life Poetic (www.writingthelifepoetic.com). It is filled with great ideas for poets and teachers alike. Here’s some more info about Sage:

Classes and services for 2010:
http://writingthelifepoetic.typepad.com/writing_the_life_poetic/study-with-sage/

Sign up to receive the free Writing the Life Poetic zine, featuring columns by Christopher Luna, Toni Partington, Brittany Baldwin, and many others:
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs010/1100476723030/archive/1102663212204.html

Here’s hoping 2010 is filled with love, laughter, and language,
Christopher

POETRY E-NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2010


1. New workshop facilitated by Christopher Luna begins January 9


2. OSPA writers group meeting Sunday, January 10/


Inaugural Figures of Speech Reading January 20 (Portland)


3. William Stafford Celebration at Barnes & Noble Vancouver January 13


4. Chiron Review All-Punk issue available now


5. Night Bomb Review poetry submission guidelines


6. Thursday Night Songwriter Round-Up at Artichoke Music hosted by Matt Meighan


(Portland)


7. Information on Montana Artists Refuge Residencies


8. Hedgebrook Workshops with Theresa Rebeck (Feb 2 – 9) or Carolyn Forché (Mar 7 - 14)


9. Radio Interview with Dorianne Laux


10. New Website for Pongo Teen Writing Project


11. January events at Ronen Center for Healing & Happiness (Vancouver, WA)


12. MORE SUBMISSION CALLS (Start the New Year right – get published!)

1.

Join us for “The Work,” a new workshop facilitated by Christopher Luna:

Well, while I'm here I'll
do the work –
and what's the work?
to ease the pain of living.
Everything else, drunken
dumbshow

Allen Ginsberg, “Memory Gardens”

Why do we write? What is the poet’s place in the world? What can we do to increase our ability to inspire and provoke with our words? How do we integrate our compulsion to create into our everyday lives? These and other questions will be addressed in The Work, a new workshop facilitated by Christopher Luna. At noon every second Saturday in January, February, and March, we will gather at Angst Gallery to listen to, discuss, and write poetry. The cost is $20 per session or $45 for all three months. Due to space and time considerations, the class can only accept eight people, so register now by contacting Christopher Luna at christopherjluna@gmail.com or 360-910-1066. The Work begins Saturday, January 9, 2010 and continues on February 13, and March 13.

For more information about Christopher Luna, and to learn about poetry events in Vancouver and Portland, go to http://christopherluna-poetry.blogspot.com.

Angst Gallery is located at
1015 Main Street
Vancouver, USA 98660

2.

from steve williams slw1057@hotmail.com

Our next writer's group meeting will be this sunday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. in Looking Glass Books in Sellwood. Bring 5-6 copies of a poem you'd like feedback from the group.

Also, don't forget the inaugural Figures of Speech reading at the 100th monkey studio on January 20th at 7-9 p.m. Our featured readers are Heidi Schulman Greenwald and Don Colburn. This is part of the William Stafford birthday celebration around Portland, so bring a favorite Stafford poem or one of your own or both to read at the open mic. portion of the evening (2 pages per reader).

Looking forward to a wonderful new year and hope to see you all soon.

warmly,
steve and constance

Click here for figures of speech website: http://figuresofspeechpdx.wordpress.com/

3.

From Shawn Sorensen:

I am so pleased to announce that Scot Siegel will be our featured author for our annual William Stafford Celebration - Wednesday, Jan. 13th at 7 pm.

Siegel is an urban planner, a poet from Lake Oswego and a board member of the Friends of William Stafford. In celebration of Oregon’s sesquicentennial, Poetry Northwest and Oregon State Library selected Siegel’s first book, "Some Weather" (Plain View Press 2008) one of 150 Outstanding Oregon Poetry Books. Siegel is an up-and-coming talent who has already contributed so much to the Northwest literary community: http://www.pw.org/content/scot_siegel

In addition to Scot, we are also honored to host guest readers Rosemary Lombard and Bill Siverly. Rosemary is one of our regulars, a fine poet/author who was a student of Stafford's. Bill is a well-known poet in the Portland community and the co-editor of the popular literary journal Windfall.

