NC Poetry Society

NC Poetry Society Winter 2004 Personal touch meets hi-tech: publishing in the Winter meeting Internet age—January 15 Saturday, January 15 Weymouth Center What do a religion major, an art- Southern Pines ist, a mystery-suspense editor and THE NEWS INSIDE a former dental technician have in 2 President’s message 9:30 Registration, common? order and pay for lunch & Web site update (cut-off time is 10:15) They are all poets and publishers who will talk about how the Inter- 3 Treasurer’s Purse 10:00 Business meeting net has changed publishing. The 4 January Meeting January 15 Poetry Society meeting 10:10 Sharon Sharp at Weymouth will attempt to an- Personal Touch Books 6 Muse news swer everything you always 10:20 Publishing in an Internet wanted to know about Internet 7 Distinguished Poet Age. Panelists: Sara Clay- Series publishing but didn’t know who to tor, M. Scott Douglass, ask. Jonathan R. Rice, and 8 New members Robert Rutherford Winter weather can be frightful and so can submitting your poems 9 Endowment Campaign 11:00 Open mike to a journal (on-line or print). But

this fiery panel promises to be oh, 11:15 Panel discussion and 10 2005 contest judges questions so delightful! Bring your questions about Internet publishing to fuel 12 Poetry Contest guidelines 12:00 Lunch (see below) the discussion.

There will also be a display of 1:00 Stephen Smith, 14 More muse news Friends of Weymouth handmade books, and in the afternoon, Friends of Weymouth are 15 KUDOS

2:00 Betty Adcock reading sponsoring a reading by Betty 16 Officers & committees Adcock, one of our outstanding 2:45 Open mike (one poem, one page) North Carolina poets.

(see more details, pages 4 - 5) NCPS Contest Deadline

January 10

LUNCH RESERVATIONS — important! Guidelines

for January 15 — see page 4 pages 12-13

Winter 2004 North Carolina Poetry Society President's Message by Ann Garbett

How did you find out about the North Carolina Poetry Society? I found myself wondering about that—for myself as well as for all our other members—as I sat at our promotional table at the North Carolina Writers’ Network’s fall meeting in Raleigh. Not that I had lots of time to wonder—a satisfying stream of people came by the table, chatted about poetry, picked up brochures and bookmarks, ate our candy, and generally made for a pleasant time of it. But several visitors surprised me by saying “Poetry Society! I didn’t know we had such a thing!”

I first heard about the NCPS from a long-time member I met at a Duke short course. He had good things to say about the Poetry Society, but somehow Southern Pines sounded almost as far away as the moon, and I hadn’t been writing seriously for very long and...well, you know. Later Susan Meyers, whom I’d known through workshops over the years, invited me again. I overcame timidity and this time the Poetry Society’s warm welcome (and beautiful Weymouth Center) insured that I’d be coming back.

It occurs to me that probably most of us share some version of this story: “Someone I liked invited me and the rest is history.” Advertising is great, no doubt about it, but the best advertising of all is an invitation from a friend.

So indulge me please, while I preach from the poetry pulpit: If you know someone who is interested in poetry, be sure to let that person know about the NCPS and invite her—or him—to a meeting. I’ll bet that’s how you joined. Now it’s time to share the fun with someone else. See you—and your friends, I hope—in January. Write on!

Webmaster Note – Web Site Expansion Plans

The Poetry Society Web Site currently includes a page that lists all Brockman-Campbell Book Award winners since the inception of the award in 1977. Provided we can obtain the necessary permissions, we plan to expand this section to honor all Brockman-Campbell winners with individual web pages including a photo of each winner and a sample of three poems from each award-winning book.

To get a better sense of what is envisioned, go to the NCPS home page at www.sleepycreek.org/poetry and choose the option “Book Award Winners” from the menu on the left-hand side of the page. Then, on the web page that lists the Brockman-Campbell winners, click on the name Julie Suk, which will take you to the new web pages honoring Julie as the most recent Brockman-Campbell winner for her book The Dark Takes Aim.

As time permits, I plan to contact all Brockman-Campbell winners individually to request permissions to expand the web site to feature poems from their books as well, but please help me by spreading the word. If you are a Brockman-Campbell winner and would like your book to be featured in a manner similar to Julie’s, please feel free to expedite this process by contacting me at [email protected]. Or, send a note to me at 6543 New Market Way, Raleigh, NC 27615. Thanks.

Earl Huband, NCPS Webmaster

Winter 2004 2 North Carolina Poetry Society “Money enough in his purse . . . ” by Bill Griffin, Treasurer

How often have you heard an organization’s treasurer use the word enough?! Not often, I’ll wager. And yet as the keeper of your Poetry Society moneybags, I often feel rich. The Po- etry Society thrives on the contributions of you, its members. Of our annual $14,000 budg- eted income, 50% comes from your annual dues and another 28% from donations (such as the sponsors of our contests and of the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Series). That leaves about 12% from contest and workshop entry fees, 8% from the interest on our endowment and reserve funds, and a wee mite from book sales.

