Events

Getting out and about with Friendly Street Poets

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

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.

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