NC Poetry Society Spring 2003

Spring meeting Pinesong Saturday, May 17

Weymouth Center, Southern Pines

Debut Edition

9:15 Registration, and pay for lunch by Rebecca J. Mitchell Please make time to express to them,

their parents, and teachers the recog- Imagine a day when first-time and 10:00 Business meeting, installation nition they deserve. of 2003 officers (see p. 6) well-seasoned poets alike come to- gether in a magnificent setting to read Lunch

10:15 Pinesong dedication their work. May 17 is the NCPS An- A catered lunch (see p. 2), for those nual Awards Day at the Weymouth who have made reservations, will be Center for the Arts & Humanities in served at noon. Or you may bring 10:30 Poet Laureate, McDill, Southern Pines, a celebration to honor your own. Lunch is a good time to and student contest awards winners in a variety of categories— check out the book room and the nine adult and five student contests. journal swap, browse the Weymouth Noon Box lunch ($8.50, see p. 2) Awards Day is traditionally the high- gardens and sit a few moments on or bring your own light of the year and this year is par- the new Gladys Owings Hughes me- ticularly notable with the debut edi- morial bench. The afternoon session

tion of Pinesong (see p. 9). Each win- will be a presentation of the remain- 1:15 Adult contest awards ner will receive one copy, along with ing adult awards. Plan to come and a certificate of recognition, and with be a part of this special day. some awards, a monetary prize. Cop- Making it all work THE NEWS INSIDE ies of Pinesong will be available for

Please note the names of the board $9 each—dues-paid members may 2 President’s message pick up one free copy. members and committee chairs. Many hours of behind-the-scenes 3 SRPF, and a new Mars Hill festival Dedication work are required to issue the news- 4 Welcome, new members The 2003 Pinesong dedication letter, coordinate the contest, publish (immediately following a short busi- Pinesong, manage the membership 5 National Poetry Month events: ness meeting) honors a Poetry Society and the finances, maintain the Web Wilson, Elon, Flat Rock member who has devoted years of pages, set up programs, and more. If 6 Program Endowment Campaign generous service, inspired great inter- you’re motivated to join the fray and The 2003 officers est in the study of poetry, and nurtured take up a task, please let us know. novice poets. 7 Kudos! Restoring our home Morning awards Consider, too, Weymouth—this 8 Change in Editors We complete the morning program beautiful place that NCPS calls New LINKS page with the Poet Laureate, McDill, and “home.” Much restoration has been student contests awards. It’s always 9 Naming Pinesong completed recently, but maintenance encouraging to see the enthusiasm of of the house and grounds is a perpet- Poetry: Elkin, Pine Knoll Shores the students and the quality of their ual responsibility. Please pick up a 10 Student contests and book award work. What an honor it is for them to brochure and learn what you can do have their poems selected by eminent to show appreciation and concern for 11 PCNC 2003 contests judges and published in a handsome the future of this historic property 12 Officers and committee chairs volume along with established poets. and its spirit.

April 1, 2003 1 Poetry Society PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: plant your poems, spring is near! by Bill Blackley NCPS-sponsored events on April 12 A new project taking shape

may want to register for the Carl The board is also working on a poetry Hi, all! I trust you’ve had enough ice Sandburg celebration occurring in proposal involving Marie Gilbert and and snow for this year. A wonderful Flat Rock on the same day (see de- that promises to offer spring is near, so get your spinach, let- tails, p. 5). Later this year, an NCPS- exciting poetry opportunities in North tuce, and poems out, and plant them. sponsored poetry event is scheduled Carolina for the future. More news will January redux for Mars Hill on October 12, 2003. be forthcoming about the projects as Pat Riviere-Seel, Ed Seel, Shontel For those who were not at the January they take shape. Jung, Rachelle Rogers, Kathryn meeting we had a delightful time. Alan Stripling Byer, and Keith Flynn are Teaching poetry in NC Michael Parker talked about meta- planning this program. Both the Wil- Offering a variety of poetry events is phors and links between words in po- son and Mars Hill events will be a visible mission of our Poetry Society, etry, and Fred Chappell read and Weymouth-type meetings of the Po- but we also have another important talked in his inimitable style. Leon etry Society—and be closer to home mission: to encourage the reading, Hinton, Becky Mitchell (for Sharon for our eastern and western members. writing, and enjoyment of poetry Sharp), Marsha Warren, Ellen Johns- among young students in North Caro- ton-Hale, Annella Rockson, Joy Acey Awards Day lina. I am happy to report that Libby Frelinger, and David Hughes all spoke Our awards day on May 17 is just Campbell, Caren Stuart, and Janice in memory of Gladys Owings Hughes around the corner. If you have a win- Sullivan are working on lesson plans as we dedicated a teak garden bench in ning poem—congratulations—and for teaching poetry in North Carolina her honor on the grounds of Weymouth. please come to Weymouth to read schools. When the plans are com- Marshal Berg, President of Friends of your poem. If you did not win, please pleted, they will be made available to Weymouth, graciously thanked the Po- attend the meeting to hear both the schools so that teachers, or volunteers, etry Council of North Carolina, and adult and student contest winners may use the plans to introduce poetry NCPS, for the donation of the bench. read. Thanks are due to John Ferree to young students. Poetry in April (Adult Contest Chair) and Libby nd Campbell (2 Vice President for Stu- I hope to see you soon at a poetry April is National Poetry Month. The dent Contests) for the great job they event near you! good news about April is that several have done this year with the difficult poetry events are available for you to task of running the contests. attend. The bad news is that both Poetry SRPF MAY 17 LUNCH Day at Elon University, and the poetry workshop at Barton College occur on We are deep into our planning for INSTRUCTIONS the same day: Saturday, April 12! This the Poetry Festival on is an unfortunate overlap, but please June 28. I hope all of you will come Nature’s Own will provide a box lunch plan to attend one of the events. Janice and join us for a day of festivities, for $8.50 (tax included)