But when I really begin to feel wealthy is when I consider the wonderful programs your Poetry Society creates with this frugal budget. If it were possible to spend money in meter and rhyme, my job would be an exquisite sonnet. Here is where some of your money goes: Programs: four at Weymouth, one Down East, one Mountain $2200 Pinesong: annual cost of publication $2300 Poetry Contests: judges fees and awards $2650 Newsletters: three per year $2400 Distinguished Poet Series: [fully endowed by a single donor!] $2700 Salaries: president, v-p’s, treasurer, et. al. $0

Now for the pitch: your Poetry Society wants to do more! At every Board meeting, we entertain new ways to spread the love of poetry throughout our state. A network of student groups? Curricula for teaching poetry to elementary students? Poetry for prisoners? Read- ings here, there, everywhere? Some of these projects have already borne fruit and some are budding. How would you like to support your Poetry Society’s efforts with an extra donation? Whoops, had I given you the impression we already had enough? Perhaps, but with more, we can do more. We want to continue growing, and since we know you want to grow with us, we know you’ll say . . .

YES! I want to support the North Carolina Poetry Society with an additional contribution

to be used for ______, or for other projects the Board selects. $25 or $50 or $100 or more $______

NAME ______

ADDRESS ______

Make checks payable to “NCPS” and mail to Bill Griffin, Treasurer NCPS / 131 Bon Aire Rd. / Elkin, NC 28621

And here’s the rest of the title quotation, Beatrice speaking of half-Benedick and half-John in Much Ado About Nothing: “With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world.”

Winter 2004 3 North Carolina Poetry Society Personal touch meets hi-tech: publishing in the Internet age — January 15 by Pat Riviere-Seel

So many poems, so many choices – are you sending your poems to print literary magazines? Have you tried Internet magazines? The Internet has revolutionized publishing and e-zines are growing in quantity and popularity. But so are the questions. Will e- zines replace print publications? How do you choose which Internet journal to submit to? In the world of cyberspace, how exactly does copyright work? Is there an established standard now in the realm of electronic rights? What about publication rights for poems published on the Internet? What are the advantages and disadvantages to Internet publishing? Will the Internet replace print journals? These are just a few of the questions the panel of four poet/publishers will discuss and attempt to answer during the January 15 NCPS meeting at Weymouth.

You will also have an opportunity to see some very “personal touch” hand-made books. Sharon Sharp will begin our morning program with a brief introduction to the world of book making. Sharon, a former Poetry Society president, has studied book making at Penland School of Craft and will have some of her hand made books on display during the day.

During the morning program, panelists Jonathan K. Rice, Robert Rutherford, Sara Claytor and M. Scott Douglass will answer questions and talk about how the Inter- net has changed publishing. All four have the double advantage of being poet/publishers on the front lines of the changing technology. Ed Seel will moderate the discussion and make sure questions from the audience are heard and discussed.

The afternoon reading by Betty Adcock is sponsored by Friends of Weymouth as part of their Ragan Writers Series. Two years ago Adcock won the Poetry Society’s Brockman-Campbell Book Award for the best book of poems published by a North Carolina Writer in 2001 for her book Intervale. According to Stephen Smith of Friends of Weymouth, Adcock will have some new poems for us in January.

As usual, there will be plenty of open mike time, so bring your poems (one poem/one page per person please, so all will have an opportunity to read).

Lunch at the January 15 meeting Buy a box lunch or bring your own. Please help us get an idea of the number who plan to order lunch by emailing your lunch reservation to: [email protected] (You can pay at the meeting) 195 will provide a box lunch for $8.50 (tax included) Choose: chicken salad sandwich, or tuna salad sandwich, or vegetarian salad. Iced tea and dessert are included. Order and pay for lunch until 10:15. You will receive a lunch ticket.

Winter 2004 4 North Carolina Poetry Society

Meet the panelists — January 15

Sara Claytor M. Scott Douglass Jonathan K. Rice Robert Rutherford

A native Tar Heel M. Scott Douglass is Jonathan Rice, origi- Artist, writer, and and long-time resi- the Managing Editor nally from Indiana, musician, Robert dent of Chapel Hill, of Main Street Rag, grew up in Florida, Rutherford has Sara Claytor holds a quarterly literary and later relocated to published poetry and two graduate degrees magazine, and ma- Charlotte, North fiction in over two from UNC-Chapel jority owner of Main Carolina. He re- dozen journals and Hill and has taught Street Rag Publish- ceived his B.A. in anthologies. He has literature, writing, ing Company, which Religious Studies produced The Moon- and public speaking wort Review, a liter- will publish 40 to 50 from UNC-Charlotte in the public schools ary Internet maga- books in 2004— but almost never of North Carolina most of them poetry zine, for over five writes about relig- and California, and collections. His po- years. Michigan ion. His poetry has at Peace College, etry has been nomi- born, Bob attended appeared in numer- NC State University, nated for a Pushcart Eastern Michigan UNC-Chapel Hill, Prize and he re- ous periodicals in- University from and the Duke Uni- ceived a North Caro- cluding: Blue Collar 1972-1976. He has versity Young lina Arts & Science Review, Chiron Re- lived in California Writer’s Camp. A Emerging Artists view, Cold Mountain and Montana and writer of both poetry Grant in 2001 to Review, Comstock now lives in the and fiction, she was publish his third po- Review, Main Street mountains of west- fiction editor three etry collection, Audi- Rag, Powhatan Re- ern North Carolina years for a small tioning For Heaven. view, and Slip- where he and his publishing company In 2003, Douglass stream. He has a wife, Sara Claytor, specializing in mys- published his fourth poetry chapbook en- continue to edit The tery-suspense nov- poetry collection, titled Shooting Pool Moonwort Review. els. Her 90+ publica- Balancing On Two With A Cellist, tions include jour- Wheels. A former (Main Street Rag nals, anthologies, dental technician, he Publishing, 2003). newspapers and has a degree in He is editor and pub- Internet magazines. graphic arts and has lisher of Iodine Po- Currently, she and taught graphic de- etry Journal, found- husband Robert sign at Central Pied- ed in 2000, as well Rutherford live in mont Community as Open Cut, a sum- the NC mountains College. mer broadside. Rice and co-edit The also hosts Poetry Moonwort Review, Open Mike Series at an Internet literary Jackson’s Java. magazine.

