SOCIETY PINE WHISPERS Fall 2008 Fall Meeting Celebrating Poets Saturday, September 20 by Sara Claytor Weymouth Center Features: Southern Pines, North Carolina On Saturday, September 29, we will celebrate our 2008 Brockman- President’s Message!! 2 9:15!!! Registration & Campbell Book Award winner, Becky !!!!!!! order lunch or bring Gould Gibson. For the first time, we New members""" 3 !!!!!!! your own (coffee & will also have selected poems read by !!!!!!!!nibbles in the kitchen) two Honorable Mentions, Linda Annas Kudos"""" 4 Ferguson and Barbara Presnell. ! Brockman-Campbell winner" 5 10:00! Short Business Meeting !!!!!! Sue Farlow presiding In addition, the four recognized Sam Ragan Festival"" 7 !!!!!!!Greetings by Ed Southern, poets from the North Carolina Writers’ Poetry contest guidelines " 8-9 !!!!!!!director of NCWN Network competition (Randall Jarrell ! Poetry Contest) will read their award- Board and committee chairs" 10 10:15! Brockman-Campbell winning poems: 1st prize, Joanna !!!!!!!Book Award reading by Catherine Scott; 2nd prize, Marjorie Brockman-Campbell Judge " 11 !!!!!!!Becky Gould Gibson, Hudson; Honorable Mention, Allison Gilbert-Chappell information" 11 introduction Elrod and also recognized by the judge, by Jenny Braswell James Applewhite, Fred Bahnson. Ed Pencil in: " 12 ! Readings by Honorable Southern, the director of the North !!!!!!! Mentions in B-C Contest Carolina Writers’ Network, will bring Afterwards, we will have ! greetings. a reception to honor the award- 11:10! Randell Jarrell Poetry winning poets and plenty !!!!! Contest winners read Our afternoon session will of time for book signings and ! involve a panel of NC presses in an individual talks with the 11:30! Open mic & new authors information/discussion presentation press representatives. ! with time for audience questions. 12:00!! Lunch, book room open Main Street Rag based in Charlotte As usual, the members (M. Scott Douglass, editor-publisher), may sell copies of their 1:00!!!!Information/discussion poetry books in the Book !!!!!!! panel of NC presses Press 53 located in Winston-Salem Room. You may make lunch ! (Kevin Watson and Sheryl Monks, orders in advance. If you 2:00!!! Open mic finale co-editors-publishers), and Old have not done so, members ! Mountain Press (Tom Davis, should pick up their copies 2:15!!!! Reception for poets editor of Fayetteville) will spearhead press reps of the 2008 Pinesong in the Interact with the group. Book Signings Book Room. 1 President’s Message by Sue Farlow

By now you all have probably noticed that we changed the name of our newsletter. Pine Whispers. It evokes Robert Frost’s woods, “lovely dark and deep.” It also conjures images of Weymouth Woods. I have walked in those woods many times and have listened to the whispers. I like the name since it fits along with our anthology, Pinesong. Hope you like the change.

You need to mark another important change on your calendar as soon as you put the newsletter down. The date of the Sam Ragan Poetry Festival will move from the 3rd Saturday in June to the 2nd Saturday in March. The board struggled with this change, but I feel we have made the right decision. Attendance at the SRPF over the past several years has been notably down. June is a busy month for weddings and vacations. Hopefully, this will allow more members to attend. We will have something to look forward to between our winter meeting and Awards Day.

I have been on the board for five years and this past Sam Ragan Festival is the first one I have missed (yes, for a wedding – my son got married). I have heard from several people how much they enjoyed it, particularly Keith Flynn and Michael Beadle. Our own Bill Griffin got high marks with his camp songs. Many people on their evaluations expressed concern that attendance was sparse. We hope a March meeting will bring more people out.

You may also notice in the newsletter that there are several board openings and committee chair vacancies. If you would like to become a board member or committee chair, please e-mail me at [email protected]. I’ll be glad to answer any questions about the positions.

I am excited about our September meeting. 1st vice president, Sara Claytor has already been working on it. I am looking forward to hearing the poets read. NCPS co-sponsors this event with the North Carolina Writer’s Network. Ed Southern, the director will be on hand for the meeting. The afternoon panel of publishers will show members the intricacies of getting published.

See you in September.