Sullivan and Leon Hinton have music, friendship, and poetry. In re- worked hard to coordinate NCPS sup- sponse to your requests following last To make your reservation, e-mail port for the long-running Poetry Day at year’s festival, much more time for [email protected], or call Re- Elon. This event will feature a work- open mike is planned, along with becca J. Mitchell at 843-335-6676. shop by Mark Smith-Soto: and Elon other entertainment. Stephen Smith Specify your selection of chicken, students will read their winning poems is playing, and tuna, turkey, or vegetarian. Sweet from Colonnades, the literary and arts hopes to join us. Emily Hancock and iced tea is included. Make your check journal of Elon University. The Wilson her old-time band will play during payable to Eclectic 195 (NOT the event at Barton College is happening lunch. Keith Flynn, poet and found- Poetry Society). Send your check to because of the vision, hard work, and ing editor of the Asheville Poetry Re- Rebecca at: 4379 Union Church program input of Nancy King, Katie view, will be a guest reader/musician; Rd., McBee, SC 29101. Advance Barnes, Becky Smith, Marty Silver- and Jaki Shelton Green will also payment is preferred, but you may thorne, Gerald Barrax, and Sally read. We hope John Ferree will play pay (by check or cash) at registration Buckner. Thank you, all. and sing as well. If you would like to the day of the meeting. We must have an estimate of the number and selec- Poetry in western NC sing, play, or read a special poem, please contact Becky Mitchell or me. tions in advance, so please make Members in the western part of North your reservation by May 5. Carolina who cannot attend one of the

April 1, 2003 2 North Carolina Poetry Society

Mark your calendar for two special events!

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JUNE 28 Sam Ragan Poetry Festival

by Bill Blackley

Plan for a great time at Weymouth on June 28. Celebrate friendships and make new ones at the Sam Ragan Poetry Fes- tival. Bring your poems to read, guitars to strum, and voices to sing. Keith Flynn, poet/musician/editor of the Asheville Poetry Review, will be one of our featured readers. His publications include The Talking Drum, The Book of Monsters, and The Lost Sea. Also featured will be Jaki Shelton Green, a poet and teacher from Mebane. Her publications include Dead on Arrival and Conjure Blues. Emily Hancock and her old time band, John Ferree, Stephen Smith, and possibly Shelby Stephenson will be playing and singing. So bring your spoons, harps, banjos, guitars, voices, and whatever else to make a joyful noise for poetry. There will be plenty of time available for our members to participate in the festival and to read at open mike.

Please contact Becky Mitchell or Bill Blackley (see back page) if you have musical talents or a reading you want to present. A complete schedule of events has not been finalized, so a few surprises could be in store for your poetry enter- tainment!

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OCTOBER 11 Mars Hill Poetry Festival

by Pat Riviere-Seel

Enjoy a day of poetry, music, and fall color on Saturday, October 11 in the mountains of Western North Carolina. In conjunction with Mars Hill College, the Poetry Society is sponsoring a special meeting designed to increase NCPS bene- fits to poets in the far western part of the state. The all-day event will be held on the campus of Mars Hill College. There will be no charge, and the public is invited.

Poets Keith Flynn, founder and managing editor of The Asheville Poetry Review, and , the re- cipient of the 2001 North Carolina Award in Literature, will present the program and a reading from their works. Festivi- ties will include mountain music and an open mike (one poem per person, limited to no more than one page).

Enjoy a catered bag lunch or bring your own. If you want a bag lunch, you must make reservations and payment by Oc- tober 1. All checks must be made out to Mars Hill College – Events Planning and sent to Ed Seel at 107 Maple Drive, Asheville, NC 28805. You may e-mail or call Ed Seel to make your reservation (see below).

There are numerous motels and bed and breakfasts in the area, but all fill up quickly for the fall leaf season. The com- mittee is working with area motels to secure a block of rooms for that weekend, but if you’re thinking about attending, make your reservations early! One motel in Mars Hill (Exit 11 Highway 19/23) is the Comfort Inn (828) 689-9000.

Look for more details about the event on the NCPS Web site and in the August newsletter.

For more information contact

Pat Riviere-Seel or Ed Seel at: [email protected], phone (828) 298-5413

or Rachelle Rogers at: [email protected], phone (828) 252-2143

April 1, 2003 3 North Carolina Poetry Society

M. LUCILE HENDRICKS • 1863 Barnard who was recently married. WELCOME Road • Marshall, NC 28753 • (828) 649-9687 • DIANA RENFRO • 616 Mt. Vernon Ave- [email protected] • Born in 1937, new members! nue • Charlotte, NC 28203 • (704) 334-5956 • Lucile began writing poetry while in her 50s. [email protected] • Diana writes about She and her husband recently retired and moved women, their relationships, and families in New members joining between November from Six Mile, SC. She has many interests, in- conflict. “Missing,” a short story, was pub- 1, 2002 and March 1, 2003. cluding writing competitions and serious writ- lished in 2001 in Racing Home: New Stories ers’ groups. In 2002, she won one state and By Award-Winning North Carolina Writers. JAN BAILEY • 205 McCuen Street • three local awards. She has completed a novel, Spanish Doors, Greenville, SC 29605 • (864) 370-2359 JAN ZALESKI HILTON • 1005 Marilyn which is represented by Sally Hill McMillan BUD CAYWOOD • 3869 HWY 127 South • Drive • Raleigh, NC 27607 • janzhilton@yahoo. and Associates Literary Agency. Hickory, NC 28602 • (828) 294-1157 • cay- com • Jan has a BA in English from San Jose REBECCA TROYER ROBBINS • 3740 [email protected] • Bud studied furni- State University and an MA from San Francisco Exeter Lane • Bloomington, IN 47408 • (812) ture design at Randolph Community College State University. She has published in Poetry 332-2219 • [email protected] • in Asheboro. He is a freelance furniture- Northwest, Bastard Angel, Samisdat, and This Rebecca was born in Raleigh and graduated design consultant who has been creating art Woman’s Work. She has taught at SJSU, Foot- from Broughton High School in 1978. She and literature for more than thirty years. He is hill Community College, NCSU, and Campbell received her undergraduate degree with high the recipient of many design, literary, and art University. honors from the Indiana University School of awards. His has many poems published, in- cluding his first book of poetry in 2001. DIANNA CHRISTY HOLLER • 4712 Wade- Music, and she graduated magna cum laude Stedman Road • Wade, NC 28395 • (910) 829- from the Indiana University of Law in 1984. SCOTT COVINGTON • PO Box 208 • Star, 9180 • [email protected] • Dianna is from She practiced law in Bloomington, Indiana, for NC 27356 • (910) 428-1550 • hk27356@ Pennsylvania and has lived in NC for sixteen fifteen years before pursuing a career as a yahoo.com years. She has four grown children and six writer.