Winter 2004 5 North Carolina Poetry Society

MUSE NEWS

NCPS on the move — Greensboro, April 16

The North Carolina Poetry Society is pleased to announce that it is joining with the Greensboro Central Library to sponsor a Poetry Day featuring two exceptional poets. The event will take place on Saturday, April 16 at the Central Library in Greensboro. More information will be available at the Poetry Society meeting in January. Or, contact Janice Sullivan at: [email protected]

Carl Sandburg Poetry Festival — April 2

The NCPS has again been invited to co-sponsor the Carl Sandburg Poetry Celebration. Last year the NCPS donated $100 toward a speaker for the festival and three volunteer judges for the children’s contests. The NCPS board will consider the same request in January.

The Poetry Celebration is scheduled for April 2 at the Carl Sandburg home in Flat Rock. Poetry Alive! plans to be one of the featured performances. So, mark your calen- dar and come to the mountains in the spring!

A Mountain Gathering

Many thanks to all who helped make the second annual Mountain Gathering a success, especially the volunteers: Joan Blessing, Maria Fire, Mary Harris (who came all the way from Summerville, SC), and Ed Seel.

Hal McDonald, head of the Mars Hill English Department, and the entire staff of the dining room went the extra mile to make the day special. The dining staff even brought out hot soup when someone complained about the cool temperature in the room!

Cathy Smith Bowers and John Lane were tremendous and got rave reviews on the evaluations. “It was a total experience that has ignited my muse,” wrote one partici- pant. Of course, the gathering would never have happened if it were not for the support of all who attended. Thanks for making it happen! -- Pat Riviere-Seel

Winter 2004 6 North Carolina Poetry Society

GILBERT-CHAPPELL DISTINGUISHED POET SERIES Walking Into April: April 9, 2005 Barton College, Wilson, NC at the Ragan Writing Center Distinguished Poet: Shelby Stephenson Featured Poets: Cathy Smith Bowers and Al Maginnes

Join us Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Barton College for the third Walking into April Poetry Day, an event sponsored by the North Carolina Poetry Society, Barton College, and the Gilbert-Chappell Dis- tinguished Poet Series. Cathy Smith Bowers and Al Maginnes are this year’s featured poets. Shelby Stephenson is the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet for 2004-2005, and will present the three student poets selected and tutored by him for a year.

Cathy Smith Bowers holds a BA and MAT in English from Winthrop University and is currently Poet-in-Residence at Queen’s University of Charlotte teaching master’s level Creative Writing and undergraduate English courses. She has published three books of poetry: The Love that Ended Yes- terday in Texas, Traveling in Time of Danger, and A Book of Minutes. She has published in numerous journals and received many awards for her literary accomplishments.

Al Maginnes received his BA from East Carolina University and his MFA from the University of Arkansas where he studied with James Whitehead, Heather Ross Miller, and others. Currently he teaches at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. He is the author of three books of poetry: Outside a Tattoo Booth, Taking Up Our Daily Tools, and The Light in Our Houses. His fourth collection is forthcoming.

Shelby Stephenson graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and studied at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a professor of English at UNC-Pembroke and edits Pembroke Magazine, and he received the 2001 North Carolina Award in Literature. Shelby has also received the Zoe Kincaid Brockman Memorial Award and North Carolina Writers’ Network Chap- book Prize. He has an extensive list of publications which includes but is not limited to seven chapbooks and a poetic documentary Plankhouse. He and his wife, Linda, recorded a CD, Hank Williams Tribute.

Cathy will kick off the morning reading from her work and sharing her thoughts on the creative process. Al will follow with selections from his work and discussion of the process of creative writing. Shelby will introduce the students selected for the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet Award. The afternoon will include an open mike, and the entire day will be hosted by the fine people at Barton College in the Sam and Marjorie Ragan Writing Center. Don’t miss a chance to meet these poets and help us build the tradition of Walking into April and our celebration of the written word and the Ragan legacy.

This event is free. Checks for lunch should be made to Barton College for $8.50. Mail your registration and check to: Rebecca Smith, Barton College, Box 5000, Wilson, NC 27893. For more information contact her at 252-399-6364 or at [email protected]

Winter 2004 7 North Carolina Poetry Society WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS

THROUGH THE EYES OF A POET by C. PLEASANTS YORK

When I first joined the Poetry Society in 1996, one of my mentors and muses was Hazel Foster Thomas, a lover of language and a talented poet of the rural way of life. At one meeting of San-Lee Writers, our local writing group in Sanford, she gave me a handwritten list of quotations about poetry. “Here,” she said, “you might need this.” Listed with the other quotations was the famous one from Act 5, Scene 1 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The poet’s eye, in fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven; And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen Turns them into shapes, and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name.

Hazel is no longer with us, but these quotations still remind to not only use the pen of a poet, but also the eye of a poet. To the new members of the North Carolina Society, I also offer these reflections – You might need this.