Remember eMuse The NCPS eMuse is alive and kicking and coming to an inbox near you every month! The E-Muse is "poetry-related news you can use supplied by NCPS members for NCPS members". If you haven't been receiving this monthly e-mail and would like to, please drop a quick line to NCPS Publicity Chair, Caren Stuart at [email protected]. If you're participating in or know of any poetry events, open mics, festivals, readings, workshops, calls to poets, etc. THIS is your forum for sharing that information with your fellow poets and lovers of poetry. To submit an E-Muse item, e-mail [email protected] with your first and last name, a BRIEF write-up of your listing, contact info for interested parties to use in case of questions, and the month(s) in which you would like the listing to be sent out to NCPS members. Listings are run at the discretion of NCPS and must be received at least one week before the start of their intended month. Listings requiring extensive editing may not run. It takes a community to raise some eMuse....

2 QUELLING WITH THE QUILL OR BATTLING THE DREADED MOCKO JUMBIES OF YOUR LIFE

C. Pleasants York

On a recent trip to the Virgin Islands, I was perusing a map of St. John and was amused to see a protrusion of land into the Caribbean Sea called Pen Point. In this tropical area where the arts are a lifeblood of the people, it is refreshing to see such poetic nomenclature. In a book of Caribbean myths and legends, I further discovered that the way to convince an evil spirit to leave quietly is to point a pen at him. I think back over all the times in my life when I have quelled the evil spirits – not just the towering mocko jumbie island spirits of good and evil destiny, but the equally devastating spirits of doubt and discouragement and fear - by taking out a pen and writing out my feelings, letting my ideas flow onto the paper. Seeing the words on the page has given me clarity and self-assurance, a reality more essential than the goatskins and cowry shells and mirrors of the mocko jumbies. The pen is, indeed, mightier than the sword, whether it comes from exorcising demons or writing a sonnet. As writers, we have the power. Welcome, New Members, to the North Carolina Poetry Society. The power is yours!

BARBARA BOOB (CHENOWETH) JACKSON; a children’s coloring JANE PENLAND HOOVER 3032 TWATCHMAN DRIVE book, PICKABERRY PIG; a how-to A 173 26000 CROASDAILE FARM RALEIGH, NC 27616 book on writing a ranger patrol order, PKWY (919) 389-3527 THE PATROL ORDER; and an action DURHAM, NC 27705 [email protected] adventure novel, THE R-COMPLEX. (919) 384-2820 Born in Smithfield, Barbara Tom lives in Fayetteville, North [email protected] was graduated from UNC-Wilmington Carolina and is publisher of the Old Jane Penland Hoover is a with a BA in Early Childhood Mountain Press with information Georgia native who, after her Education and a Masters Degree from available at husband’s stroke, operated retirement East Carolina University in Education. www.OldMountainPress.com housing for 24 years. She also She attended the Communication facilitated writing groups and then School of Arts in Raleigh and is TERRI KIRBY ERICKSON moved to Durham, North Carolina to interested in photography and writing 130 SEDGEWICK RIDGE COURT be closer to their daughters. She books for children. She recently read LEWISVILLE, NC 27023 published an essay and a poem in the her book MONSTERFIX at Quail (336) 945-4105 American Heart Association’s Ridge Books. “My writing comes [email protected] STROKE CONNECTION in 2008. from my inner soul,” wrote Barbara. Terri Kirby Erickson, author “Life speaks to me and poetry of the book, THREAD COUNT, has SANDRA HUDSON provides that venue for the expression been published by PARIS VOICE, PO BOX 35 of creative thoughts. I began writing THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE NEW LONDON, NC 28127 poetry at the age of 12.” MONITOR, the Northwest Cultural (704) 463-1222 Council, and the N.C. Arts Council. [email protected] TOM DAVIS Her work is in FORSYTH WOMAN, 2542 S. EDGEWATER DRIVE in five anthologies by Old Mountain PATSY K. LAIN FAYETTETTEVILLE, NC 28303 Press, and others. She lives in 124 KENNEDY CIRCLE (910) 484-5887 Lewisville, North Carolina. HUBERT, NC 28539 [email protected] [email protected] Tom Davis’s publishing RAY GONZALES credits include POETS FORUM, THE 303 CARY PINES DRIVE “My desire to write blossomed as a CAROLINA RUNNER, CARY, NC 27513 young woman, and dwindled with the TRIATHLON TODAY, GEORGIA (919) 462-0623 survival of life,” wrote Patsy. “Once ATHLETE, THE FAYETTEVILLE [email protected] again I take pen in hand and visit this OBSERVER’S SATURDAY EXTRA, passion of writing.” A LOVING VOICE Vol. I and II, and NINA O. FOSTER SPECIAL WARFARE. He has 1409 ENCHANTED OAKS DRIVE authored a collection of short stories, RALEIGH, NC 27606 THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RIP (919) 664-8084 continued on page 6 [email protected]

