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 – June 2024 – Virginia Hussin

The Poem of the Month for June 2024, selected by 2024 Anthology editors Ivan Rehorek (Avalanche) and Martha Landman, is Sympathy for Iago by Virginia Hussin. The commended poems are How To Meet A Deadline by Sue O’Brien and Ice Man by David Harris.

Sympathy for Iago
Virginia Hussin

Our year 12 English teacher, Mrs Candy
Is most perplexed – one could say unsettled
Because so many of us feel sorry for Iago.
Iago is supposed to be the villain

But we variously argue
That he was working-class
That the world was stacked against him
That he didn’t have the advantages
In life that for example, Cassio had
Let alone the handsome Othello
Who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth

What generation were we to be saying these things?… Click for more

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

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

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 Barker, strings 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

Poem of the Month – November 2023 – Geoff Johnson

The Poem of the Month for November 2023, selected by 2023 Anthology Editors, Maria Vouis and Rob Ferris, is All Saints by Geoff Johnson. The commended poems for November are Love in Triplets by Erica Jolly, After the Poem by Gail Walker and Spur-winged Plovers by Murray Alfredson.

All Saints
Geoff Johnson

Somehow the teachings have settled
maybe scattered
’cross the pavements of their minds
something of the living impulse
stirred in their hearts.

A sound not suppressed
feathered in the wind
rattling
with ghosts in the night.

They’ve buried their hurts
not knowing where to find them
unearthing what they claim
as their own.… Click for more

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