Poem of the month

Each month the two FSP editors select a poem, from those read throughout that month, as the poem of the month. A laminated copy of the poem is awarded to the poet at the next FSP City meeting. This is peer recognition of a poem of high quality.

Poem of the Month – March 2025 – Helen Hutton

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

Poem of the Month – February 2025 – Erica Jolly

The Poem of the Month for February 2025, selected by 2025 Anthology editors Val Braendler and Ben Adams, is Remembering Mark Twain by Erica Jolly. The commended poems are Another Day at the Home for Incurables by Cary Hamlyn, glance by Billy-Jack Johnstone and The Soul’s Code by Inez Martinez.

Remembering Mark Twain
Erica Jolly

This story comes from
Back Matter – the archives
of Lapham’s Quarterly
‘Philosophy’ Volume VIII,
No. 3 Summer 2015.
 
You warned us all
about the temptation
to vice and corruption
in your satire The Gilded Age.
 
Plutocrats – all hungry –
finding immense riches
in technical advances
after the Civil War.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – November 2025 – Rob Ferris

The Poem of the Month for November 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Rime of the Ancient Surfer by Rob Ferris. The commended poems are sail by Rory Harris,  Stop at red light by Martin Christmas and an own table by Geoffrey Atkin.

Rime of the Ancient Surfer
Rob Ferris

At 75, the long board could be
a stretcher
but here you are
improbable
paddling gamely with
rubber clad old sticks
for arms
seeming to hold your own
until Poseidon frowns
at your presumption
and breaks one on your head.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – October 2025 – Peter Mahoney

The Poem of the Month for October 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is degustazione orgasmico by Peter Mahoney. The commended poems are Snake Dancer Day by Maria Koukouvas and Three, with Attitude by Jacqui Merckenschlager.

degustazione orgasmico
Peter Mahoney

one does not on a plate with a knife and a fork
eat a large byblos special from pizza pizzazz on goodwood road
on $15 Tuesdays
served by an Indian guy smiling the friendliest white teeth
or the second generation Greek owner flattering me with a glint and a smile in her
southern brown eyes

no, one makes mad, hasty, slurping, indecent love with it
barely out of the box
to the sound of broken glasses, spilled wine and gender specific expletives
barely time to pour the unlabelled shiraz cabernet or was it cabernet shiraz I don’t care because I love you!… Click for more

Poem of the Month – August 2025 – Gail Walker

The Poem of the Month for August 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Content Warning by Gail Walker. The commended poems are Poetry Lesson by Steve Evans and It’s vain to ask a poet to say less by Stef Rozitis.

Content Warning
Gail Walker

This poem contains – adult themes
This poem contains – nudity
This poem contains – harsh language
This poem contains – domestic violence
This poem contains – suicide ideation
This poem contains – mental health issues
This poem contains – child sexual abuse
This poem contains – rape
This poem contains – murder

Sorry there is no time left for 
This poem.… Click for more

Poem of the Month – July 2024 – Helen Hutton

The Poem of the Month for July 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is My grandfather’s second wife by Helen Hutton. The commended poems are A Life by Steve Evans and Hills Hippy Open Garden by David Winderlich.

My grandfather’s second wife
Helen Hutton

1972
In your biscuit-warm kitchen, lined with rose-pink tiles and flooded with sunlight, you
shaped lavender-infused dough with vitiligo hands. You streaked my nose with a line of flour
and said I looked like a Scottish Highlander. When you touched my cheek, your hands felt
warm like butter balls.… Click for more

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