Search Results for: Poem of the Month

Poem of the Month – October 2025 – Peter Mahoney

The Poem of the Month for October 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is degustazione orgasmico by Peter Mahoney. The commended poems are Snake Dancer Day by Maria Koukouvas and Three, with Attitude by Jacqui Merckenschlager.

degustazione orgasmico
Peter Mahoney

one does not on a plate with a knife and a fork
eat a large byblos special from pizza pizzazz on goodwood road
on $15 Tuesdays
served by an Indian guy smiling the friendliest white teeth
or the second generation Greek owner flattering me with a glint and a smile in her
southern brown eyes

no, one makes mad, hasty, slurping, indecent love with it
barely out of the box
to the sound of broken glasses, spilled wine and gender specific expletives
barely time to pour the unlabelled shiraz cabernet or was it cabernet shiraz I don’t care because I love you!… Click for more

Poem of the Month – August 2025 – Gail Walker

The Poem of the Month for August 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Content Warning by Gail Walker. The commended poems are Poetry Lesson by Steve Evans and It’s vain to ask a poet to say less by Stef Rozitis.

Content Warning
Gail Walker

This poem contains – adult themes
This poem contains – nudity
This poem contains – harsh language
This poem contains – domestic violence
This poem contains – suicide ideation
This poem contains – mental health issues
This poem contains – child sexual abuse
This poem contains – rape
This poem contains – murder

Sorry there is no time left for 
This poem.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – July 2024 – Helen Hutton

The Poem of the Month for July 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is My grandfather’s second wife by Helen Hutton. The commended poems are A Life by Steve Evans and Hills Hippy Open Garden by David Winderlich.

My grandfather’s second wife
Helen Hutton

1972
In your biscuit-warm kitchen, lined with rose-pink tiles and flooded with sunlight, you
shaped lavender-infused dough with vitiligo hands. You streaked my nose with a line of flour
and said I looked like a Scottish Highlander. When you touched my cheek, your hands felt
warm like butter balls.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – June 2024 – Virginia Hussin

The Poem of the Month for June 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Sympathy for Iago by Virginia Hussin. The commended poems are How To Meet A Deadline by Sue O’Brien and Ice Man by David Harris.

Sympathy for Iago
Virginia Hussin

Our year 12 English teacher, Mrs Candy
Is most perplexed – one could say unsettled
Because so many of us feel sorry for Iago.
Iago is supposed to be the villain

But we variously argue
That he was working-class
That the world was stacked against him
That he didn’t have the advantages
In life that for example, Cassio had
Let alone the handsome Othello
Who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth

What generation were we to be saying these things?… Click for more

Poem of the Month – April 2024 – Bruce Greenhalgh

The Poem of the Month for April 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Say Cheese by Bruce Greenhalgh. The commended poems are Suddenly the Sky by Margaret Dingle and The Famous Last words of the Male Driver by Beth Baillie.

Say Cheese
Bruce Greenhalgh

In my younger years
I wanted to be a cheese.
I wasn’t aiming high.
I wasn’t ‘getting ahead of myself’.
I wasn’t thinking Camembert or Brie,
more your Cracker Barrel or tasty cheddar,
even processed cheese sandwich slices would do.

In time though, I learnt I wasn’t cut out to be a cheese,
and that was disappointing.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – March 2024 – Nigel Ford

The Poem of the Month for March 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors  Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Musings from a beer drinker by Nigel Ford. The commended poem is Still Learning by Veronica Cookson.

Musings from a beer drinker
Nigel Ford

I’m drinking beers
And I went to the toilet
Because
I’m drinking beers
And I went to the fridge
On my way back
To get another beer
And I thought
You idiot
You’ve still got half a glass of beer
Then I thought
You idiot
You haven’t the class for glass
You’re drinking cans.
Like I wrote
I’m drinking beers.… Click for more

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