JEREMY BENNETT- [email protected] DEBORAH L. HOBBS WILLIAMS I am officially retired but work 12421 OLDE FARM CIRCLE 28 LAKESIDE part time at The Annex, a store in LAURINBURG, NC 28352 BUFFTON, SC 29910-8007 Pittsboro. I have a degree in Eng- (910) 276-6336 (843) 757-0101 lish, unused in my career. I live I am a recently retired high school [email protected] on the Rocky River with my hus- English teacher, now working Jeremy Bennett-Williams, a band Bill and various animals. I part-time. Laurinburg residents, ninth-generation North Carolin- have two children and two grand- my husband Wayne and I are ian, was born in Winston-Salem. children, who are the joy of my alumni of St. Andrews. While Educated at The College of Wil- life. I try to treasure each day and working on a committee at the liam and Mary, Bennett-Williams reflect it in my writings with college, we met Greensboro poet recently retired as a curator at thanks to God for it. Marie Gilbert, who encouraged Jefferson’s Monticello to work on me to join the North Carolina his writing. MARY HUTCHINS HARRIS Poetry Society. 123 SUMNERS ALY PATRICIA CLARK SUMMERVILLE, SC 29485 KATHLEEN JOHNSON 6042 WALNUT STREET (843) 821-2086 130 SALEM COURT KANSAS CITY, MO 64113 wordnotes/[email protected] ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27804 (816) 363-8383 (252) 443-2044 [email protected] CYNTHIA HEVER [email protected] I am your old gray rocker 416 FIREFLY ROAD A graduate of Hollins Univer- on the porch HOLLY SPRINGS, NC 27540 sity’s English and Creative Writ- I waltz with Hatteras winter (919) 363-2466 ing Program, Kathleen Johnson winds [email protected] earned a BA on 2000 and an MA One two three back two three I am an English major with a con- in 2001. She is currently working My pen expresses what my lips centration in language, writing on a novel and writing poetry. won’t allow and rhetoric at North Carolina She teaches high school English I am a poet State University. As a student, in Rocky Mount, her hometown I enjoyed studying prose and po- after 30 years in Roanoke and JEAN T. HAYWOOD etry. I am currently working on Lexington, Virginia. 4594 PLEASANT HILL poems that I would like to have CHURCH ROAD published one day. NORTH CAROLINA CEN- SILER CITY, NC 27344 TER FOR THE BOOK (919) 6631830 FRANCES ASHBURN, DIR.

Winter 2004 8 North Carolina Poetry Society 4640 MAIL SERVICE CNTR. thologies and journals including RALEIGH, NC 27699-4640 the new renaissance, Southern (919) 807-7416 Poetry Review, and Light. She is [email protected] the author of two chapbooks, Summer Holds Too Long (Juniper SUSAN LEFLER Press) and recently, Perennial 568 EAST MAIN STREET (Pudding House Press). BREVARD, NC 28712 North Carolina Poetry Society (828) 884-4728 RUTH WINCHESTER WARE Endowment Contributions [email protected] 6 CHARTWELL COURT were recently received from: DURHAM, NC 27703

BARBARA MORAN (919) 957-1512 Ron Bayes 5206 BARNFIELD ROAD [email protected] GREENSBORO, NC 27455 Ruth Winchester Ware, Ph.D., Earl Carlton Huband

(336) 282-0491 grew up in Asheville, and moved Thomas Johnson II to Durham in 2001. She is em- CARLA RODIO ployed as a licensed clinical social Priscilla Webster-Williams 82 DELLWOOD VIEW LN. #3 worker by ValueOptions in RTP.

HENDERSONVILLE, NC Writing interests include poetry Contributions are essential 28791 and creative non-fiction. She has (828) 692-1971 been published in the North Caro- for the continuing growth [email protected] lina Literary Review and The Ur- of the Poetry Society. Mem- After I moved to the mountains of ban Hiker. A paper titled Thomas bers and friends are asked to North Carolina, poems came to Wolf’s Grover-Story: Journey give generously and as often as me. The beauty of the area nour- Through Grief to Resolution has you can. ished my senses. Seeing a land- been accepted for the 2005 scape bathed in the glow of moon- Thomas Wolfe Review. When making a donation, you shine or watching two yellow but- may designate a particular terflies flit at round blooming dan- PATRICE U. WEBER area that you want to support, delions have stirred my creativity. PO BOX 177 or you may DENVER, NC 28037 contribute to the general fund. SUE SPIRIT (704) 483-7000 If not otherwise specified, 10055 KLINE ROAD all contributions given will be WEST SALEM, OH 44287 ERIC WEIL deposited to the Program (419) 853-4892 505 ST. ANDREWS COURT Endowment Fund. [email protected] RALEIGH, NC 28615 Sue Spirit journals and writes po- (919) 870-6083 etry and essays about nature and Please make your check pay- spirituality. She likes hiking. kay- SUSAN T. WON able to NCPS and send to: aking. backpacking, traveling, 319 MORRISON AVENUE

genealogy, vegetarian cooking, RALEIGH, NC 27608 Kay Cheshire and reading. She has a women’s (919) 833-7586 retreat center, Degrees of Free- [email protected] 5410 Chatfield Square dom, in Ohio, and a cabin in the I am a newly retired teacher (sixth Greensboro, NC 27410 North Carolina mountains. grade Language Arts). I began writing poems right after my fifti- LESLIE C. TOMKINS eth birthday to help me remember 1532 PROVIDENCE DRIVE the past and get beyond meno- CHARLOTTE, NC 28211 pause and empty nest syndrome! Leslie C. Tompkins taught writing I love the process of writing at Central Piedmont Community almost more than the result. College. She has appeared in an-

Winter 2004 9 North Carolina Poetry Society 2005 POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST The deadline for entering poems in the 2005 Poetry Society Contest is January 10. See guidelines for the Adult and Student Contests elsewhere in this issue.