We'll feature a roundtable discussion, an audio recording of Stafford himself, and, as always, an open mic and free treats. The title we'll be discussing: The Way It Is: New and Selected Poems by William Stafford. I just ordered in 10 copies for our Poetry and Staff Recommends sections. Over 3,000 of his poems were reviewed in the making of this 250-page treasure of a book.

It will be wonderful to start another year of our 2nd-Wednesdays Poetry Group. Thank you ALL for your good cheer, insightful comments, terrific poetry and love of literature.

Merrily, Shawn

Event Details: www.bn.com/events

Barnes & Noble Vancouver: 7700 NE Fourth Plain Blvd., 98662

4.

The all-punk issue of Chiron Review is now hot off the press. You can get a copy for $7 ($3.50 for contributors) from Chiron Review, 522 E. South Ave., St. John, KS 67576 (check, money order or cash) or via Paypal: poetry_man61@earthlink.net.

This issue was guest-edited by Sarah Daugherty and features Meri St. Mary on the cover (photo by Monte Cazazza) and 7 poems/lyrics inside. "In the mid-1980s, Meri St. Mary was the full-lipped punk siren to drive the prepubescent San Francisco anarchists wild. She was beautiful and crazy-eyed, as feral as a foul-mouthed alley cat, with a voice like Patti Smith and an attitude straight out of an Aqua Net can."

Other poets featured are: A. Razor, Chairman Ralph, Puma Perl, D.C. Lynn, Dion Olivier, Doug Cox, Clifton Snider, Adelle Stipe, Gregory Sherl, Marc Olmsted, Andrea Janov, Dave Newman and Brian Fanelli.

There is also poetry by Henry Denander, Anna Badua, Andrew Hilbert, Tony Moffeit, Charles Rammelkamp, Kenny Nonymous, Joie Cook, John Oliver Hodges, Clint Margrave, Glenn W. Cooper, Adam Matcho, Elijah Kellogg, Adam Wisnieski, David S. Pointer, Robert Cooperman, Elizabeth Schumacher, klipschutz, Jennifer Fandel, Christopher Luna, LJ Moore, Cassandra Dallett, Kelly Scarff, Jeff Flaster, Rick Horton, Liz Worth, Naomi Tokuda, llori stein, Dan Wilcox, Adam Schechter, Rick D’Elia, C Ra, James Benedict, Carol MacAllister, Craig Blais, Susan Deer Cloud, Christopher Locke, Gene Mahoney, Greg Urbaitis, Hugh Fox, Pris Campbell, Paul Handley, Frank Johnson, tracy bischoff, Troy Schoultz, Tom Sullivan, Sean O'Brien and Kristin Berkey-Abbott.

Other highlights of the issue are an excerpt from the novel "A Long Slow Screw" by Eugene S. Robinson (Robotic Boot), stories by Victor D. Infante, Kenny Nonymous, Sab Grey, D.R. Haney, Doug Mathewson, Gregory K.H. Bryant, Michael Cuglietta, Larry Crist, Edward Jay Dawson, Chris Mortenson; a tribute to "we jam econo" by Charles Plymell and a review of Sean Punk's artwork by James Benedict.

The punk issue is illustrated with photographs by John Oliver Hodges and Adam Wagler; and art by Sean Punk/Simon Buch, Jeff Flaster, Dee Rimbaud, Henry Denander and Sarah Daugherty.

Since I accepted way too much stuff for this issue, a couple of the stories and poems that got cut will appear in the next issue of Chiron Review as will my small press news column, "News, Etc." I'll also post that column here and at Outsider Writers soon.

OTHER CHIRON NEWS: We remain closed to submissions until Sept. 20, 2010. After next summer’s issue, Chiron Review will take another very brief hiatus, while I learn new software and explore the possibility of a major format change (from newsprint to book form).

Due to economic difficulties and changes in the local newspaper industry, changing technology, and extreme increases in the cost of production, printing and postage, the last year (as has been for most everyone) has been unusually difficult and expensive for Chiron Review. To those who have subscribed and donated, I send my heartfelt gratitude. To those who haven't, if you have enjoyed Chiron Review, I hope you will take a moment to subscribe or renew your subscription. Your on-going support is vital.

