Haiku workshop with Julia Wakefield Houghton

Seaford Meeting Room, Seaford Library
Grand Blvd, Seaford SA 5169

Saturday, 24 June 2023
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

The haiku is so much more than a 5-7-5 syllable three-line poem – in fact it can be a lot less as well! What is most important is that elusive ‘aha’ moment. Join Julia in exploring the evolution of the Japanese form and discover the best of English language haiku; then try some exercises that will help you to create your own unique haiku.

Julia is the convenor of the Bindii Japanese Poetry Forms Group, which is based in Adelaide. She is a published prize-winning poet who has been attempting to write haiku for the past 15 years. … Click for more

FSP June City Meeting and Open Mic

Monday, 5th June, 2023
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

$5 to read. 3 minutes per poet

Add your name to the reading list on the night if you want a turn at the mic. Bring two printed copies of your poems with your name and contact details if you want them considered for next year’s anthology, or submit them electronically via the form below after the session.

The meeting will be held under current COVID-19 safety plans as required.

… Click for more

Poem of the Month – April 2023 – David Cookson

The Poem of the Month for April 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is Musings on a Chinese Scroll by David Cookson. The commended poems for April are The Old Horns by Ivan Rehorek aka Avalanche and The Piano by Louise Nicholas.

Musings on a Chinese Scroll
David Cookson

Impossible cliffs thrust
into broad-brush clouds,
their conifers clawing naked rock
bereft of bird or life
until bottom left, a sage,
crossing a bridge,
hat, sandals and staff:
five brush strokes
that touch perfection —
remind of other complements;
a curve of throat,
misty crags,
your lips, parted,
just enough,
just before.… Click for more

FSP Anthology 47 launch and order form

Judges and editors
Left to right: David Cookson (editor), Max Merckenschlager (judge), Veronica Cookson (editor), Jacqui Merckenschlager (judge), Sue O’Brien (Convenor)
Winners
Left to right: Stef Rozitis, Elaine Barker, Louise Nicholas, Charlie Madden, Helen Hutton,  Meryl McDougall, Rob Ferris, Maria Vouis, Sue O’Brien

FSP is excited to announce that Anthology 47 was officially launched by in-coming Convenor, Sue O’Brien, at the monthly meeting on 1 May 2023.

Edited by Veronica and David Cookson, the anthology’s title, beyond the bend … , takes its name from a line in Torbay by contributing poet, Sharon Foulkes. The collection of over 100 poems thrilled the judges, Jacqui and Max Merckenschlager, who were at the launch to meet the winning and commended poets. … Click for more

FSP May City Meeting – Anthology 47 Launch & Open Mic

Monday, 1st May, 2023
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

The meeting will start with the launch of the FSP Annual Anthology 47, edited by Veronica and David Cookson. As part of the launch, the winners of the Satura Prize for the poem judged the best in the Anthology, and Nova Prize for the best poem in the Anthology written by a first-time published poet will be announced. The title of the Anthology, its cover and the judge for the prizes all will be revealed on the night!

Copies of FSP Anthology 47 will be available for sale on the night for $20.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – March 2023 – David Cookson

The Poem of the Month for March 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is willy-willy by David Cookson. The commended poems for March are I Come From by Helen Hutton, At the Zoo with a Bush Poet by Jill Wherry and Chatting with Confidence by Michele Slatter.

willy-willy
David Cookson

Hawker, SA

no overture
far out     aloof
on the blue-bush motley
a dervish of dust
dead leaves
dancing only for itself
a fleeting sketch
to drift through memory
in wakeful hours
as an oud years back
pensive
in that Cairo side street
and a blink ago
        scent of desert
                in your hair

I Come From Here
Helen Hutton

after I Am From by George Ella Lyon

I come from a suburb flexing its muscles
waiting to be heard,
from chook sheds, bent Hills Hoists, ice chests,
the milkman on Monday,
and the smell of bread and the baker’s horse.… Click for more

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