grandchildren. She is a published poet who FAYE VESTER DOZIER • 600 Eleanor LANE F. SCHROEDER • 919 Potomac Dr. • Street • Greenville, NC 27858 • (252) 756- strives for simplicity in both life and verse. Chocowinity, NC 27817 • 948-0682 • Lane’s 6534 • [email protected] • Faye is a PAUL T. KEMMERLING • Box 1571 5013 hometown is Bailey. She received a BA from retired educator who enjoys writing, reading, Links Drive • Nags Head, NC 27959 • (252) in 1961. In 1962, she married and gardening. She is actively involved in 480-1008 • [email protected] • Paul, a retired Frederic J. Schroeder. She is an NC realtor writers’ groups in Greenville and is a member Air Force command pilot and university profes- (inactive) with two daughters and four grand- of Southeastern Writers’ Association, South sor, moved to the Outer Banks seven years ago sons. During Fred’s career, they resided in Carolina Writers’ Workshop, and the North where he has devoted his efforts to the writing eight states. She is exploring writing as a re- Carolina Writers’ Network. She has pub- of song lyrics, children’s stories, and poetry. cent member of the Pamlico Writers Group. lished articles in Quill and Purple Pros, and she has won the Dickens Award for South- BETTY L. KLAUBER • 218 Edisto Court • CHELSEA STOWE • #5 Terri Drive • Ashe- eastern Writers’ Association. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 • (919) 967-2631 • ville, NC 28804 • (828) 645-9698 • [email protected] • Betty recently [email protected] • Chelsea is a th MARY GARRIGAN • 402 30 Street • Sun- moved from Massachusetts with her husband of student member. set Beach, NC 28468 • MaryGarrigan@ 40 years. Retired, she is an early childhood edu- GYPSY TRAVIS • 121 Gypsy Drive • States- yahoo.com • Mary moved with her parents cator, the grandmother of a precious baby girl, ville, NC 28677 • (704) 873-5386 • Gyp- from Connecticut to Sunset Beach in 2002, Natalie, and a very new poet. [email protected] • The note from Gypsy said, where she attends Coastal Carolina Univer- sity. She hopes to teach in a grammar school. DIANNE MESERVE • PO Box 1171 • “I’m a previous member of NCPS backslidden Her mentor is Clifford Saunders of CCU, Mooresville, NC 28115 • (828) 478-9035 • for nearly 10 years. I was published way back [email protected] • Dianne was born and then. I want to be back in the family!” who commented favorably on her poetry. raised in central Maine. A newcomer to NC, VALERIE J. WEBER • PO Box 10141 • NANCY GOTTER GATES • 2104 Cottage She resides with her husband and enjoys work- Fargo, ND 58106 • (701) 361-0981 • val- Place • Greensboro, NC 27455 • Ngotter- ing on her poetry, boating, and basking in the [email protected] • Valerie is a North Dakota [email protected] • Nancy, a previous warmer winters! board member of NCPS, left poetry to con- native. She has been writing poetry and short centrate on fiction. Now writing poetry again, W. J. MORRIS • 7604 Filgate Ct. • Raleigh, stories for the last twenty years, and was she won second place in poetry for Crucible, NC 27615 • (919) 848-7908 • morr22@mcn. touched by the beauty of the Blue Ridge and a third place in the Arizona State Poetry com • [email protected] Mountains in Western NC on a recent business trip. Her writing focuses on messages of inspi- Society Contest. GAIL J. PECK • 205 King Owen Ct. • Char- ration and faith in God. She enjoys reading, lotte, NC 28211 • (704) 364-1944 • gail- LEE ANN F. GILLEN • 220 N. East Street • writing, playing piano, composing music, and [email protected] • Gail is a graduate of the Raleigh, NC 27601 • (919) 856-2010 • (919) traveling. MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson 743-0695 • [email protected] • Not a native born,/ Love rhyme, sound and form/ College, and the author of three collections of WILLIAM J. WORTMAN • PO Box 1250 • Agricultural soul/ Nature, history–goal/ Noth- poetry. Her poems have appeared in Southern Cornelius, NC 28031 • (704) 892-0170 • ing published yet,/ Writing hard can’t fret! Review, Greensboro Review, Rattle, and else- THEWINENUT@AOL,COM • Tinkerer, trav- where. eler, former sailor, naval officer and spy, this STEVEN GREER • 510 Sherbrook Drive • retired OB-GYN finds inspiration for poetry BRENDA G. POOLE • 214 Carden Road • High Point, NC 27262 • Steven has a BS de- and musical composition contemplating the Graham, NC 27253 • (336) 229-6175 • gree from Appalachian in English/Education. beautiful waters of the lake where he has his [email protected] • An avid fisherman, He has been writing poetry 35 years. His po- home. When not being otherwise creative, this Brenda was born in Danville, VA, and grew up ems, mainly traditional verse, have been pub- wine connoisseur and gourmet chef divides his in Greensboro. Currently working on a book of lished in small press magazines across the time between helping direct his wine and beer poems, she has also written fiction and non- country. company and singing opera. fiction. She is married and has one daughter

April 1, 2003 4 North Carolina Poetry Society National Poetry Month events

Wilson Elon

Barton College — Walking into April Workshop and Poetry Day Elon University Campus Poetry Day at the Ragan Writing Center

April 12 April 12

Workshop Leader: Mark Smith-Soto featuring Sign in: 9:30 a.m. Program 10:00-2:00 Sally Buckner, Gerald Barrax, and musician Mike Hamer Cost: $15 NCPS member, $25 nonmember