For updates, visit Chiron Review's website: http://chironreview.com.

Michael Hathaway

5.

The Night Bomb Review is published bi-annually, depending on the volume of quality submissions. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Send 4-7 poems cut and pasted into the body of an e-mail AND attached as Word documents (or, failing that, .rtf files) if the original line breaks and spacing goes screwy in the cut n' paste process. Please include a SHORT bio that references your physical address so we know where to send a copy if your work is included.

Submit poems to
anthology@nightbombpress.com
or
1812 NE 66th #91
Portland, OR 97213

We're looking for poetry that pays an equal amount of attention to linguistics as it does to conceit. We're fans of innovation and wordplay and enemies of cliché and prose with line breaks masquerading as poetry. Do anything you like; just don't bore us.

6.

Thursday Night Songwriter Roundup

Come join our weekly celebration of songwriting and songwriter community every Thursday. It's a great chance to hear from a wide variety of Portland-area songwriters, or to play a tune for an appreciative audience of song-lovers.

Songwriters are invited to put their name in the hat and play an original song as names are drawn throughout the evening. Song-lovers are invited to come and enjoy the great diversity of talent we have in our area. Each week a featured performer presents a 30 to 40 minute set as well. Hosted by Matt Meighan, with Sherry Pendarvis on upright bass. All welcome!

Time: Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
Artichoke Music
3130 SE Hawthorne Blvd
503-232-8845

7.

From: Judith Arcana

I've just exchanged notes with the interim director of the Montana Artists Refuge, Melissa Bangs - she noted that there are vacancies this winter* ---- so I'm just being sure you all know about this ...... also, you may want to tell others ........ later, ja

 at http://www.montanaartistsrefuge.org/residencies.htm

We have a number of vacancies this winter we are looking to fill now. Easy on-line application process and partial scholarships available!

Also... we will select SPRING residents by the END OF JAN and SUMMER residents by March 15th.

For a good time, visit http://www.juditharcana.com/

8.

Resolve to invest in your writing with this

special opportunity from Hedgebrook

Space is limited, so don't miss this incredible program!

Spend seven days learning and sharing with other writers under the guidance of Theresa Rebeck or Carolyn Forché.

Each week-long session includes: Ten hours of workshops over 5 days with Theresa Rebeck (Feb 2 – Feb 9) or Carolyn Forché (Mar 7 - Mar 14), instructor-led constructive group feedback sessions, one-on-one sessions with the instructor and two additional days of retreat time. Space is limited to six writers per session. More information is available on our website: click here for details.

Theresa Rebeck's work has been seen on Broadway (Mauritius) and off-Broadway, as well as on television (writer/producer of NYPD Blue and Law & Order: Criminal Intent), and the big screen (Harriet the Spy) Her co-written play Omnium Gatherum was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2003. Theresa's new play The Understudy starring Julie White just completed its run at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre. Her Master Class for fiction writers, playwrights, and screenwriters will focus on the power of Story.

Carolyn Forché is a poet and author of poetry collections, including Blue Hour, The Country Between Us and The Angel of History. Her honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1992, she received the Charity Randall Citation from the International Poetry Forum.

For applications contact Executive Director Amy Wheeler:
amywheeler@hedgebrook.org, 360-321-4786.

Visit us at www.hedgebrook.org

2197 Millman Road
Langley, WA
98260 - 360-321-4786

216 1st Avenue S
Seattle, WA 98104
206-325-6773

Hedgebrook is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

9.
Listen to this interview with poet Dorianne Laux:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword/2009/10/16/the-blood-jet-writing-hour-radio-show-with-rachelle-cr

10.

From: pongo_publishing@hotmail.com
Subject: Stress Relief!! PONGO's new teen poetry site! (Great resource in difficult times!)
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 06:38:00 -0800

Dear Friends,

Hi. GREAT NEWS! The Pongo Teen Writing Project has just launched a new web site that features 34 online writing activities for youth who have led difficult lives. These activities are geared to teens who may never have written before! The activities may also be downloaded for use in the classroom, etc.

