Reminder – CHRONICLE: a celebration of Friendly Street Poets’ first 50 years

As part of our 50th year, FSP invites all our poets to contribute to CHRONICLE: A celebration of Friendly Street Poets’ first 50 years..

We want to know what it means to us all to have had Friendly Street Poets as a meeting place
and forum. The things you remember. The people. The oddities. The events or social
movements that have shaped Friendly Street Poets. The highlights and lowlights.

What we’re looking for is your memories in short vignettes, poetry or prose to a
maximum of 500 words.

The more contributors the better.

We are aiming to launch the book at the December 2025 City Meeting of FSP.… Click for more

Single Poet 2025 submissions now open – extended deadline!

FSP is pleased to announce that submissions for Single Poet 2025 are now open and now close on midnight 14th June 2025. Each volume in the Single Poet series publishes a full-length collection of poems from a poet who has not yet published such a collection.

Before submitting your manuscript, please read the rules and formatting requirements carefully. Failure to comply with the requirements will result in your submission being disqualified. The rules can be downloaded as a PDF document below:

Submissions will only be accepted via an on-line form below:

… Click for more

New Poets 26 submissions now open – extended deadline!

FSP is pleased to announce that submissions for New Poets 26 are open and now close on midnight 14th June 2025. Each volume in the New Poets series publishes short collections of poems from three poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry.

Before submitting your manuscript, please read the rules and formatting requirements carefully. Failure to comply with the requirements will result in your submission being disqualified. The rules can be downloaded as a PDF document below.

Submissions will only be accepted via an on-line form below:

… Click for more

A Love In! FSP 50th Anniversary Celebration – call out for readers

To celebrate us and those older poets who make up our rich history, the 7th November 2025 FSP City Meeting will follow a special format at the usual Box Factory venue.

30 volunteer poets are invited to read any poem by any poet from any FSP Reader or Anthology prior to number 30 along with a short biography of that poem’s author. The reader cannot read one of their own poems from these anthologies. However, they can read ONE poem of their own for consideration for 2025’s anthology. There will be no open mic.

Suggestions are now open and will be curated by David Cookson, on a first come, first served basis.… Click for more

FSP June City Meeting – Anthology 49 launch and Open Mic

Apologies for the previous confusing info re dates for this meeting. This one is correct: ignore the others!!

Friday, 6th June, 2025
Doors open at 6:00pm for 6:15pm start

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

$5 to read; free to listen.
Strict 3-minute time limit, including any introductions, explanations and post-scripts.

The evening will commence with the launch of the FSP Anthology 49, edited by Martha Landman and Avalanche.

As part of the launch, the winners of the Satura and Nova Prizes will be announced by this year’s Judge, who will be revealed on the night, along with the title and cover of the Anthology.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – April 2025 – Roz Schulz

The Poem of the Month for April 2025, selected by 2025 Anthology editors Val Braendler and Ben Adams, is The Art of Saving by Roz Schulz. The commended poems are limbo by Barbara Preston, Abandon Yourself to Mozart by Susan O’Brien and In the Vicinity of a Love Poem by Steve Evans.

The Art of Saving
Roz Schulz

They were the last on the butcher’s run, mid north,
dry hot summer, horse and cart, no refrigeration.
The bonus some leftover cuts, jokes with the butcher
and a flagon of wine into the sunset.
His wife cooked the week’s meat straight away –
His mind and soul were fashioned the way he beat
mugs out of tins, scrolled over the sharp top edge,
but you could still cut your lip on it.… Click for more

Reminder: Sunday 4th May – Poetry and Music at Milang

Sunday 4th May 2025
Sign-in from 1:30pm for 2:00pm start

Milang Lakeside Butter Factory
22-23 Daranda Terrace, Milang, SA 5256.

As part of History Month, Jude Aquilina has organised a poetry and music event at the historic Milang Lakeside Butter Factory.

Read a poem for the Poetry Slam (2 minute limit)
$250 PRIZE MONEY!

$10 entry fee for the Competition or read for free at the Open Mic.

Come along and enjoy the day supporting regional poetry and music events.

Click here for more info about the event and venue.

Poem of the Month – March 2025 – Helen Hutton

The Poem of the Month for March 2025, selected by 2025 Anthology editors Val Braendler and Ben Adams, is Cold Case by Helen Hutton. The commended poems are Taking the Master Class by Nigel Ford, 3 x H20 by Bruce Greenhalgh and Ends and Soapbubbles by Avalanche.

Cold Case
Helen Hutton

i
Night is crisp as a nurse’s bib
and the bench seat in the old Holden
cold and narrow like an ambo’s gurney …
there’s me – look – pressed against the passenger door
      no handle,       no window winder      no escape.
He strokes the column shift
sweat glistens on the ginger hairs
on the back of his hand, saliva pools
in the corner of his mouth …
No need to sit over there, city Sheila.… Click for more

The Poetry Laboratory

Tuesday 13th May 2025
7:15pm for 7:30 start

Brookside Cellars Community Arts Centre
17 Moore St, Tranmere (off Glynburn Rd), SA 5073

$5 entry
Cash only, includes refreshments

An evening when great poetry and great poets are put under the microscope. Come along and be entertained, informed and even make your own poetic contribution.

Our first evening will feature a presentation by that poetry force of nature, Avalanche, on the life and work of ee cummings (that’s right, no capital letters).

Following this will be an open mic opportunity to read a poem or two, either cummings’ poetry or your own inspired by/about/relating to cummings and his work.… Click for more

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