October Poem of the Month by Elaine Barker

IN SUMMER’S HEAT by Elaine Barker

Blue Mountains, NSW

Who has taken up this azure veil,
casting it like a mantle
to float silently into the valleys,
to tangle with trees,
to drift over rugged peaks and cliffs,
escarpments and chasms
and then away, away into the distance
as far as the eye can see?
As the vivid mist rises, 
the colour of lapis lazuli,
its earthy opulence carries
the essence of the eucalypt.  
And who, enveloped in summer’s heat,
savouring the heady aroma 
and gazing over these mountains
has not stood, caught in awe,
and wondered at this infinite mystery?

Friendly Street Poets New Poets 20 & Single Poet Books Launch

Monday, 25th November, 2019
6:00pm – 9:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent Strett, Adelaide, SA 5000

FSP is proud to launch the latest collections by the winning poets in the New Poets and Single Poet Competitions:

Single Poet winner: Ben Adams‘ first full collection of poetry, A Synonym For Sobriety.

New Poets 20 winners: Alys Jackson‘s Wolf Ghosts, Sharon FoulkesFinding Their Voices and Julia Wakefield‘s Shifting Viewpoints.

Please come along, help celebrate the success by these emerging poets whose names have joined a wonderful list of past winners and hear them read some poems from their successful manuscripts.… Click for more

Message from the convenor…

To the membership of Friendly Street Poets,

On Monday 4th of November, 2019 a reader at the Box Factory Meeting committed a serious breach of accepted standards by reading for about 11 minutes, far longer than the 3 minutes allowed at the Open Mic.

As the Convenor of FSP and the MC of the 2nd Half that evening, I want to apologise to the members who had to endure such behaviour. I chose to not confront the individual when that person passed the 3 minute mark and indicated intention to continue, because I did not want any escalation to ruin what was an otherwise wonderful evening of poetry.… Click for more

FSP November City Meeting and Open Mic

Monday, 4th November, 2019
6:00 – 9:30pm.

The Box Factory
59 Regent Street, Adelaide.

Bring along your poems to read or just come and listen to a diverse range of poetry. Remember, 3 minutes maximum mic time per reader to make sure everyone gets a go and has an audience.

Sign-in from 6:00pm for a start around 6:20pm. Second session starts around 7:30pm.

If you want your poem to be considered for this year’s anthology, you must be a member of FSP (you can join on the night). Bring along two printed copies of your poem with all your contact details on them for submission.… Click for more

FSP at SPIN 79

Guest poet Rachael Mead

Wednesday 6th November, 2019
Sign-up from 6:15pm, reading 6:30 – 9:00pm

McLaren Vale Bowls Club
147 Main Road, McLaren Vale

Come along to this 79th meeting of SPIN (Southern Performers Interactive Network) in partnership with FSP for an open mic night of poetry, music and story-telling.

All poems read at the session can be put in the Friendly Street Box for a chance to be published in the annual anthology! You must be a member of Friendly Street Poets – you can join on the night, it doesn’t cost much. Bring two copies of your poem and put your contact details on the back please.… Click for more

FSP Featured Poets at Halifax Cafe, September: Mike Ladd, Kate Llewellyn and Darby

Thursday, September 26, 2019
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Halifax Cafe
187 Halifax St, Adelaide.

This month we feature Adelaide’s own living legends Mike Ladd and Kate Llewellyn with visiting Melbourne poet and illustrator, Darby.

The Halifax Cafe will be open for meals, refreshments, coffee and more. Come early, stay late.

$5 at the door to pay the poets.

Click here for the Facebook event.

Mike Ladd is a poet, radio producer and essayist. He has published nine collections of poetry and prose, the most recent, Invisible Mending from Wakefield Press. He was the editor of ABC Radio National’s Poetica program, which ran for eighteen years and brought Australian and international poetry to a wide audience.… Click for more