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

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

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

Celebrate History Month with music and poetry at Milang Lakeside Butter Factory

Sunday, 4th May, 2025
1:30pm for 2:00pm start

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

$10 entry fee to read
Free to listen

Guest poets:
Nigel Ford & Jude Aqulina

Milang and District Community Association and Friendly Street Poets are proud to present the inaugural Milang Poetry Slam and Music event at the historic Milang Lakeside Butter Factory,

What better venue to soak in history than the Milang Lakeside Butter Factory, which was established in 1893. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon listening to music, and poetry about the past, at this newly restored historic site on the shores of Lake Alexandrina.… Click for more

+ More