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.

Poems of the Month: November 2017

Here are the Poems of the Month for November 2017, as selected by Anthology Editors, Ros Schulz and Karl Cameron-Jackson. Congratulations to David Harris and Elaine Barker.

THE JAGUAR’S PAW by Elaine Barker
(Tikal, Guatemala)

It’s a symbol placed at eye level
and scratched deep into stone
at the base of a high wall
many centuries ago.
You can trace the shape
of the pad and each claw
of the feared and sacred jaguar
although moss like a pelt
and as green as jade
has spread to blur its outline.
You still sense the energy,
the feline grace
and mythic power
and although you have your photo
taken quickly in passing
that image reaches out
to puncture your thoughts,
become etched into your mind.… Click for more

October Poems of the Month

Congratulations to October’s (tied) Poems of the Month, as selected by Anthology Editors, Ros Schulz and Karl Cameron-Jackson: The Handover by Sharon Foulkes and Lorne in B Flat by David Cookson.

Click here to read all this year’s Poems of the Month.

 

The Handover by Sharon Foulkes

Friday at sunset,
and the junction diner churns with the weekend influx.

The nearly-there-yet,
grabbing a snack for bribing the kids into silence, and
steeling themselves for the dazzle and blur that’s ahead.

The finally-away,
breathing relief at temporary escape from the concrete, and
filling the fidgeting horde in the hope that they’ll sleep.… Click for more

2017 Poems of the Month now on-line

Each month the current Anthology Editors select a Poem of the Month, chosen from those submitted at the FSP Open Mic events. The Poems of the Month for 2017, selected by Ros Schulz and Karl Cameron-Jackson, are now (mostly!) available for you to read on-line. Click here to read them all so far or click on the individual links below.

 

February: Dear Poem by Bruce Greenhalgh
March: A Memorable Fancy by Gordon McPherson
April: Sonnet for a Coin-Eyed Fish by Maria Vouis
May: Mother and Daughter Collect Stones by Belinda Broughton
June (a tie): A Modern Father’s Advice by Reginald Thomas / cutting by rob walker
July: Lake Albert Swoons by Karl Cameron-Jackson
August: The Body Mother Made Me by Maria Vouis
September (a tie): Vincent in Waikerie by Gordon McPherson / Welsh Love Spoon by Veronica Cookson
October (a tie): The Handover by Sharon Foulkes / Lorne in B Flat by David Cookson

 

Poems of the Month by Maria Vouis

Maria Vouis had poems-of-the-month selected by Anthology Editors, Karl Cameron Jackson and Ros Schulz, for both April and August 2017! You can read them below:

Poem of the Month, April 2017

Sonnet for A Coin Eyed Fish
 At the mouth of the Onkaparinga River.

In the mornings the new autumn cold
chews the crusts of fading summer,
The wind whines high through the empty hold
of the poo-bag roll in F # minor.
Midday birdsong is free light freight,
The dogs stalk and strain on the halter,
The sun sandwiched tight, early and late
sends trembling veins of light through water.… Click for more

Poem of the Month, July 2016: “Gale” by Susan O’Brien

GALE

The roistering gale from the West
shrieks round building walls
and summons sheet metal thunder
from the rain water tanks
We are besieged by sound.

Trees on the far ridge whip and flail,
drunken cheer leaders against shredding sky,
hailstone missiles streak
through horizontal rain

I more deeply understand
the welcome swallows’ nest:
under the widest eave,
plastered to the wall
even now
it is safe in the wind shadow

Startled out of sleep at three a.m.
we pull on clothes
in case, in case….
but our house too holds steady
there is no need to flee
into the maelstrom…

Sleep again overtakes us

At first light the silence shocks:
survivors are stunned but standing
the fallen indeed are fallen
and sadly, amongst their silent ranks
our Number One Yacca is down

Here before white settlement
prized for food and tinder
for weapons and glue
survivor of roaring bush fires –
resin rubies shining
between charred leaf bases,
this one legged ancient
finally felled
by the blow and suck of air.… Click for more

Poem of the Month for May: “Sermon on Dogma” by Kalicharan Nigel Dey

As selected by the anthology editors, David Harris and Edie Eicas from FSP readings in May, 2016.

Nigel Kalicharan Dey: editor, 2014

SERMON ON DOGMA by Kalicharan Nigel Dey

There I was, sitting on a pew in church,
Attentively listening to Father John Birch.
The Reverend quoted reverently:
“None comes to the Father except through me.”
An exegesis followed with passion and fire:
“Either these words are true or Jesus was a liar.”

“Hold on!” I thought, “There’s a third possible conjecture:
The gospels could contain elements of fiction.”
Father John Birch is an authority on scripture
But like most authorities he has an affliction.

It’s called dogma – an epidemic mental disease
Preventing consideration of all possibilities.… Click for more

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