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

Poem of the Month – February 2024 – Robbie Lennard

The first Poem of the Month for 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors  Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman is Yes by Robbie Lennard. The commended poem is Justin Fordham by Barbara Preston.


Yes
Robbie Lennard

Yes you may come for tea this Saturday
please arrive at half-past-ten for elevenses
then at eleven we’ll celebrate high noon –
… please bring your own silver spoon
please wear a white dress
bring no didgeridoos
no emu-feathered shoes
bring the last of your kind
bring a game of mastermind

we’ll play that
and backgammon too
scrabble for a chess-set
and a dog or two

and my man
how is your tribe these days?… Click for more

FSP 2024 Annual General Meeting and April Open Mic

This month’s meeting will begin with our 2024 AGM. You must be a current financial member of FSP to take part in the AGM. There are openings for positions on the Management Committee. If you would like to nominate, follow the instructions on the agenda or send us a message via this link:
Nominate for Committee. If you are unable to attend the AGM but would like to vote via a proxy, please nominate your proxy via a message at this link: Proxy nomination.

Click here to download the AGM Agenda.Click for more

Poem of the Month – December 2023 – Valerie Volk

The Poem of the Month for December 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is Lot 22 by Valerie Volk. The commended poems for December are In Worrying Times by Elaine Barkerstrings by phil saunders and Akin (excerpt) by Robbie Lennard.


Lot 22
Valerie Volk

Impersonal, the auctioneer’s drone.
Small square wooden case. Unusual.
An apathetic crowd. My pang of guilt,
in spite of family pressure, voice of reason.
Time to downsize, get rid of stuff.

But this. I should have kept it.
Made by a father’s loving hand.
I hear his accent, still …
A case for you, for school.Click for more