FSP 2021 competition certificates

The Friendly Street Poets reading for September saw the awarding of certificates to writers who had been successful in the 2021 competitions for publication of their collections, due soon.

Left to right here, we have Nigel Ford (Highly Commended twice, New Poets 22 ), Susan O’Brien and Veronica Cookson (both Winners, New Poets 22), Michèle Saint-Yves (Winner, Single Poet), and Shaine Melrose (Highly Commended, Single Poet).

Unable to attend were: Rob Ferris (Winner, New Poets 22), Claire-Louise Watson (Highly Commended, New Poets 22), and Gaetano Aiello (Highly Commended, Single Poet).

Congratulations to all of you – and we look forward to the launch of both titles on 25th October: more details to come.… Click for more

FSP September City Meeting and Open Mic

Monday, 6th September, 2021
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

Yes, we’re on again and bigger than ever!

Current COVID-19 guidelines (unless they change) allow us up to 72 people and we’re ready to hear your poetry. 

You just sign on – via QR code or handwriting – and then add your name to the reading list if you want a turn at the mic. Bring two copies of your poems for the current editors if you want those considered for next year’s anthology, or submit them electronically via the form below straight after the night.… Click for more

New Poets 22 and Single Poet 2021 winners!

Besides its annual anthologies, Friendly Street Poets has a long (and, yes, proud) history of bringing the work of emerging poets to a keen readership. 

Independent and blind judging has given the results for the books that will appear in 2021 in the New Poets 22 (featuring three poets, as usual) and Single Poet volumes. The Winning and Highly Commended entries are: 

New Poets 22

Winning
Legacy – Veronica Cookson 
The Butterfly Defects – Rob Ferris 
Valley Fleurieu – Susan O’Brien 

Highly Commended
A Hapless Romantic – Nigel Ford  
Life Poet – Nigel Ford
A Glimpse of Light – Claire-Louise Watson  

Single Poet 2021

Winning
Lament  – Michele M.… Click for more

FSP August City Meeting cancelled

We regret to tell you that the August reading (2nd August) in the Box Factory has to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

We would have to abide by limits required by the Adelaide City Council that are even lower than those indicated by the State Government, and which make the reading unworkable.

September will be when we next gather, circumstances permitting.

The good news is that we are announcing the successful poets to be featured in New Poets 22 and Single Poet 2021 before the weekend.

Thank you,
Steve Evans (for the Management Committee)

FSP August City Meeting, Open Mic & announcement of FSP New Poets 22 & Single Poet 2021 winners CANCELLED

Monday, 2nd August, 2021
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

We regret to tell you that the August reading (2nd August) in the Box Factory has to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

We would have to abide by limits required by the Adelaide City Council that are even lower than those indicated by the State Government, and which make the reading unworkable.

In addition to the Open Mic, we will announce the winners of the New Poets 22 and Single Poet 2021 competitions

For the Open Mic, there is a 3 minutes maximum time per reader.… Click for more

Poems of the Month – July 2021: Steve Evans and Helen Parsons

Congratulations to the joint winners for the July 2021 Poem of the Month: Steve Evans for Epilogue and Helen Parsons for Elizabeth at her Writing Desk, as selected by 2021 FSP Anthology editors Louise Nicholas and Judy Dally.

Steve Evans
Epilogue

As he lay dying,
it was someone else’s life
that flashed before his eyes.
Too late to ask for his money back.
No choice but to watch the show.

A blitzing synopsis of past attractions, 
it included a tall woman
rising from a bath,
whom he might have loved
if he was not himself,
then two small children holding hands
in a garden more tropical than his own
and, in the background, the glare
of a harbour lit by sails.… Click for more

+ More