Contest Design

The North Carolina Poetry Society sponsors a “blind” contest, meaning that the judges, all of whom live outside North Carolina, receive no identifying information about the authors; the judges see only the poem-entries. Long before contest entries are sent to the judges, the Coor- dinators of the Contest Judges have found highly qualified poets to judge the Poetry Society’s annual awards. Each contest has one judge, except the Poet Laureate Award, which has two: a Preliminary Judge who selects 10 poems from the total entered in the contest, and the final judge (usually the North Carolina Poet Laureate), who selects one of the ten for the Poetry So- ciety’s Poet Laureate Award.

2005 NCPS ADULT CONTEST JUDGES

Michelle Boisseau has published three books of poetry: Trembling Air (Arkansas 2003), Understory (Northeastern U. Press 1996, winner of Samuel French Morse Poetry Award), and No Private Life (Vanderbilt University Press 1990). She is author of the college text, Writing Poems, and has received grants from the NEA, the Kentucky Arts Council, the Lucille Med- wick Award and the Cecil Hemley Award from the Poetry Society of America. She is a professor of English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. (Poetry of Love Award)

Debbie Daniel was the SC Arts Commission Fellow in Poetry in 1993-94 and named first al- ternate for 2004. She has won fellowships in both poetry and fiction from the South Carolina (SC) Academy of Authors and is a six-time SC Fiction Project winner. She has won numerous prizes from the Poetry Society of SC. From The Southern Poetry Review, she was awarded the Guy Owen Prize. Her work has appeared in Tar River, Gargoyle, Southern Poetry Review, The Charleston Post and Courier, The State Newspaper, and Inheritance. (Katherine Ken- nedy McIntyre Light Verse Award)

Claudia Emerson’s first book of poems, Pharaoh, Pharaoh (1997) was published as part of Louisiana State University Press’s series, Southern Messenger Poets; Pinion, An Elegy (2002) and Late Wife (forthcoming) are also part of the series. She has been awarded fellowships from the NEA, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She earned her MFA at UNC- Greensboro, where she was poetry editor for The Greensboro Review. She is Associate Profes- sor of English at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA. (Mary Ruffin Poole Heritage Award; includes nature poetry)

Rhina Espaillat is the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently The Shadow I Dress In (David Robert Books, 2004), winner of the Stanzas Prize. Other collections include: Where Horizons Go (Truman State U. Press, 1998), winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize; and Rehearsing Absence (U. of Evansville Press, 2001), recipient of the Richard Wilbur Award. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she writes poetry in both English and her native Spanish. Her poems have appeared in The Lyric, Poetry, Sparrow, Orbis, The Formalist, and The American Scholar. She lives with her husband in Newburyport, MA, where she directs the Powow River Poets. (Joanna Catherine Scott Award; poetry in form)

Winter 2004 10 North Carolina Poetry Society

Ann Fisher-Wirth is the author of Blue Window (Archer Books, 2003) and The Trinket Po- ems, which was runner-up in the 2003 Quentin R. Howard Poetry Chapbook Competition. In 2004 she received the Poetry Award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters, and a Poetry Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission. A Professor of English at the Uni- versity of Mississippi, Ann has taught as a senior Fulbright lecturer at the University of Fri- bourg, Switzerland, and as a Fulbright Distinguished Chair at Uppsala University, Sweden. (Preliminary Poet Laureate Award)

James Harms is the author of four books of poetry from Carnegie Mellon University Press, Freeways and Aqueducts (2004), Quarters (2001), The Joy Addict (1998) and Modern Ocean (1992), as well as a limited edition, letterpress volume, East of Avalon (Caddis Case Press, 2000). He has received fellowships from John Ciardi, Bread Loaf, the West Virginia Commis- sion on the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, as well as two Pushcart Prizes and the Academy of American Poets Prize. He lives with his family in Morgantown, WV, where he directs the creative writing program at West Virginia University and the West Virginia Writers' Workshop. (Lyman Haiku Award)

Bob Hicok's most recent book is Insomnia Diary (Pitt, 2004). His other books include: Ani- mal Soul (Invisible Cities Press, 2001), a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; The Legend of Light (Wisconsin, 1995), winner of the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry; and Plus Shipping: Poems (Boa Editions, 1998). He is an Associate Professor on the MFA faculty at VPI in Blacksburg, VA. (Thomas H. McDill Award; poem any form)

Lee Bennett Hopkins is the author of several books of poetry for children, including A Pet for Me, Good Books, Good Times!, Good Rhymes, Good Times, Hoofbeats, Claws & Rippled Fins, Lives: Poems About Famous Americans, Pass the Poetry, Please!, Sports! Sports! Sports!, Sur- prises, and Weather: Poems for All Seasons. His awards and honors include the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for “lasting contributions to children's literature,” the Key- stone State Author of the Year Award, four American Library Association Notable Book Awards, the Christopher Award, and a Golden Kite Honor Award. (Caldwell Nixon Jr. Award; poems for children 2-12)

Sherod Santos is the author of five books of poetry: The Perishing (W.W. Norton, 2003), The Pilot Star Elegies (W. W. Norton, 1999), The City of Women (W. W. Norton, 1993), The Southern Reaches (Wesleyan, 1989), Accidental Weather (Doubleday, 1982); and a book of literary essays, A Poetry of Two Minds (University of Georgia Press, 2000). His awards include the Theodore Roethke Poetry Prize, the Delmore Schwartz Memorial Award, the Dis- covery/The Nation Award, the Oscar Blumenthal Prize from Poetry magazine, two Pushcart Prizes. Recipient of Ingram Merrill and Guggenheim fellowships; awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, and for Literary Excellence from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, he is a professor of English at the University of Missouri, Columbia. (Poetry of Cour- age Award)

Bios for the judges of the 2005 Poet Laureate Award and the Student Contests were not available as this newsletter went to press.