Registration deadline is April 1. Register by April 4

Register by sending a check for $8.50 for lunch, made out to Barton College. From 10 until 11 a.m. selected Elon stu-

Mail to: Katherine Barnes, 1708 Mayflower Dr., Wilson, NC 27893 dents and Mark Smith-Soto will read their original work. The poetry critique workshop will run from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. A lunch buffet begins at 12:30 and will continue with open mike until 2 p.m. Flat Rock Dr. Smith-Soto is a poet and professor of Carl Sandburg Home NHS Spanish and Literature at UNC-

Greensboro, as well as a widely published April 12 translator of Spanish-American literature. He won the 2000 Persephone Poetry Book Performances on Saturday kick off at 12:30 p.m. with this year’s featured poet, Award for Green Mango Collage, and the Allan Wolf. Allan has delighted audiences across the United States, as well as South 2002 Randall Jarrell/Harperprints Poetry Korea and England, with his gift of performance poetry. He has committed over 1000 Chapbook Competition for Shafts. poems to memory, many of which are by Carl Sandburg. Allan is in his thirteenth year as director of the Poetry Alive! Summer Residency Institute for Educators at To register, make check payable to NCPS UNC-Asheville. He is the author of It’s Show Time: Poetry from the Page to the and send with one typed poem to: Janice L. Stage and Something is going to Happen: Poem Performance for the Classroom. He Sullivan, 3805 Meredith Drive, Greens- boro, NC 27408. is also the author of a book of anatomy poems, The Blood Hungry Spleen and Other Poems About Our Parts, and a young adult novel about the Lewis and Clark expedi- The buffet lunch costs $9. Please write a tion, New Found Land—both from Candlewick Press. separate check for lunch made out to Elon

At 1:30 p.m. the Hendersonville Youth Symphony Quartet will delight the audience University, and send to it to: Kathy Lyday- with pieces from Schubert and Mozart, composers whom Sandburg enjoyed and Lee, Department of English, 2254 Campus works that he collected. Box, Elon University, Elon, NC 27244- 2020. An open mike session will be available to those who register from 2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Poetry Celebration will continue from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. with a poetry writing workshop hosted by Zack Finch. Zack is a poet in the Master of Fine Arts Workshops for your area program at . His poetry has been published in numerous journals, including the Atlanta Review, Green Mountain Review, PoetsWest, Café Coordinators needed! NCPS workshop Review, and 88: A Journal of Contemporary Poetry. He has worked as a poet and coordinators work with poets and plan scholar at the Vermont Studio Center and the Ezra Pound Center for Literature in workshops in their areas. If you want Italy. In 2002, he was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in poetry. Currently, he is a to be a coordinator—or, have ideas for creative writing instructor at the Asheville Inkwell. The workshop is free, but space is a workshop—please contact the work- limited. Please call 828-693-4178 to register for open mike and the workshop. To shop chair, Margaret Parrish, in Ra- learn more about the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, visit: leigh. (See below and back page.) www.nps.gov/carl. Please visit the NCPS Web site at www.sleepycreek.org/poetry for the We are .ORG and .NET most current workshop information

and other updates. Or contact: (primary address For NCPS) www.sleepycreek.org/poetry Margaret Parrish

www.sleepycreek.net/poetry (our back-up URL) (919) 848-1383 or [email protected]

April 1, 2003 5 North Carolina Poetry Society

Program Endowment Campaign 2003 NCPS officers Your contributions are essential! beginning May 17 The Poetry Society needs your support. A fully funded endowment will enable us to increase the quality and outreach of our programs in President: Bill Blackley pursuit of our mission, as we continue to promote poetry throughout 1st Vice President, Programs: Rebecca J. the state—and beyond. The campaign committee is composed of Mitchell Lois Wistrand (chair), Sally Logan, Sally Buckner, and Kay Cheshire. 2nd Vice President, Student Contests: Libby Of course, you’re welcome to send program endowment campaign Campbell donations at any time, and contributions of all sizes are much appre- 3rd Vice President, Membership: Guy & Caro- ciated. All donors will be recognized in the newsletter. lyn York When making a donation, you may designate any particular area Recording Secretary: Michael H. Ivey that you want to support or you may contribute to the general fund. If not otherwise specified, all contributions given during the campaign Corresponding Secretary: Priscilla Webster- will be deposited to the program endowment. Williams

Treasurer: Bill Griffin Mail your checks, payable to NCPS, to Kay Cheshire 5410 Chatfield Sq., Greensboro, NC 27410. Members At Large: David Manning and

Janice Sullivan ALL CONTRIBUTORS

through March 1, 2003 Book sales Margaret Baddour • Katherine Barr • Ron H. Bayes • Molly Blackley • poetry notebook William Blackley • Eleanor Brawley • Sally Buckner • Sally Buckner's and tribute poems

Writers Group • Elizabeth Burgess • Stuart Burroughs • Cheryl Bynum • Ann Campanella • Elizabeth Campbell • Marie Watson Cherry Margaret Policies and guidelines concerning the sale of (Kay) Cheshire • Sara Claytor • Ed Cockrell • Nancy Connolly • Irene G. books at NC Poetry Society meetings are posted Dayton • Ann D. Garbett • Bill Griffin • Maureen Ryan Griffin • Judy on our Web site at www.sleepycreek.org/ poetry. In addition, the etiquette rules for plac- Hench • Marylin Hervieux • Leon Hinton • Mary Hogya • Elizabeth ing a poem (published or unpublished) in a po- Hoyt • Earl Huband • Michael Ivey • Thomas Johnson II • Ellen T John- etry notebook during the spring, fall, and winter son-Hale • Nancy King • Sally Logan • David Manning • Lucy McCarl • NC Poetry Society meetings at Weymouth are Elinore McCaskill • Susan Meyers • Bonnie Michael • Ruth Moose • also posted at the Web site. If you do not have Gwen Murray • Carolyn Norris • Grady Norris • Katherine Osborne • access to the Internet, and you need information William Parkyn • Margaret Parrish • Edith Pederson • Rebecca Pierre • about book sales, the poetry notebook, or tribute Eleanor Rives • Rebecca Rust • Ed Seel • Judith Settle • Ruby poems, please contact: Emily E. Hancock, 26 Shackelford • Sharon Sharp • Sandra Spach • Celisa Steele • Dennis Sabbatia Dr., Whispering Pines, NC 28327. Stiles • Janice Sullivan • Nancy Taylor • Marsha Warren • Priscilla Web- ster-Williams • Nina Wicker • Lois Wistrand • The Yorks Members may list

