New Poets 25 launch

Ern Malley
137 Magill Road, Stepney, SA 5069

Pre drinks at 6.00pm
Launch starts at 6.45pm

Come and join the winners of the New Poets 25 competition for the launch of their book with new collections from
Vicky Ireland: Orange Oceans
Robbie Lennard: Shermika
phil saunders: Foundlings not Lost

Copies of the book will be available on the night.

Light refreshments and alcohol available.

The event will be MCd by Nigel Ford, Convenor of Friendly Street Poets.

Shaine Melrose book launch

Shaine Melrose had her first poetry collection published in FSP New Poets 23 in 2022. Now she is inviting you to the launch of her full-length collection The Natural World Somersaults, to be launched by Dr Rachael Mead, with readings from Shaine and friends.

Come along and celebrate this fabulous achievement!

Click here to book your spot (free!) or pre-order a signed book ($20).

Signed books also will be available on the night.

From the cover:

“The Natural World Somersaults is a book of hard-won, resonant and powerful writing.… Click for more

Launch of Anthology 48 – Mimesis – and Satura Prize winning poem.

Friendly Street Anthology 48 – Mimesis, was launched on Monday, 5th Augus, 2024, at the Box Factory in Adelaide to a full house. Judge Mike Ladd, a founding member of Friendly Street Poets, a widely published poet and former producer of ABC’s Radio National programme Poetica, awarded the  Satura Prize to Helen Hutton for Going Home, a poem which addresses the insidious and socially silent crime of Domestic Violence but which is finally in the social and literary zeitgeist. Helen also won the Satura Prize last year for her poem, For Grace, in Anthology 47, Round the Bend, edited by Veronica and David Cookson.… 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

August City Meeting: Open Mic and Launch of Anthology 48

Following the Open Mic, please join judge Mike Ladd, editors Maria Koukouvas, Rob Ferris, and Friendly Street Poets for the launch of our annual Anthology 48, Mimesis.

The book will be unveiled, Satura and Nova prizes announced, readings plucked from the anthology, followed by a time for mingling, sparkling and enjoying food and drink with your favourite poets.

Long list nominations for the Satura Prize (best poem in the Anthology)

This Empty Space – jacqui merkenschlager
The Art Teacher – Helen Parsons
The Almanac of Last Things – Helen Parsons
Samos – Sue O’Brien
Nganno Mt Lofty – Rob Ferris
El Capitan – Rob Ferris
My body and me – Mandy Toczek McPeake
Dementia Ward Wishlist – Judy Dally
The Bull – Jules Leigh Koch
Willy willy – David Cookson
Things I learned from someone else’s grandmother – Helen Hutton
Going Home – Helen Hutton
The Baby Locket – Carey Hamlyn
Storm – Steve Evans
Spur Winged Plovers – Murray Alfredson
Here# – Rory Harris
Sister – Rory Harris
Mass – Rory Harris
Poet – Peter Mahoney
Morning walk, 37 degrees – Louise Nicholas
Piano – Louise Nicholas
Nature on the table – Heather Nimmo
Lot 22 – Valerie Volk
Loose Limb Man – Martha Landman
Hello this is David – Sarah Radford
Memory Bone Soup – Maria Koukouvas (Vouis)
Bucket of Fish – Maria Koukouvas (Vouis)
Me – Beth Baile
Free Fall – Stella Damarjati

Long list nominations for the Nova Prize (best poem written by a first-time published poet in the anthology)

Poet – Peter Mahoney
Me – Beth Baillie
Free Fall – Stella Damarjati

$5 to read.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