Friendly Street Poets

#1 Category for all work published on this site

Vale John Gilbert…

john gilbert

 

Long-standing FSP member and friend John Gilbert collapsed and died suddenly on Saturday 28th November. He was a regular not only at FSP but other SA poetry groups including the Hills Group and Gawler Poets.

As FSP Convenor, Paul Wilkins says, “his work had a certain sincere simplicity, usually in ballad form, which was often in touch with the fundamentals of human experience  with wide appeal to an immediate audience. He was a person who did much for others and too often proably gave himself and his own interests secondary consideration.”

Thanks to Martin Christmas for the recent picture of John, which captures him perfectly…
… Click for more

The 2015 Goolwa Poetry Cup

This year’s Goolwa Poetry Cup, held at the Steam Exchange Brewery, was a huge success, with excellent poetry and a large appreciative audience.

First place and $1000 went to Jason Marsiglia, second place and $200 went to Amy Watson. Other finalists, each receiving $50, were Aaron Furnell, James Hickey, Meredith Hall and Matilde Wiese. People’s Choice and $100 went to Christina Hack. Keenan Drake won the Young Poet competition. and $50. Congratulations to the winners and all the competitors!!

Judges were Jude Aquilina,  Kami McInnes  and MC Nigel Ford, who did a fantastic job organising and running the event.… Click for more

Poem of the Month, October, 2015: “Short Shorts” by John Malone

Short Shorts

Breeze

I watch the shirts
On the line
Breathe in and out

Letterboxes

They line up along
The footpath mouths open
Hungry for mail.

Exercise

This insect that just landed
Stretching wings, legs
Doing tai chi on the page.

Trigger

That rustling in the hedge
A short story
Stirring into life

Egg

Bald and black
As an emu’s egg, the helmet’s hatched
A biker’s head.
 
John Malone
Poem read at Ochre Coast Poets, Seaford Library, selected by Anthology editors, Murray Alfredson and Margaret Clark.

Rob Walker: November poet-in-residence at Adelaide City Library

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Rob Walker  is Adelaide City Library / SpokenWord SA Poet-in-Residence during November. He will be in the City Library 10 am to 1 pm every Wednesday in November, working on his theme: Lost and Found, based on input from Library users. Please visit him, chat about his project, and maybe even contribute to it!

Rob is also Guest Blogger for November at Adelaide Reads on the theme of Lost Manuscripts. See more here.

Rob will have a final performance of published work, new poems and music at the Adelaide City Library on Friday 27th November, 2015, at 6:30.… Click for more

Call-out for Anthology editors!!

It’s time to find a couple of editors for the next FSP members’ anthology. This will be Volume #41, containing poems submitted by FSP members at FSP events in 2016, to be published by FSP in 2017.

The primary task of the editors is to select the poems and get them ready for print-production. Basic word-processing and email skills are essential. Assistance will be available for the preparation of the final print-ready text and cover.

Editors need to be current financial members of FSP. There is a small remuneration for each editor.

For more information, including a detailed job description, or expressions of interest, please use the contact form below.

Winner of the SAETA FSP Spring Poetry Prize

This year, Ian Gibbins and Jelena Dinic were asked to judge the Year 11 & 12 entries for the South Australian English Teachers Association 2015 Spring Poetry Festival Prize and award the Friendly Street prizes to the top four poems. The prizes consisted of cash, a selection of FSP books, a certificate, and complimentary membership of FSP for 2016.

First Prize went to Olivia McGuinness (Cedar College) for Stress; Second Prize: Dee Ritchie (Torrens Valley Christian School) for Wrong; Third Prize: Sam Kelly (Thomas More College) for Timeless Wrinkles; and Highly Commended: Taniesha Morton (Torrens Valley Christian School) for Mummy.… Click for more

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