Winter 2004 11 North Carolina Poetry Society

THE 2005 NORTH CAROLINA POETRY SOCIETY

POET LAUREATE AND ADULT CONTEST AWARDS

Deadline for Receipt: January 10, 2005

ADULT CONTEST AWARD CATEGORIES 1-8 RULES

For category 1: First Place: $50; Second Place: $25; Third Place: $15; 1. Submit ONLY ONE POEM PER and Three Honorable Mentions. CONTEST CATEGORY. THE SAME POEM MAY NOT BE ENTERED INTO 1. THOMAS H. McDILL AWARD—Any form, any style, MAXIMUM OF 60 LINES. MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY. A contestant may not enter a category in which he For categories 2-8: First Place: $25; Second Place: $15; Third Place: or she won first place in 2004. This also $10; and Three Honorable Mentions. applies to contests that have been renamed.

2. CALDWELL NIXON JR. AWARD—Poems written by adults for children 2 to 2. Each entry must be original, unpublished, 12 years of age; any form, any style, MAXIMUM OF 32 LINES. and not currently submitted to any other contest or publication. 3. JOANNA CATHERINE SCOTT AWARD—Sonnet or other traditional form. SESTINAS ONLY may have a maximum of 39 lines. Other forms, MAXIMUM OF 32 3. For each poem submitted, send two copies LINES. typed or computer-printed on one side only of standard 8½-by-11 inch paper. Clear photo- Any form, any style, on the 4. MARY RUFFIN POOLE HERITAGE AWARD— copies are acceptable. theme of American heritage, brotherhood/sisterhood, or nature, MAXIMUM OF 32 LINES. 4. On both copies put the name of the 5. KATHERINE KENNEDY MCINTYRE LIGHT VERSE AWARD—Any category in the upper left corner. On the form, any style, including limericks or light verse, MAXIMUM OF 32 LINES. duplicate copy only, type the author’s name, 6. LYMAN HAIKU AWARD—Haiku, three lines. address, and phone number in the upper right corner. Nonmembers of the NCPS should also 7. POETRY OF COURAGE AWARD—Any form, any style, on the theme of courage type “Nonmember.” or crisis, MAXIMUM OF 32 LINES. 5. Winning poems will be published in an 8. POETRY OF LOVE AWARD—Any form, any style, on the theme of love, anthology, and winners will be contacted MAXIMUM OF 32 LINES. regarding permission for possible posting of their poems as “Poem of the Month” on the ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR CATEGORIES 1-8 ABOVE: NCPS Web site at www.sleepycreek.org/poetry. No entry fee is required if your NCPS membership is active as of December 6. Entries must reach the contest chair by 1, 2004. Otherwise, the fee is $3 for each poem entered. Poets do not have to January 10, 2005, as follows: be residents of North Carolina.

Lee Ann Gillen POET LAUREATE AWARD 220 N. East Street Raleigh, NC 27601

Open to poets currently residing in North Carolina. A single prize of $100 for a serious poem, any subject, any style—MAXIMUM OF 7. All requests for additional information must 100 LINES. be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Entry fee: $5 for NCPS member, $10 for nonmember All checks should be made payable to the 8. North Carolina Poetry Society.

GENERAL INFORMATION 9. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with all entries. The North Carolina Poetry Society retains first publication rights for all poems that win awards. Winning poems will be published in an anthology, Pinesong, 10. Note: All submissions must conform to after which publication rights will be returned to the authors. Contest winners the rules above. Incorrect entries will be will receive one copy of Pinesong and will be invited to read their winning returned IF a SASE is enclosed with the poem(s) at the Poetry Society Awards Day meeting in Southern Pines on May submission, and IF time permits, they may be 21, 2005. Contest results will be submitted to newspapers after Awards Day. resubmitted before the deadline. SASEs for Winners will be notified by mail no later than March 21, 2005. If you wish to correct submissions will be held to send entrants a list of winners. receive a list of winners (to be mailed just after the Awards Day meeting in

May), enclose a SASE with your entry. Additional copies of the rules may be NCPS membership questions should go to: obtained at the NCPS Web site: Guy and Carolyn York Winter 2004 www.sleepycreek.org/poetry (primary 12 site) North Carolina315 PoetryN. Steele Society Street www.sleepycreek.net/poetry (backup site) Sanford, NC 27330 North Carolina Poetry Society 2005 STUDENT POETRY CONTEST For Grades 3 Through Undergraduate Deadline for Receipt: January 10, 2005

1. Grades 3-5: Travis Tuck Jordan Award You may submit one poem for each category. 2. Send two typed copies of each poem on 8½-by-11 paper. Grades 3-8: Frances W. Phillips Award—the Environment 3. In the upper left corner of each copy, type the name of the Grades 6-8: Mary Chilton Award award category you are entering. Do not put your name or

Grades 9+: Sherry Pruitt Award address on these copies. 4. On a separate piece of paper type or print Grades 9+: Lyman Haiku Award • the name of the category and the title of the All poems except the Lyman Haiku entries may be in any form poem you are entering in that category but must have no more than 32 lines per poem. • your name, your home address and zip

Winners will be notified in March and will be invited to the code, and your phone number May 21, 2005, Awards Day meeting at the Weymouth Center • the name of your school, your grade, your for the Arts & Humanities in Southern Pines. No copies will be school address & telephone number, and returned. the name of your teacher

Prizes: 5. Your teacher must sign the paper (see item 4 above). First place: trophy, certificate, $25 6. You must also sign the paper and write, “I pledge Second place: certificate, $15 that this is my original poem.” Third place: certificate, $10 Honorable mention: certificate Send $2 per poem to help cover expenses. Checks should be made payable to NCPS.