The North Carolina Poetry Society is a 501 (c) (3) organization as defined their poetry books by the IRS. You may be able to claim a tax deductible contribution under on the Web

Section 170 of the Code. Please consult your tax preparer. Rebecca Pierre will coordinate the posting of a

list of members’ books of poetry on the NCPS THANK YOU The North Carolina Collection, Web site, to include: name, title, place of publi- University of North Carolina Library Ned & Dotty Wilson Library, C.B. 3930, Chapel Hill, cation, date, and contact information for orders. Parsons NC 27599-3930 E-mail your information to Rebecca at on- One copy of this issue of the newslet- 4215 University Drive [email protected]. More information Durham, NC 27707 ter has been donated to The North Caro- (919) 493-0985 lina Collection for reference and safe- and a submission form can be found at www. keeping. sleepycreek.org/poetry. Our newsletter printer!

April 1, 2003 6 North Carolina Poetry Society

KUDOS!

Katherine Russell Barnes Wilson

Katie’s recent successes with published poems include the following: “However Feeble” in Mature Years (forthcoming), “New Neighbor” in The Lyricist, “Sex Education” in Gihon River Review, “And A Little Child” in the Poets For Peace collection by the Chapel Hill Press, “How He Came to Divorce His Wife and Enjoy a Kinky Lifestyle” on E:THOUGHT (the Web site for Thought Magazine), and “Sonnet” included in an anthology of poems published by University of North Carolina Health Care for the benefit of patients in their new hospitals for women and children. In addition, Katie is designated as a Master Writer for Warner Press and has two religious poems, “The Mind of Christ” and “A Prayer of Praise,” published in church bulletins. Her NCPS Award winning poem, “Gratitude to One Who Is Not God” was poem of the month on the Poetry Society’s Web page in April 2002. Katie is currently a member of the North Carolina Writers Conference. She began writing poetry about 30 years ago and had early successes with acceptances by reputable jour- nals, such as Crucible and Cairn, and with poems that placed in a number of the NCPS contests. She also discovered Barton College (then Atlantic Christian College) in Wilson, where she took her first creative writing course from Ruby P. Shackleford when she was still teaching there. Katie reports that today the Sam and Marjorie Ragan Center at Bar- ton provides a new level of writing instruction and provides an opportunity for local writers to become known in the community by reading their work there.

Brenda Kay Ledford Hayesville

Brenda’s poem “Invasion” appeared in Poets for Peace: A Collection. Her poem “Buried Memories” won first place in the Clay County Historical and Arts Council poetry contest. She read the poem at the Hayesville High School lecture hall for “Evening with the Arts.” Brenda was the featured poet for “Author’s Night” held in November 2002 at Moss Memorial Library. She has poems appearing in Mo- have, Erete’s Bloom, Thorny Locust, and Journal of Tar Heel Tellers. Her review of Fred Chappell’s book Family Gathering was published in Appalachian Heritage. Brenda is a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. She’s a former teacher and is listed with A Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers. Brenda’s work has appeared in many publications, including North Carolina Humanities, Pembroke Magazine, Asheville Poetry Review, The Lyricist, Charlotte Poetry Review, and Our State. She received an award of merit from the Poetry Forum for her poetry book Patchwork Memories (endorsed by Shelby Stephenson). Brenda reports that her hometown (the county seat of Clay County) offers visitors a year-round schedule of dramas, musicals, and community theater at the Peacock Playhouse. Haysville is located in the southwestern tip of North Caro- lina off Highway 64.

0. C. Strunk Calabash

0. C. has two poems, “A Theological Reflection” and “Soldiers During the Great Depression,” and a short story, “The Loser,” in the Dan River Anthology 2003, published by the Conservatory of American Letters in Thomaston, Maine.

Congratulations—new MFA graduates Queens University of Charlotte

In May, Pat Riviere-Seel and Susan Meyers will graduate in the first class of the new low-residency MFA program at Queens.

April 1, 2003 7 North Carolina Poetry Society

NEW LINKS A change in editors www.sleepycreek.org/poetry by Ed Cockrell by Priscilla Webster-Williams Want to know where to find contem-

porary or classic poems on the Web? One of my first experiences as a new “Have a magical day” is an expres- Want the scoop on famous poets? Liter- member of the North Carolina Poetry sion I heard often on a recent trip to ary contests? Where can you find doz- Society was to attend Poetry Day at Disney World. My visit of discov- ens of poetry journals? Info on special- Elon in April 1999. As the program ery to Mickey’s kingdom of magic ized poetry forms? What is a ghazal? began, I sat beside Susan Meyers, set me to thinking about my every- Do you haiku? Where are bookstores who was the NCPS president that day days, and how fortunate I am to that sell ONLY poetry books, audio year. Susan is an attractive and cordial have poetry to make the time be- tapes, other stuff, and those poetry southern lady of the classic kind, so tween dawn and moon glow an books you can’t find anywhere else? naturally, she engaged me in pleasant every-day magical journey with conversation and made sure I felt wel- words. How grateful I am for po- The answers to these questions—and come at Poetry Day. etry, and the gatherings we have as more—are waiting for you on the Po- Just a short time after that meeting, poets. etry Society’s LINKS page, recently re- Susan called me at home—I was both Like you, I find out about Poetry vamped and ready for your cruising delighted and unsettled. My sense of Society meetings from this newslet- pleasure. The links page not only has trepidation was well placed, because ter. I’m pleased that, starting with links, it has links that link! With few Susan wanted me to be Corresponding the fall issue, I will be your newslet- exceptions, the sites have multiple path- Secretary/Editor. I quickly explained ter editor. I’m eager to begin, yet ways for you to explore. You will find that I had no experience with editing a wondering if I will be able to get all poetry presses, magazines, organiza- newsletter and that I could not under- the columns straight, words to fit, tions, resources for teaching poetry, stand her interest in me. But my ob- and typos expunged before printing. submission opportunities, and lots of poems and poets. jections were of no use—she con- I hope to do as well as Ed Cockrell vinced me that my fears were mis- who for several years has produced NCPS members Margaret Parrish placed and that I should take the the NCPS newsletters on schedule and Priscilla Webster-Williams found plunge into a world of new experi- and with elegance—a combination reputable Web sites dealing with poetry, ences, where I would quickly learn the not easily achieved. Thank you, Ed, and organized the LINKS page. They specialized techniques of newsletter for sharing with NCPS some of hope you will log on and scout around! composition. Susan said she would your time, skills, and commitment. If you have additional sites to suggest, teach me how to do it well, but only if I imagine that much of the content contact either Margaret or Priscilla (see I agreed to use what she liked— in future editions of the newsletter back page) about your suggestion. Microsoft Publisher. will remain the same—our Presi- And, much to my surprise, I have dent’s column, announcements of actually enjoyed being the NCPS new members, meetings and work- newsletter editor. Susan, as she prom- shops, contest guidelines, the list of ised, has helped me all the way officers, etc. The newsletter reflects Journal swap through the 11 newsletters of my ten- the forward movement and growth ure. She has been a patient mentor for of the Poetry Society and its mem- Exchange journals at the me and a gimlet-eyed proofreader. bers. In that vein, I hope you will NCPS meetings