3 Kudos: member’s honor ro!

Brenda Kay Ledford's poetry Jo Barbara Taylor has her poem Early this fall Main Street Rag will chapbook, Sacred Fire, is “Judy” selected for publication in publish a poetry book by Sara upcoming this fall with the fall\winter issue of Ibbetson Claytor, entitled Howling on Red Finishing Line Press. Street, and “Growing in Indiana” Dirt Roads. has received honorable mention in Finishing Line Press has the NC Poetry Council’s Charles Congratulations to the winners of the selected Florida Heat, the first Shull traditional poetry category. 2008 Oscar Arnold Young Contest poetry chapbook by Stella Ward sponsored by the NC Poetry Council:

Whitlock, for publication this Main Street Rag recently published First place: Janice Moore Fuller for summer. To order this limited a chapbook by Alex Grant, The Seance edition, please visit the web White Room and a poetry book by Second place: Keith Flynn for site www.finishinglinepress.com, Joanna Catherine Scott entitled The Golden Ratio (scroll down the left-hand column Night Huntress. Honorable Mention: Linda Annas to "New Releases," then search Ferguson for alphabetically by author). Bird Missing from One Shoulder

May Hears Award Winners On May 17, 2008, the North Carolina Poetry Society met at Weymouth to reward those poets who entered the 2008 contest and were recognized for their outstanding writing. Many adult and student winners were present to read their poems. All poets and their poems are included in the new issue of Pinesong. This year’s Poet Laureate Award poet is John York. The Poet Laureate competition was judged by Bruce Bond and , North Carolina Poet Laureate since 2005. Dedication of the 2008 Pinesong was made by Susan Meyers to Ann Deagan, who addressed the audience in poetry and song.