Winning poems will be published in an anthology; and poets Mail entries to: will be contacted regarding permission for possible posting of winning poems on the NCPS Web site, www.sleepycreek.org/ Margaret Parrish poetry. All winners will receive a copy of Pinesong, the Poetry 1109 Mordecai Drive Society’s 2005 anthology. Raleigh, NC 27604

BROCKMAN-CAMPBELL BOOK AWARD

Postmark Deadline: May 6, 2005

● The contest is open to poets who published a book-length ● The winner will be given a $150 cash prize and a silver volume of poetry in 2004. Entrants must be native-born North Revere bowl. Book sales and a signing will also occur at a recep- Carolinians or current residents who have lived in the state for tion at the Poetry Society’s meeting on September 17, 2005. at least three years at the time of the book’s publication.

● To be considered, a book must be a first edition by a single Each submission should include the following: one copy of the author, and it must contain more than 20 pages of poetry. book, a brief biographical sketch of the author, a stamped Anthologies are not acceptable. The entry may be submitted by postcard (for acknowledging receipt of the book), and a business- the poet or the book publisher. The book must have a 2004 sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope for the announcement of the winner. copyright date, or the publisher must certify the copyright date by letter. Entry fee: The fee for non-members of the North Carolina Poetry

● An entry containing poems included in a previous volume Society is $10. (Please make checks payable to North Carolina that won the Brockman-Campbell Book Award is not eligible. Poetry Society.) Members of the Poetry Society pay no entry fee.

● The Brockman-Campbell winner will be notified by July Mail entries to: 14, 2005, and will be invited to read at the North Carolina Poetry Society fall meeting, to be held September 17, 2005, at Sara Claytor the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities in Southern 1160 Buckeye Road Pines . Elk Park, NC 28622 Winter 2004 13 North Carolina Poetry Society MORE MUSE NEWS POETRY COUNCIL of NORTH CAROLINA 2005 CONTEST

The Poetry Council of North Carolina will open its annual Bay Leaves contest January 15, 2005. Categories include traditional form poetry, sonnets, free verse with a focus on famil- ial influences, and free verse with fewer than 32 lines. There are also categories for elementary, middle, and high school young people, as well as college students. In addition, the Oscar Arnold Young category for the best book of poetry published in 2004 will be open for submission. The Bay Leaves contest will close May 15. For guidelines, contact Contest Co- ordinator Nancy Adams at 298 Grayson Drive, Salisbury, NC, 28146 or at [email protected]

The Moonwort Review IODINE POETRY JOURNAL The electronic Internet literary journal, The Moon- PO BOX 18548 wort Review, is planning a special North Carolina Charlotte, NC 28218-0548 poets only issue for the Spring 2005 quarter. Send one to three poems (40 lines maximum per poem). Seeking quality poetry, Deadline is March 1, 2005. preferably no longer than 40 lines

We prefer e-mail submissions (no attachments). Send Only unpublished work email submissions to: No simultaneous submissions [email protected]. However, Send 3-5 poems submissions via US mail should be sent with SASE to: Editor, The Moonwort Review, 1160 Buckeye www.iodinepoetryjournal.com Rd., Elk Park, NC 28622.

The Fourth Annual Support North Carolina Main Street Rag publishers of poetry Poetry Book Award by subscribing contest deadline is to their journals. January 31, 2005 Support your local independent Keith Flynn, editor bookstores. of the Asheville Poetry Review is serving as final judge Support the NCPS. We are an all-volunteer organization and Details can be found at the MSR website: need your time, talents, ideas, www.MainStreetRag.com donations, and volunteer effort.

Winter 2004 14 North Carolina Poetry Society KUDOS ! Send your poetry publishing news to the Corresponding Secretary. When submitting via e-mail, put “Kudos” in the subject line.

Luther Stirewait recently published Auto- Gail Peck’s new book, Thirst, is available graphiti, “poems copied from many years of from Main Street Rag Bookstore at writing on the walls of my heart and mind.” www.MainStreetRag.com/store or from Available at Brick Alley Book Store, Hills- Parnassus Book Distributors, 200 Academy borough, or from the author by sending $4.95 Way, Columbia, SC 29206. Telephone: to Luther Stirewait, 2601 Shadetree Road, 1-800-782-7760. $14 plus $1.50 for postage. Hillsborough NC 27278.

