May Poem of the Month: Roger Higgins

The Poem of the Month for May is Mirror Image by Roger Higgins. The Commended Poem is Check-mate. Game! by Martin Christmas. Poems selected by Anthology Editors, Veronica Cookson and Lindy Warrell from submissions by FSP members read during May. You can read the poems below.

Mirror Image by Roger Higgins

The mirror stretches the full length of the wall
above twin sinks and a ledge cluttered
with skin creams and cosmetics.
You cannot help but see yourself
in excruciating detail from top to bottom,
by which I really mean buttocks.
Hair is thick but more grey than the brown it was
and too long for your age and demographic,
chest hair also grey and not a suitable camouflage
for dark brown barnacles and sunspots,
your heritage from a younger life
of beaches and back-yard games.… Click for more

Two poems by Ros Schulz in In Daily

FSP stalwart Ros Shulz has two poems, Pondering with Pelicans and Waiting for It published in In Daily. 

Click here to read them.

Ros Schulz spent her childhood in the Barossa Valley and Murray Mallee before settling in Adelaide. A mother of four and grandmother of six, she has strong interests in children and people in general, in mental health, and in the landscape and nature. A high school teacher for 12 years in country South Australia and Adelaide and for a year in London, she was also a TAFE lecturer in Communication Studies for a further 15 years, writing resource books.… Click for more

Erica Jolly poem in Intersections – Poetry with Mathematics

Long time FSP member Erica Jolly has a new poem “Daddy Yankee” published on-line in Intersections – Poetry with Mathematics. Erica’s poem draws from an essay by Matthew Peppe in the Special Issue of Lapham’s Quarterly about Alexander Hamilton and contrasts the character of the theatrical Hamilton with the behavior of the character who inspired him.

The poem begins:

I draw in my breath in disbelief.
How does one take in all those numbers?
How is it possible for an island of this size
to have a debt of seventy six billion dollars?

Click here to read the full text of Erica’s poem.… Click for more

New Poets 19

FSP is very proud to announce the outcome of the New Poets 19 selection process.

Congratulations to Winners:

Maria Vouis Eye Print

Geoff Aitken Soundings 

Bruce Greenhalgh The Meteorology of Enjambment

with Special Commendations to:

Emelia Haskey All the Things I’ve Yet to Tell You

Inez Marrasso The Champagne Smile

The standard of entries was very high, making the final decision a difficult one for judge, Thom Sullivan. Well done all the poets who entered and massive thanks to Thom.

More information on the launch of New Poets 19 with the poems of Maria, Geoff and Bruce will be available in due course.

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