Would you do me a big favor -- Would you forward this email to teens, counselors, teachers, schools, libraries, etc. I'd love to see this opportunity made available to youth who are negotiating painful life issues and difficult choices. It might ease everyone's stresses this time of year!

As examples of writing exercises, the web site has an activity "I Just Thought You Should Know," which could be a letter to a missing parent, or "Letter After a Time," which is a letter to someone important who died. There are activities called "You Don't Know Me" and "Anger" and "Love, Sometimes" and "Addicted."

When teens finish their poems online they have the option of printing and emailing their poems to themselves and their friends, and also of submitting their poems to Pongo.

In addition, the site contains information for teachers, 100 teen poems, and a project journal (my blog!).

This web site brings together some of Pongo's best work from the last 15 years. Our writing program has served over 4,000 teens in juvenile detention, the state psychiatric hospital, homeless shelters, and other agencies. Our mission and history are available on the web site.

Check it out! Write your own poem! Be brilliant! And PLEASE FORWARD OUR LINK!!!

Home page - http://pongoteenwriting.org/
Writing Activities main page - http://pongoteenwriting.org/index.php?id=31
Teaching Resources main page - http://pongoteenwriting.org/index.php?id=127
Teen Poetry Collections main page - http://pongoteenwriting.org/index.php?id=27
Project Journal (my blog) - http://pongoteenwriting.org/index.php?id=132

Cheers and Best Wishes!
Richard
Pongo Teen Writing Project

11.

Upcoming Events

(at Ronen Center for Healing & Happiness, 306 East 16th St., Vancouver, unless indicated otherwise):

* Interfaith Chant for Peace in PDX, Saturday, January 9, St. David Episcopal Church, 2800 SE Harrison. Goes 8am-8pm with a different chant leader/tradition every hour. I lead the 6-7pm slot. Free. Click here for more info.

* Meditation-Satsang, Friday January, 15, 7-8:30pm,

* Chanting-Kirtan, Friday January 22 7pm-?

* Full Moon Community Drum Circle, Friday January 29, 6:30pm-?

Please email or call with any questions or suggestions and forward this to whoever you think would benefit.

To the Happiness of One and All!

David Ronen

306 East 16th St.
Vancouver, WA 98663
360-750-9200

forthehappinessofit@yahoo.com

www.ForTheHappinessOfIt.com

12.

MORE SUBMISSION CALLS

Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 18:19:08 +0000
From: allenbraden@comcast.net
Subject: submissions calls for June Cotner anthologies

I have several publishers interested in the three projects listed below. It’s enormously difficult and time-consuming to process email submissions, so unless you live outside the U.S, please send all submissions via USPS along with an SASE to June Cotner, PO Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370

WISDOM OF WOMEN: THOUGHTS AND POEMS FOR EVERY STAGE OF YOUR LIFE (Previously titled Girls Night Out and A Woman's Book of Poetry for the Soul) Over the past decade I’ve received wonderful submissions from female writers that never quite fit the particular theme of my general "inspirational books." These are poems and prose about womanhood, stages of life, memories, and everything in between. I would love to add a few more high-quality selections--poetry or prose. Unlike most of my other anthologies, there are no prayers in the book, but there is a chapter on Spirituality. The content of WISDOM OF WOMEN is much "edgier" than my other books. Chapters include: 1) The Strength of Us; 2) Relationships; 3) Motherhood; 4) Ordinary Life; 5) Self-Image and Beauty; 6) Aging Gracefully; 7) Heartache and Healing; 8) Joy and Gratitude; 9) Friendships; 10) Shared Experiences; 11) Spirituality; 12) Reflections; and 13) Inspiration. I particularly need submissions for chapters printed in bold. The submissions should not have an "I am woman, hear me roar" tone, but more "this is my experience as a woman." The collection will be for women to turn to when they need encouragement, understanding, inspiration, and to reflect upon the great blessings of being a woman. This book easily spans two generations and is geared to women in their late 20s to early 60s and possibly beyond. Submission date closes March 31, 2010.

