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.

February Poem of the Month

The February Poem of the Month, selected by Anthology editors, Veronica Cookson and Lindy Warrell, is The Man Who Walked by Fred Willett.

Here is Fred’s poem:

THE MAN WHO WALKED by F J Willett

His days were bleak and grim and gray.
His mood was dark and fell and fey.

Her hair was black. Her raven hair
That framed her face and haughty stare.

He walked alone without a hope.
He never saw her, never spoke.

He walked across the village square.
He passed the woman standing there.

She had no smile for him that day,
No smile to light his shadowed way.… Click for more

Poems of the Month: December 2017

Here are the Poems of the Month for November 2017, as selected by Anthology Editors, Ros Schulz and Karl Cameron-Jackson. Congratulations to Keith MacNider and Maria Vouis.

THE RISE by Keith MacNider

Where do I meet you now that you have gone away?
Is it that you have eloped with the breeze, the first
canter across the plains of your beginning, or the debris
of twisted desires, the suffering in silence when the hands
of abusers made your body theirs and hope lay in words
you wouldn’t have chosen yet which found you, reshaping
calling to you the beauty that always seemed in your eyes
the way morning mists hinted at surprise?… Click for more

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

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