I am grateful as well to Sharon feel free to climb aboard and con-

Sharp, recent past president of NCPS, tribute articles about what you are LEAVE only those journals you don’t who also graciously took time to reading and find helpful or chal- mind parting with. Don’t expect to see proofread drafts of the newsletter, and lenging or inspiring in your growth them again. share her knowledge of editing. as a poet and lover of poetry. When The position of editor now passes to you read a book of poems that you TAKE all you can read, (but read all Priscilla Webster-Williams, who has admire, let me know why. I look you take). previous experience as an editor of forward to celebrating your suc- newsletters. Nevertheless, her tenure cesses and learning from and with RETURN the journals you borrowed will be made easier by people like you as your new newsletter editor. at the next NCPS meeting, when you

will have the opportunity to Leave and Susan and Sharon because they help so much with spotting errors before The deadline for submissions for the Take some more. they go to print! next newsletter is July 1.

April 1, 2003 8 North Carolina Poetry Society

The naming of POETRY EVENTS UPCOMING

Pinesong: Awards 2003 Elkin by Susan Meyers Foothills Arts Council Building The Poetry Society’s annual publica- tion of awards has a new name: Pine- Sunday, April 27, 3 - 5 p.m. song. The title was chosen from among 114 suggested titles for what has previ- ously been called Award-Winning Po- th ems, or AWP. Come out to enjoy the 4 Annual Foothills Favorite Poem Project, sponsored by the Foothills Arts Council. Admission is free. The afternoon Last year the board gave the AWP De- of poetry offers lovers of poetry, students and adults of all ages, an oppor- sign Committee the pleasant task of rec- tunity to read their own original poem or a poem penned by their favorite ommending, with input from Poetry So- author. Open Mike is popular, and refreshments are served. ciety members, a title change for our an- nual publication. To accomplish our For information, directions, or to have your name placed on the program goal, Barbara Presnell, Celisa Steele, of readers, contact: Bill Griffin • 131 Bon Aire Rd. • Elkin, NC 28621 • and I looked for the one artful title that [email protected] • 336-835-7598 lets everyone know that this organiza- tion is both statewide and creative. The choice of pine + song combines the Pine Knoll Shores name of a tree that grows in all parts of the state with a word that suggests the Saturday, May 10 lyricism and voice of poetry.

The board and the committee appreci- Poetry at the Beach with Michael White ate the many suggestions from Poetry Society members who turned in their professor of creative writing, ideas for a title. Along with those sug- gestions, for further inspiration the com- UNC Wilmington mittee read the poetry of Sam Ragan, who—until his death in 1996—was in- strumental in guiding the Poetry Society This event has limited enrollment because of physical space at the beach during its first sixty-some years. We house. For enrollment and/or standby in case of cancellation, contact: Bill were impressed by the number of title Griffin • 131 Bon Aire Rd. • Elkin, NC 28621 • [email protected] • suggestions that were closely related to 336-835-7598 nature. In fact, the numerous sugges-

tions from members directly or indi- rectly referring to pine trees eventually led to the choice of Pinesong. NCWN Canvas tote bags

Be sure to pick up your copy of Pine- are now available Event dates song: Awards 2003 at one of our Poetry The bags are a neutral color with a dark Society meetings! Saturday, May 24: Spring Con- blue NCPS logo to coordinate with the T- shirts. They have two hand/shoulder straps ference at in and measure approximately 10" x 14" x 5".

Haiku Holiday Raleigh. Features Betty Adcock They will be available at the Barton meet- April 26 and Pamela Uschuk, director of ing and at the May Weymouth meeting for the Women's Center at Salem $8. Use a tote bag for your journal swaps, Bolin Brook Farm and carry them around to help attract new College. members the Poetry Society! in Chapel Hill

You may also order by mail (please add $3 November 14-16: Fall Confer- Call for details S & H) from: Beth Hoyt, 308 King Charles (919) 929-4884, or (919) 967-6257 ence in Wilmington scheduled. Lane, Cary, NC 27511.

April 1, 2003 9 North Carolina Poetry Society

Fifth Annual 2003 BROCKMAN-CAMPBELL BOOK AWARD Beat Swords into Ploughshares Postmark Deadline: May 7, 2003

Student Writing Celebration ● The North Carolina Poetry Society contest is open to poets who published a book-length volume of poetry in 2002. Entrants must be

native-born North Carolinians or current residents who have lived in The writing contest was created after the Columbine the state for at least three years at the time of the book’s publication.

shootings in an effort to give students a positive outlet for ● To be considered, a book must be a first edition by a single author, their emotions. Poetry judges will be Suzanne Baldwin and it must contain more than 20 pages of poetry. Anthologies are Leitner and Ann Campanella. Prose judge will be Frye not acceptable. The book must have a 2002 copyright date, or the Gaillard. The guidelines are as follows: publisher must certify the copyright by letter.