“For William, Who Lived Twelve Hours,” by Janice Fuller, was featured on-line at Verse Daily. From Fuller’s recently pub- * lished book, Sex Education (Iris Press), the In the best poems, the craft and the structure poem can been found in the Archive section are seamless and not even noticed except by at www.versedaily.com the most careful and close readers. So too the structure in organizations is just as im- Susan Meyers has been appointed as the portant – but not always readily apparent. 2004-05 poet-in-residence at the Gibbes The By-Laws and Constitution Revision Museum of Art in Charleston, SC. Committee has been one of the hardest working – yet largely unseen – committees No Turning Back Now, Pat Riviere-Seel’s of NCPS. Dave Manning, chair, along with first collection of poetry has been nominated committee members Sharon Sharp, Janice for a Pushcart Prize by Finishing Line Press. Sullivan and ex-officio member Susan The manuscript was a finalist in Finishing Meyers have spent many long hours updat- Line’s “New Women’s Voices” contest and ing these two documents that give structure the chapbook was published in August 2004. to NCPS.

Bud Caywood recently received a literary They presented their preliminary revisions to award from The Writer's Workshop of Ashe- the NCPS board in September and have been ville for his prose-poem "Crossroads." He working ever since incorporating changes also has published TOMATO, his fifth poetry suggested by officers and committee chairs. chapbook. Copies are available for $8. Con- The proposed revisions more accurately re- tact: [email protected] flect how NCPS is doing business and pro- vides for a easy access to NCPS policies and Brenda Kay Ledford’s poems appeared in procedures. Thank you, Dave, Sharon, Janice Mohave, Ascent Aspirations, Fullosia Press, and Susan for all your diligent and careful Dufus, and work is upcoming in Ideals. She work! read her poetry at the John C. Campbell Folk School and over Wolf Creek Broadcasting (WLSB 1400 AM). *

Winter 2004 15 North Carolina Poetry Society Board members & committee chairs North Carolina Poetry Society is an all-volunteer organization

President Treasurer Pinesong Editors North Carolina Poetry Society Bill Griffin Ann D. Garbett Joanne Nelson Organized in Charlotte – 1932 131 Bon Aire Rd. 931 Green Street Celisa Steele Elkin, NC 28621 Danville, VA 24541 Pinesong Dedication Meetings: The Poetry Society holds (336) 835-7598 (434)797-5770 Marylin Hervieux regular meetings the third Saturday [email protected] [email protected] of January, May, and September. A Book Citations day of poetry and programs is held 1st Vice President, Programs COMMITTEE CHAIRS Rebecca Pierre from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Society Pat Riviere-Seel Publicity (910) 278-9232 also sponsors the Sam Ragan Poetry 107 Maple Drive Kathy Ackerman [email protected] Festival on the third Saturday in Asheville, NC 28805 6611 White Mist Lane June each year. All meetings are held (828)298-5413 Charlotte, NC 28269 Gilbert-Chappell at Weymouth Center for the Arts & [email protected] Distinguished Poet Series Humanities, 555 East Connecticut (704) 948-0629 nd [email protected] Bill Blackley, Chair Avenue, Southern Pines. 2 VP, Student Contests 105 Knollwood Drive Margaret Parrish Long-range Planning Elkin, NC 28621 Newsletter: The Poetry Society newsletter is published three times a 1109 Mordecai Drive Mary Santiago (336) 835-4630 year, in April, August, and December. Raleigh, NC 27604 Elon University, Elon NC 27244 [email protected] (919) 828-6348 (336) 278-5526 Deadlines for article submissions are [email protected] Book Sales & Promotion the first day of March, July, and Poet Laureate Award November. Direct submissions to the 3rd Vice President, Membership Mollie Carlin & Adult Contests (910) 693-1605 Corresponding Secretary. Guy and Carolyn York Lee Ann Gillen 315 North Steele St. [email protected] Membership: Rates are Student $10, 220 N. East Street and Sanford, NC 27330 Raleigh, NC 27601 Regular $25, Lifetime $400. Any (919) 776-7525 Penny O’Donnell interested person may join. Dues are (919) 856-0210 (910) 692-6408 [email protected] [email protected] payable when joining and in May [email protected] each year. New members joining after Recording Secretary December 1 but before May 1 will be Sue Farlow Coordinators of 2005 Workshops counted as if they joined in May, and 5634 Mack Lineberry Road Contest Judges Gail Williamson they will not need to renew their Climax, NC 27233 Adult Contests: 118 Ford Street membership until May of the following (336) 685-7006 Carolyn Norris Thomasville, NC 27360 renewal year. Please send membership [email protected] Student Contests: (336) 472-5759 Joy Acey Frelinger [email protected] checks (payable to NCPS) to Guy and

Corresponding Secretary/ Carolyn York, 315 North Steele St., Program Endowment Sanford, NC 27330. Newsletter Editor Brockman-Campbell Lois R. Wistrand Priscilla Webster-Williams Book Award [email protected] Are you moving? Sara Claytor, Chair 1160 Buckeye Rd. Webmasters Don’t forget to update your Members At Large Elk Park, NC 28622 Ray Dotson — address and phone number with Carolyn Norris (828) 297-5197 [email protected] Guy and Carolyn York Joann Bishop [email protected] (address above). Earl Huband — [email protected]

FIRST CLASS NCPS Corresponding Secretary POSTAGE Priscilla Webster-Williams 6543 New Market Way Raleigh, NC 27615

356 members as of November, 2004 Important Dates

January 10—NCPS Contest deadline

January 15—NCPS Winter Meeting at Weymouth, in Southern Pines

Jan. 15 —Poetry Council contest opens

April 2—NCPS/Carl Sandberg Festival

April 9—NCPS/Barton College, Wilson

April 16—NCPS at Greensboro Library

Other events/opportunities, inside

VisitWinter our Web 2004 site, www.sleepycreek.org/poetry , maintained 16 by webmasters Ray Dotson North and Carolina Earl Huband Poetry Society