Adelaide Poets Collective – celebrating 50 years in 2025
Friday, 4th July, 2025
Doors open at 6:00pm for 6:15pm start
The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000
$5 to read; free to listen.
Strict 3-minute time limit, including any introductions, explanations and post-scripts.
You can submit poems read at the Open Mic for consideration in the next Anthology via the form below.
The Poem of the Month for May 2025, selected by 2025 Anthology editors Val Braendler and Ben Adams, is Sestina for Ankylosing Spondylitis by Rory Kennett-Lister. The commended poems are Under obs by Louise Nicholas, Pre-dawn April night by David Bailles and Gazan cull by Murray Alfredson.
Sestina for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Rory Kennett-Lister
Descending the station stairs the light
Shifts from pure sun to fluorescent pulse.
A rush of panicked wind. I make my way
Deeper underground. The train wails from the dark
Along rusted, aging tracks that thread
Beneath the city like screaming nerves.
Stepping through the yawning doors my nerves
Fire, shooting blind, a flailing light
From hips to back.… Click for more
The Poem of the Month for April 2025, selected by 2025 Anthology editors Val Braendler and Ben Adams, is The Art of Saving by Roz Schulz. The commended poems are limbo by Barbara Preston, Abandon Yourself to Mozart by Susan O’Brien and In the Vicinity of a Love Poem by Steve Evans.
The Art of Saving
Roz Schulz
They were the last on the butcher’s run, mid north,
dry hot summer, horse and cart, no refrigeration.
The bonus some leftover cuts, jokes with the butcher
and a flagon of wine into the sunset.
His wife cooked the week’s meat straight away –
His mind and soul were fashioned the way he beat
mugs out of tins, scrolled over the sharp top edge,
but you could still cut your lip on it.… Click for more
The Poem of the Month for March 2025, selected by 2025 Anthology editors Val Braendler and Ben Adams, is Cold Case by Helen Hutton. The commended poems are Taking the Master Class by Nigel Ford, 3 x H20 by Bruce Greenhalgh and Ends and Soapbubbles by Avalanche.
Cold Case
Helen Hutton
i
Night is crisp as a nurse’s bib
and the bench seat in the old Holden
cold and narrow like an ambo’s gurney …
there’s me – look – pressed against the passenger door
no handle, no window winder no escape.
He strokes the column shift
sweat glistens on the ginger hairs
on the back of his hand, saliva pools
in the corner of his mouth …
No need to sit over there, city Sheila.… Click for more
Friday 4 April 2025
Meeting commences at 6:25pm
The Box factory
59 Regent Street, Adelaide
This month’s meeting will begin with our 2025 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 for more
Friday, 7th March, 2025
from 6:00pm
The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000
All welcome!
$5 to read. 3 minutes per poet.
Free to listen.
Everyone welcome!
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.