FSP Annual Anthologies

A Love In! FSP 50th Anniversary Celebration – call out for readers

To celebrate us and those older poets who make up our rich history, the 7th November 2025 FSP City Meeting will follow a special format at the usual Box Factory venue.

30 volunteer poets are invited to read any poem by any poet from any FSP Reader or Anthology prior to number 30 along with a short biography of that poem’s author. The reader cannot read one of their own poems from these anthologies. However, they can read ONE poem of their own for consideration for 2025’s anthology. There will be no open mic.

Suggestions are now open and will be curated by David Cookson, on a first come, first served basis.… 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

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

FSP May City Meeting – Anthology 47 Launch & Open Mic

Monday, 1st May, 2023
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

The meeting will start with the launch of the FSP Annual Anthology 47, edited by Veronica and David Cookson. As part of the launch, the winners of the Satura Prize for the poem judged the best in the Anthology, and Nova Prize for the best poem in the Anthology written by a first-time published poet will be announced. The title of the Anthology, its cover and the judge for the prizes all will be revealed on the night!

Copies of FSP Anthology 47 will be available for sale on the night for $20.… Click for more

Call-out: expression of interest for editors of the 2023 FSP Anthology

Friendly Street Poets (FSP) has a wonderful opportunity for two volunteer editors for the next poetry anthology based on readings in 2023.

Since its beginnings in 1975, FSP has consistently brought the work of both established and developing writers to a keen readership. The new annual anthology will be the 48th in our proud history.

The positions involve the editors: 

  • attending the monthly (Feb to Dec) readings at the Box Factory in the Adelaide CBD;
  • selecting a Poem of the Month from poems submitted, which will appear on our website — and deciding on Honourable Mentions where warranted;
  • determining poems for inclusion in the anthology;
  • corresponding with the successful poets, gathering bio information, etc;
  • writing an introduction for the book;
  • organising cover design, layout, etc;
  • liaising with the printers;
  • launching the book during the year.
… Click for more

2022 Satura and Nova Prizes

Editors Louise Nicholas and Judy Dally launched FSP Anthology 46 at the August 2022 City meeting at the Box Factory. Over the past year, they worked tirelessly together to select each Poem of the Month and a collection of poems chosen from the monthly readings. The resultant anthology is a beautiful collection, titled Something to Say … taken from a poem by the same name by Avalanche.

Award-winning poet, Jude Aquilina judged the Satura Prize (best poem in the anthology) and Nova Prize (best poem by a poet published for the first time in an anthology) and selected Highly Commended awards for each category.… Click for more

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