Kalyn Sisco Joan Scott Memorial Award John York 4 ******************************************************************************************************************************************* Becky Gould Gibson Wins 2008 Brockman-Campbell Becky Gould Gibson in Need-Fire (2007) has Two volumes have received Honorable written “a compelling and Mention this year: Piece Work (CSU 2007) by Barbara beautiful volume of poems that Presnell and Bird Missing from One Shoulder by Linda attempts to fill gaps in history to Annas Ferguson. tell a woman’s story set during Ms. Presnell is from Asheboro and now lives in the 7th century,” says Kwame Lexington, North Carolina. Piece Work is a collection Dawes, this year’s judge of the of poems about the North Carolina textile industry. It Brockman-Campbell also won the 2006 Cleveland State University Poetry competition. Ms. Gibson, from Center First Book Prize. Mr. Dawes says, “There is a upstate South Carolina, dreamed story here, and sometimes a poet finds a good story and of being a writer when she was manages to work that vein for all it is worth—this is a nine years old. She has studied and taught , wise thing to do when one strikes gold.” He notes this currently at Guilford College. She says, “...for the first passage: thirty years of my life I did not understand the discipline and persistance it would take to bring that Why not? I ask myself. dream to reality, believing somehow the ‘inspiration’ It’s not like I owed them beans, eighteen year behind that machine alone would do the trick.” then “We don’t need you no more,” Her honors include two prize-winning chap- like any monkey could turn that switch on and off. books: Off-Road Meditations (North Carolina Writer’s Network, 1989) and Holding Ground (White Eagle Coffee Store Press, 1996). Her poems have appeared in Linda Annas Ferguson has written four numerous journals; she has won recognition for many collections of poetry: Bird Missing from One Shoulder (WordTech Editions 2007), Stepping on Cracks in the poems, has been awarded grants, fellowships and Sidewalk (Finishing Line Press 2006), Last Chance to residencies. She has published First Life, a full length be Lost (Kentucky Writers’ Coalition 2004), and It’s volume (Emrys Press, 1997) prior to Need-Fire. Hard to Hate a Broken Thing (Palanquin Press of Need-Fire has previously been honored as the University of South Carolina at Aiken 2002). She has winner of the 2005 contest held by Bright Hill Press. been published in many journals, has been named Dr. Dawes writes, “These poems are sensual, tender Poetry Fellow for the South Carolina Arts and formally accomplished works. Her use of the an Commission, and has served as Poet-in-Residence at approximation of the Old English half-line and her the Gibbes Museum of Art. She received the Poetry efforts to employ a diction that comes as close to the Fellowship of the South Carolina Academy of Authors Anglo Saxon as modern English will allow, all manage and serves on the Board of Governors. Mr. Dawes to produce in the poems a simplicity of diction that is notes, “It is art that turns the hardships and tragedies of our lives into something quite beautiful—something matched only by the complexity of feeling and sound.” that ultimately teaches us something of the alchemy of ! Acres and acres of poetry.” ! day crazed to cracking ! folks eating acorns It is when you can’t hear ! cows horses ! oozing with maggots the sound of yourself “Few can challenge the care and discipline Gibson that you know who you are, a body, no longer solid demonstrates in her research and in her wisdom in allowing the poetry to ultimately drive the work above standing in an ocean. anything else. This is moving and impressive poetry.” The sun, a hole in your world where time burns through. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* 5 new members continued BETSY KNODE NEWTON name, the original Italian name until SUSAN M. LEFLER 4241 KIMBERLY JO LANE after World War II. 667 E. MAIN STREET ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27804 BREVARD, NC 28712 (252) 437-2101 [email protected] [email protected] IDA RUTH PLYMALE Susan Lefler lives in Brevard, 500 MAHONE STREET APT 8 North Carolina. Her poems have DURHAM, NC 27713 appeared in journals including THE FRAN OSTASIEWSKI (919) 484-8703 LYRICIST, ICARUS, 5039 TAMARACK DRIVE [email protected] APPALACHIAN HERITAGE, GREENSBORO, NC 27407 PINESONG, ASHEVILLE POETRY (336) 854-0034 KATHRYN (KIT) SCHMEISER REVIEW, WIND, PASSAGER, [email protected] 64 ROSEBUD LANE MAIN STREET RAG, and Fran Ostasiewski serves as FAIRVIEW, NC 28730 KAKALAK. She is editor-at-large Treasurer of The Writers’ Group of the (828) 338-0035 for SMOKY MOUNTAIN LIVING Triad, is a member of the Greensboro [email protected] magazine. Public Library’s Poetry GSO committee and coordinates Poetry, LYNN MCLURE Jazz and Java readings. His poems KATHERINE SONIAT 86 LYNNWOOD LANE have appeared in WALKING THE 48 COTTON CREEK CIRCLE BURNSVILLE, NC 28714 SAME PATH, FISH IN LOVE, ROSE BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC 28711 (828) 675-5900 HAIKU FOR FLOWER LOVERS (828) 357-8161 [email protected] AND GARDENERS, and HOME [email protected] Lynn is a book and textile FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE SWING GIRL, artist who lives, works and Katherine Soniat’s fifth collection of teaches meditation on the side of the BARBARA PARENTINI poems, is forthcoming from Louisiana mountain in Yancey County. She has 369 FEARRINGTON POST State University Press. THE FIRE returned to her first love, poetry, after PITTSBORO, NC 27312 EATERS, an online chapbook, is 30 years in the practice of other arts (919) 542-5702 available through Web Del Sol. and is combining her poems with [email protected] Earlier collections include other media and in collaboration with Barbara Parentini, an author ALLUVIAL (Bucknell UP) and A fellow artists. and retired R.N., resides in SHARED LIFE (Iowa UP) which won Fearrington Village with her husband, the Iowa Prize and a Virginia Prize, KATHY MIKEAL Brian. She enjoys writing Christian selected by Mary Oliver. 898 PINKNEY PLACE devotions, creative non-fiction, and STANLEY, NC 28164 fiction. She now calls herself a (704) 827-6941 “practicing poet.” Parentini is her pen [email protected] WELCOME ALL