● An entry containing poems included in a previous volume that won the Brockman-Campbell Book Award is not eligible.

1. Writers must be 6th grade-12th grade. Entries judged ● The Brockman-Campbell winner will be notified by July 14, 2003, in two age categories. and will be invited to read at the North Carolina Poetry Society’s

September 20, 2003, meeting, to be held at the Weymouth Center in 2. Original prose entries should consist of one short story, Southern Pines. essay or other prose piece not more than 1500 words long.

Only one prose entry per person. ● A $150 cash prize and a silver Revere bowl will be presented to one winner only. 3. Poems should be original, unpublished work. Enter 1-3 Each submission should include the following: one copy of the poems no longer than 50 lines each. book, a biographical sketch of the author, a stamped postcard (for

acknowledging receipt of the book), and a business-sized, stamped, 4. Students may enter in both the poetry and prose catego- self-addressed envelope for the announcement of the winner. ries as long as they follow the guidelines for each cate- gory. Entry fee: The fee for non-members of the North Carolina Poetry Society is $10. (Please make checks payable to North Carolina Po- 5. Postmark deadline is June 1, 2003. Student's name etry Society.) Members of the Society pay no entry fee. should not appear on the work. Contest Judge: The judge this year will be poet Andrew Hudgins. Hudgins was born in Texas; he was educated at Huntingdon College 6. Send one copy of the piece along with a cover page and University of Alabama and received an M.F.A. from the Univer- containing the entrant's name, address, phone number, sity of Iowa in 1983 where among his teachers were Larry Leavis and e-mail address, age, grade in school, name of school and Marvin Bell. Hudgins has written five books of poetry (most recently the titles of each piece submitted. Please include an SASE Babylon in a Jar, 1998) as well as a variety of literary and academic (self-addressed stamped envelope) for notification. essays, often on contemporary poetry. He received the Poets’ Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award for After the Lost 7. Mail entries to: Beat Swords Into Ploughshares, 19722 War; he has also received the Witter Bynner Award for Poetry and One Norman Blvd., PMB 220-183, Cornelius, NC, the Hanes Poetry prize. Saints and Strangers was a finalist for the 28031). Pulitzer Prize. Hudgins’ work is noted for his use of southern voice. He teaches at Ohio State University. 8. Selected works will be recognized. Entries will not be returned. Mail entries to: Ann Garbett Department of English Averett College Danville, VA 24541

April 1, 2003 10 North Carolina Poetry Society THE POETRY COUNCIL OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. 2003 Rules for Annual Poetry Contest

Opening date: January 15, 2003 / Closing date: May 1, 2003

CONTEST CATEGORIES SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Oscar Arnold Young (book contest): $100 1st place and a WHO MAY ENTER: Residents and former residents of North trophy with name engraved, to keep for one year. $50 2nd place. Carolina—persons born in NC, transients from other states who Criteria: Book with 2002 copyright. Must have more than 20 pages. either attend school or work in this state, and NC residents tem- Two (2) copies and $10 entry fee. Send to: Joy Acey, Category Man- porarily out of state. ager, 1111 Monterey Valley Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. HOW TO ENTER A POEM (categories 2-7): Entries must be 2. Charles Shull (traditional poetry): $25 1st place. $15 2nd original and unpublished. You may enter more than one contest, place. $10 3rd place. Criteria: Traditional form; 24 or fewer lines. but with only one entry per category. You may not enter the State the traditional form chosen (e.g., blank verse, ballad, rhyming couplets, villanelle, terza rima, pantoum, ottava rima). No Sonnets in same poem in more than one category. Please check the line this category. Three (3) copies and $5 entry fee. Send to: Rebecca J. limitations for each category, and note that you must indicate Mitchell, Category Manager, 4379 Union Church Rd., McBee, SC your chosen poetic form for the Rutledge and Shull categories. 29101. Category managers will disqualify poems that do not meet the stated criteria. 3. James Larkin Pearson (free verse): $25 1st place. $15 2nd place. $10 3rd place. Criteria: Free verse, including experimental forms; 32 or fewer lines, besides title. Three (3) copies and $5 entry Submit entries (3 typed copies) to the proper Category fee. Send to: Sally Logan, Category Manager, 3701 Stoneycreek Rd., Manager. Do not send entries to the Contest Coordinator. Sub- Chapel Hill, NC 27514. missions will be accepted between January 15 and May 1, 2003. 4. Archibald Rutledge (14-line Shakespearean or Italian son- net): $25 1st place. $15 2nd place. $10 3rd place. Criteria: Theme Do not put your name on any copies of your entries. suited to form selected. Three (3) copies and $5 entry fee. Send to:

Ellen T. Johnston-Hale, Category Manager, 4221 Lazy River Drive, Include with each entry a 3x5 index card with the following Durham, NC 27712. information (required in all categories, including the Oscar Ar- 5. Gladys Owings Hughes Heritage (free verse): $25 1st place. nold Young), either typed or printed: $15 2nd place. $10 3rd place. Criteria: Free verse, 32 or fewer lines. ٠Name of category you are entering ,Subject to be “The Legacy, Tradition, or Inheritance of Family (wife ٠Title of poem or book and copyright date of book entry husband, parents, grandparents, siblings, or others)—how it shapes .٠Your name, mailing address, and telephone number -our lives.” Three (3) copies and $5 entry fee. Send to: Katherine Bar .٠For Charlotte Young category, include your date of birth .nes, Category Manager, 1708 Mayflower Drive, Wilson, NC 27893 Also, write the honor statement “This is my own original 6. Charlotte Young (elementary and middle school students; poem,” and sign your name. any subject or form): $25 1st place. $15 2nd place. $10 3rd place. Criteria: Entries from elementary or middle school students. Any subject, any form; 24 or fewer lines. Three (3) copies and $3 entry fee. Enclose the entry fee specified for each category. Make checks Send to: Bill Griffin, Category Manager, 131 Bon Aire Road, Elkin, payable to Poetry Council of North Carolina. Keep copies of NC 28621. your entries. Poems will not be returned.

