Events

Getting out and about with Friendly Street Poets

Poem of the Month – July 2021: Like, Shakespeare by Gordon McPherson

Congratulations to Gordon McPherson, winner, July 2021 Poem of the Month, as selected by 2021 FSP Anthology editors Louise Nicholas and Judy Dally.

Like, Shakespeare…
by Gordon McPherson

We’re doing Hamlet,
and there’s this dude
called Yorick,
and like, that’s a real name,
so incredulity,
and he’s standing in a grave,
and I’m like, eeeyuuuuw!
and this gross out skull
like in NCIS,
how unsanitation!
and Hamlet
he’s a prince,
and he’s telling Yorick
he’s a lass
and half my head
goes all magic pie 
and the blackbirds
and WTF? 
and the other half
is all mega brill
and clownspray and LOL
and I’m all, like,
where’s the remote?… Click for more

FSP Featured Poets Series returns to Halifax Cafe in September

Thursday, 23 September 2021
from 6:00pm

Halifax Cafe
187 Halifax Street, Adelaide

$5 at the door (cash only) to pay the poets

After a long COVID-19 induced lay-off, the FSP Featured Poets Series returns for a spectacular reprise, featuring four of Adelaide finest poets: Steve Brock, Alison Flett, Bronwyn Lovell and Ken Bolton.

This will be the last of these events curated by Jelena and Ian, so come early, stay late and enjoy the fabulous fare of the Halifax Cafe.

Steve Brock has published four collections of poetry including Double Glaze (Five Islands Press, 2013) and Live at Mr Jake’s (Wakefield Press 2020).… Click for more

FSP 2021 competition certificates

The Friendly Street Poets reading for September saw the awarding of certificates to writers who had been successful in the 2021 competitions for publication of their collections, due soon.

Left to right here, we have Nigel Ford (Highly Commended twice, New Poets 22 ), Susan O’Brien and Veronica Cookson (both Winners, New Poets 22), Michèle Saint-Yves (Winner, Single Poet), and Shaine Melrose (Highly Commended, Single Poet).

Unable to attend were: Rob Ferris (Winner, New Poets 22), Claire-Louise Watson (Highly Commended, New Poets 22), and Gaetano Aiello (Highly Commended, Single Poet).

Congratulations to all of you – and we look forward to the launch of both titles on 25th October: more details to come.… Click for more

FSP September City Meeting and Open Mic

Monday, 6th September, 2021
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

Yes, we’re on again and bigger than ever!

Current COVID-19 guidelines (unless they change) allow us up to 72 people and we’re ready to hear your poetry. 

You just sign on – via QR code or handwriting – and then add your name to the reading list if you want a turn at the mic. Bring two copies of your poems for the current editors if you want those considered for next year’s anthology, or submit them electronically via the form below straight after the night.… Click for more

FSP August City Meeting, Open Mic & announcement of FSP New Poets 22 & Single Poet 2021 winners CANCELLED

Monday, 2nd August, 2021
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

We regret to tell you that the August reading (2nd August) in the Box Factory has to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

We would have to abide by limits required by the Adelaide City Council that are even lower than those indicated by the State Government, and which make the reading unworkable.

In addition to the Open Mic, we will announce the winners of the New Poets 22 and Single Poet 2021 competitions

For the Open Mic, there is a 3 minutes maximum time per reader.… Click for more

Poems of the Month – July 2021: Steve Evans and Helen Parsons

Congratulations to the joint winners for the July 2021 Poem of the Month: Steve Evans for Epilogue and Helen Parsons for Elizabeth at her Writing Desk, as selected by 2021 FSP Anthology editors Louise Nicholas and Judy Dally.

Steve Evans
Epilogue

As he lay dying,
it was someone else’s life
that flashed before his eyes.
Too late to ask for his money back.
No choice but to watch the show.

A blitzing synopsis of past attractions, 
it included a tall woman
rising from a bath,
whom he might have loved
if he was not himself,
then two small children holding hands
in a garden more tropical than his own
and, in the background, the glare
of a harbour lit by sails.… Click for more

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