GOOD DOG! BAD DOG! FUNNY DOG! A compilation of "funny dog" stories. Two publishers have expressed interest in this project. The word limit ranges from 180 to 600 words. My goal is to create a book as humorous as Marley and Me by John Grogan. Please put "FUNNY DOG STORY" on the lower left-hand corner of your envelope. Submission date is open.

I have several publishers interested in the three projects. It’s enormously difficult and time-consuming to process email submissions, so unless you live outside the U.S, please send all submissions via USPS along with an SASE to June Cotner, PO Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370

Please feel free to forward this call to other writer friends and groups. Also, please visit www.junecotner.com for additional calls for submissions.

Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:19:53 -0800
From: crpratt@zhonka.net
Subject: OPN Sponsored 7th Annual Jeanne Lohmann Prize Announcement

(Please forward to others that might be interested in entering. Thanks. cp)

The Olympia Poetry Network is announcing its seventh annual Lohmann Poetry Prize to residents of Washington State. The contest begins December 1, 2009 and ends January 31, 2010. Please visit our website at http://home.comcast.net/~yake/opn.html for information on rules and how to enter, or call (360) 456-4862. Contest rules must be followed exactly or entries will be disqualified. Three winners will be chosen and each will receive $200. Winners will be announced in late March, and will be asked to read June 16, 2010, beginning 6:30 pm at Traditions Café, 5th and Water St., Olympia, WA 98501.

Cynthia R. Pratt
OPN Lohmann Prize Coordinator
5021 21st Avenue SE
Lacey, WA 98503-7032
(360) 456-4862

Poetry Northwest has a new editor and address
Kevin Craft will assume command of the magazine in January 2010.
Everett Community College
2000 Tower Street Everett, WA
98201

Submit your poems to Kevin Craft. Also, consider sending a letter to the Editor describing your feelings about the 50-year history of Poetry Northwest, whether it's about the past, the present or the future. Do this online at http://poetrynw.org. Subscribe at http://poetrynw.org. And consider making a tax-deductible donation to Poetry Northwest. Send your contribution to our current address in Portland: 4232 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97215 between now and December 31.

Subject: Call for Submissions ~ Anthology~
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2009 15:05:24 -0500
From: alittlehawk@aol.com

Attention Poets:

Quill and Parchment is planning, with Sam Crespi as editor, an anthology which will encompass poems about Motherhood.

We will be looking for:

Mother Daughter and Mother /Son relationships.

Challenges that occur when a child becomes an adult - rites of passage and mother. ~ Death/ dying

Wisdom or warning that was passed between mother and child... the unexplainable bond that's there from the start, the things that happen without needing words..

Mothers who weren't there for the poet, the mother they never understood and perhaps even hated.

We will also consider adoption themes. Biological mother poems as well as adoptive parent poems.

These poems should embody the emotions of: anger, grief, joy, longing.

Especially deep seated emotions...

I have already scoured the pages of Q and P for poems we have already published on these subjects, so feel free to query me to see if your poem was included before submitting.

Before we make a final decision, if I have included your poem, from the pages of Q and P, I will ask permission before we reprint it again.

Here is the format:

Subject line: Submission: Title of Your Poem by Your Name

No intro necessary:

Please just send the poem in the body of the email. It is likely that Sam will contact you and discuss your poem if it is accepted.

Format

Title

by Your Name

Skip a line and start the poem

Please use a different e-mail doc for each submission.

Please no more than three at first of your absolute best work!

If we would like to see more we will contact you

I will not open attachments.

If I want to see the poem in an attachment I will request it and the same format should be used. I have folders full of poems with no poet name on them!

We will contact you if your poem or poems are accepted, so no need to write to ask.

Looking forward to your submissions to the above email address!

ALittleHawk@aol.com

If you do not follow the guidelines you will likely receive a rude email back from me! Save us both the trouble

And I apologise if you have received this more than once. I am using two separate lists and tried to catch and delete double addresses.

Poetically yours,
Sharmagne Leland-St. John