Friendly Street Poets

#1 Category for all work published on this site

Poem of the Month – August 2023 – Martha Landman

The Poem of the Month for August 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is Loose-limb Man by Martha Landman The commended poems for August are Haiku & Senryu by Nigel Ford, Cliché Clambake by Veronica Cookson and White Thrift by Geoff Atkin.

Loose-limb Man
Martha Landman

Mother wouldn’t approve.
Not yet old wine, she’d say.
She was taught the virtues of shepherd men
guiding their flock, heavy feet,
calloused hands.
She followed a man of the land,
made good the harshness of his tongue,
watered the trees he planted.
Her virtue woven through sufferance,
a basket holding blame.… Click for more

Launch of New Poets 24 & Single Poet 2023 – SOLD OUT!

Monday 30 October 2023
6:00pm for 6:30pm start

Q on Hallett (the former Q Theatre)
5 Hallett Street (off Halifax Street), Adelaide, SA 5000

This event is now SOLD OUT. Due to space restrictions, only those people WITH TICKETS will be admitted on the night. Unfortunately there can be no exceptions. Highlights from the launch will be posted after the event.

We’re all set to launch the winning publications for the New Poets 24 and Single Poet 2023 competitions. Join us for a special evening filled with poetry, inspiration, and community. Support these talented poets as they take the stage and share their work.… Click for more

New Poets 24 and Single Poet 2023 winners!

FSP is pleased to announce the winners of New Poets 24 and Single Poet 2023 competitions.

NEW POETS 24

Judge: Jude Aquilina

The three winners are:
• Facebook Poems by Peter Mahoney
• Stepping on Shadows by Helen Hutton
• My Father’s Son by Nigel Ford

Commended
• From the Heart by Susan Thrun Willett

Special Mention
• Save Changes to Normal by Stef Rozitis
• Murder, Mayhem and More by Fred Willett

SINGLE POET 2023

Judge: Steve Evans

Winner
• Selected Poems (1992-2022) by gareth roi jones

Commended
• The Pilgrimage by Claire-Louise Watson
• Eclectica by Veronica Cookson

Thank you to the judges for both competitions.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – June 2023 – Jules Leigh Koch

The Poem of the Month for June 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is 5.45am Sydney by Jules Leigh Koch. The commended poems for June are unpredicted by Geoff Aitken, Blackbird by Martha Landman  and The Baby Locket by Cary Hamlyn.

5.45am Sydney
Jules Leigh Koch

at an intersection
a few wax-work figures
                                    wait
while traffic-lights juggle three
coloured balls
                       in slow motion

the short life span of dawn
is emptying out
all about me
yet
            it’s not a new day

for the homeless
queueing outside
the Salvos’ soup kitchen

in an alleyway
where the twisted body of sunlight

is climbing a fire escape
one step
                       at a time

I put the space-junk of my thoughts
                                                on pause
and as I drive through the fault-line
of the city

another pedestrian is swallowed
by the subway

unpredicted
Geoff Aitken

it fell today

the idea

that the ocean
was just a cloud

shaking out
its wrinkles

in late rain.… Click for more

Erica Jolly at Poets Corner

Long-standing FSP stalwart Erica Jolly is the guest at this month’s Poets Corner.

Effective Living Centre
26 King William Road, Wayville
Monday 24 July 2023
7:30 pm

Everyone is welcome!

FSP Anthology 47 launch and order form

Judges and editors
Left to right: David Cookson (editor), Max Merckenschlager (judge), Veronica Cookson (editor), Jacqui Merckenschlager (judge), Sue O’Brien (Convenor)
Winners
Left to right: Stef Rozitis, Elaine Barker, Louise Nicholas, Charlie Madden, Helen Hutton,  Meryl McDougall, Rob Ferris, Maria Vouis, Sue O’Brien

FSP is excited to announce that Anthology 47 was officially launched by in-coming Convenor, Sue O’Brien, at the monthly meeting on 1 May 2023.

Edited by Veronica and David Cookson, the anthology’s title, beyond the bend … , takes its name from a line in Torbay by contributing poet, Sharon Foulkes. The collection of over 100 poems thrilled the judges, Jacqui and Max Merckenschlager, who were at the launch to meet the winning and commended poets. … Click for more

+ More