7. Sam Ragan North Carolina Connection (high school and Notification of winners: All winners will be notified by July college students; rhymed or free verse): $25 1st place. $15 2nd 15, 2003. place. $10 3rd place. Criteria: Entries from high school or college Poetry Day Awards Luncheon: Winners will be expected to students. Rhymed or free verse; subject related to North Carolina; 24 or fewer lines. Three (3) copies and $3 entry fee. Send to: Ray read their poems during the luncheon on Saturday, September Russell, Category Manager, PO Box 52, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526. 27, 2003, to be held at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. Fur-

ther information will be included in the winners’ notifications.

In categories 2-7, three honorable mentions will be given, Contest Coordinator: Nancy Adams, 245 Carrington Lane., in addition to the 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place awards. Salisbury, NC 28146. If you write for additional information, please include a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope.

ABOUT THE POETRY COUNCIL CERTIFICATES, READINGS, PUBLICATION

Winning poets will receive a certificate and are expected to The North Carolina Poetry Council promotes an annual contest read at the Poetry Day Awards Luncheon (details at right). and secures notable writers and teachers as judges. Since its in- ception, the Council and the North Carolina Poetry Society have Selected poems from the winning books in category 1, along functioned as sister organizations. The Council does not solicit with 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-place, and honorable-mention poems in nor maintain a general membership. For details contact Janice categories 2-7, will be published in the 2003 edition of Bay Sullivan, 3805 Meredith Drive, Greensboro, NC 27408, (336) Leaves. 282-4032; [email protected].

April 1, 2003 11 North Carolina Poetry Society NCPS board members and committee chairs The North Carolina Poetry Society President Member At Large Cary, NC 27511 Organized in Charlotte – 1932 Bill Blackley David Manning (919) 469-3654 105 Knollwood Drive 422 Knotts Valley Lane [email protected] Meetings: The Society holds Elkin, NC 28621 Morrisville, NC 27560 regular meetings the third Sat- Brockman-Campbell Book Award (336) 835-4630 [email protected] urday of January, May, and Ann Garbett [email protected] September. A day of poetry and Janice Sullivan 931 Green Street 1st Vice President, Programs 3805 Meredith Dr. Danville, VA 245541 programs is held from 10 a.m. Rebecca J. Mitchell Greensboro, NC 27408 (804) 797-5770 until 3 p.m. The Society also 4379 Union Church Rd. (336) 282-4032 [email protected] sponsors Sam Ragan Poetry McBee, SC 29101 [email protected] Festival on the fourth Saturday Contest Judges, and Pinesong (843) 335-6676 in June each year. All meetings [email protected] COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Adult Judges, Carolyn Norris are held at Weymouth Center 2nd Vice President, Student Contests Publicity Student Judges, Dede Wilson for the Arts & Humanities, 555 Libby Campbell Ed Seel Editor of Pinesong, Celisa Steele E. Connecticut Ave., Southern 107 Maple Drive 131 Woodview Dr. Historian/Archivist Pines, NC. Statesville, NC 28625 Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 298-5413 Marie Gilbert Newsletter: The Society news- (704) 878-9129 #2 St. Simon Sq. [email protected] [email protected] letter is published three times a Greensboro, NC 27408 3rd Vice President, Membership Long-range Planning (336) 288-3051 year in April, August, and Guy and Carolyn York Kay Nelson Cheshire [email protected] December. Deadlines for article 5410 Chatfield Square submissions are the first day of 315 North Steele St. Book Sales & Promo Sanford, NC 27330 Greensboro, NC 27410 March, July, and November. [email protected] Emily E. Hancock (919) 776-7525 Direct submissions to the Corre- 26 Sabbatia Drive [email protected] Whispering Pines, NC 28327 sponding Secretary. Poet Laureate Award (910) 949-3352 Recording Secretary & Adult Contest Membership: Rates are Stu- Michael H. Ivey [email protected] John Ferree 750 Weaver Dairy Rd. dent $10, Regular $25, Lifetime 4485 Fork Creek Mill Rd. Workshops $400. Any interested person may Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Seagrove, NC 27341 Margaret Parrish join. Dues are payable when (919) 918-3464 (336) 879-5337 1109 Mordecai Drive [email protected] joining and in May each year. [email protected] Raleigh, NC 27604 New members joining after De- Corresponding Secretary Webmasters (919) 828-6348 Priscilla Webster-Williams [email protected]. cember 1 but before May 1 will Ray Dotson 6543 New Market Way 174 Quail Drive be counted as if they joined in Program Endowment Campaign May, and they will not need to Raleigh, NC 27615 Dudley, NC 28333 Lois R. Wistrand (919) 431-0064 (919) 735-7765 PO Box 4363 renew their membership until [email protected] [email protected] Pinehurst, NC 28374 May of the following renewal

Treasurer Earl Huband (910) 295-8390 year. Please send membership Bill Griffin [email protected] checks (payable to NCPS) to 6543 New Market Way 131 Bon Aire Rd. Raleigh, NC 27615 Book Citations Coordinator Guy and Carolyn York, 315 Elkin, NC 28621 (919) 431-0064 Rebecca Pierre North Steele St., Sanford, NC (336) 835-7598 [email protected] 129 NE 36th St. 27330. [email protected] Oak Island, NC 28465 Need to Carpool? AWP Dedication (910) 278-9232 Contact the Yorks, as above, for Elizabeth Hoyt onceaseapoet@hotmailcom a list of members near you. 308 King Charles Lane

320 members as of April 1, 2003 POSTAGE North Carolina Poetry Society Priscilla Webster-Williams GOES Corresponding Secretary HERE 6543 New Market Way Raleigh, NC 27615

Important dates

June 28—Sam Ragan Poetry Festival

July 1—fall newsletter submissions are due

September 20—fall meeting of the Poetry Society

November 1—winter newsletter submissions are due

Please visit our Web site, www.sleepycreek.org/poetry, maintained by Webmasters Ray Dotson and Earl Huband.

April 1, 2003 12 North Carolina Poetry Society