Ian Gibbins

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

FSP May 2024 City Meeting and Open Mic

Monday, 6th May, 2024
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

All welcome!

$5 to read. 3 minutes per poet.
Free to listen.

You must be a member of FSP to submit your poems for consideration for publication in the annual anthology. Bring two printed copies of your poems with your name and contact details to submit 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 if required.

… Click for more

FSP Committee for 2024

Following the recent AGM, FSP is pleased to announce the new Management Committee for 2024-2025:

  • Nigel Ford (Convenor)
  • Kristy Willet (Treasurer)
  • Veronica Cookson (Secretary and Membership)
  • Susan O’Brien
  • David Cookson
  • Fred Willet
  • Erica Jolly
  • Murray Alfredson

We thank out-going Convenor, Susan O’Brien, and Committee Members, Stef Rozitis, Margaret Fensom (Dingle) and Helen Hutton, for all their hard work supporting FSP. Helen will continue on as Publishing Editor for the forthcoming FSP publications.

Poem of the Month – February 2024 – Robbie Lennard

The first Poem of the Month for 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors  Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman is Yes by Robbie Lennard. The commended poem is Justin Fordham by Barbara Preston.

Yes
Robbie Lennard

Yes you may come for tea this Saturday
please arrive at half-past-ten for elevenses
then at eleven we’ll celebrate high noon –
… please bring your own silver spoon
please wear a white dress
bring no didgeridoos
no emu-feathered shoes
bring the last of your kind
bring a game of mastermind

we’ll play that
and backgammon too
scrabble for a chess-set
and a dog or two

and my man
how is your tribe these days?… Click for more

Submissions for New Poets 25 now open

Friendly Street Poets is pleased to announce that submissions of manuscripts for New Poets 25 are now open (1st April 2024) and close at midnight 31st May 2024.

Each volume in the New Poets series publishes short collections of poems from three South Australian resident 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 read or downloaded as a PDF document at the links below.

Submissions will only accepted via the on-line form below.… Click for more

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