Joan Scott Memorial Get Ready for September 20 Endowment • If you haven’t picked up your copy of The Poetry Society continues to raise Sam Ragan Festival date the new Pinesong, get it in the book funds for the Joan Scott Memorial changes for 2009 room. Contest, created to honor Joan Scott, a • If you are a member who has a new long time supporter of North Carolina’s Our June honoring of the North Carolina book out, set it up to sell in the book poetry community and of NCPS. Please poet Sam Ragan will start a new tradition room. donate to endow this contest by in 2009. The new date for the festival will • We have new t-shirts and totes for sale contributing at our regular meetings or be the 2nd Saturday in March. to celebrate NCPS. by sending a check payable to the NC • Enter your name to win a “Gift of the Poetry Society to Pencil it in now: Muse.” Malaika King Sam Ragan Festival • Share your poetry at the open mic. 62 Kilbride Drive Saturday Pinehurst, NC 28374 March 14, 2009 Weymouth Center Southern Pines

6 Sam Ragan Day Rocks! Our afternoon featured poet and guitarist , long time favorite, singing his heart out and also reading selections Our June 21, 2008, from two of his poetry books. In celebration of addition, our program poets Sam Ragan was a high Michael also read several of Sam energy day! Ragan’s poems and a dramatic Keith Flynn, monologue later in the program, a Pulitzer along with members Dick Prize poetry Ostrander and Bruce Lader. nominee for his latest book The Golden Ratio, and captured the audience with his others donated books and CD’s verse and song. Barbara Parentini for multiple drawings of Gifts stated, “He stirred my soul.” from the Muse.

Michael Beadle, perform- ance poet, kept the energy Bill Griffin surprised the flowing, not only with his audience by teaching them various lively poems, but with campfire songs with both bongo drum accompaniment as a individual and group participation highlight of his presentation. and laughter. Ah! Weymouth

Sara and Malaika

Shelby and Keith

Bill, Dave, Tom and Ed in the book room

7 2009 North Carolina Poetry Society Poet Laureate and Adult Contests Entries must be postmarked by January 20,2009 No Simultaneous Submissions

ADULT CONTEST CATEGORIES CONTEST RULES • Submit one poem per category. The same poem 1. THOMAS H. McDILL AWARD: any form, any style, maximum may not be entered into more than one category. of 60 lines • A contestant may not enter a category in which he 1st Place: $50; 2nd Place: $25; 3rd Place: $15; Three Honorable Mentions or she won first place last year. • Each entry must be original, unpublished, and not 2. CALDWELL NIXON JR. AWARD: written by adults for children currently submitted for publication or to another ages 2-12, any form, any style, maximum of 32 lines contest. • For each poem submitted, send two legible copies 3. JOANNA CATHERINE SCOTT AWARD: traditional forms, printed on one side only of 8 1/2 by 11 paper. maximum of 32 lines (exception-sestina may have 39 lines) • On both copies type the name of the category in the upper left corner. On the duplicate copy only, 4. MARY RUFFIN POOLE AMERICAN HERITAGE AWARD: type the author’s name, address, phone number, any form, any style on the theme of American heritage, and e-mail address (if applicable) in the upper brotherhood/sisterhood, nature, maximum of 32 lines right corner; nonmembers add “nonmember.” • Winning poems will be published in the NCPS 5. KATHERINE KENNEDY McINTYRE LIGHT VERSE anthology, Pinesong. Poems may be chosen as poem- AWARD: any form, any style including limericks, maximum of of-the-month (with poet’s permission) and posted 32 lines on the NCPS web site. • Entries must be postmarked by January 20 , 6. LYMAN HAIKU AWARD 2009. Mail entries to: Beth Browne

7. POETRY OF COURAGE AWARD: any form, any style on the theme of courage or crisis, maximum of 32 lines • All checks should be written payable to NCPS. • Entries should be sent in one package with one 8. POETRY OF LOVE AWARD: any form, any style, maximum of check for the correct amount. Include a SASE for 32 lines notification and a list of winners. Mail delays are not the responsibility of NCPS. ****categories 2-8: 1st place: $25; 2nd place, $15; 3rd place, $10**** • entries arriving more than 7 calendar days after Three Honorable Mentions the deadline will not be considered and checks will be returned. Requests for additional contest ENTRY GUIDELINES: information should be accompanied by a SASE. No entry fee for NCPS members with active membership as of December 1, 2008. For non-members, the fee is $3 per poem. GENERAL GUIDELINES Membership questions and dues go to: Guy and Carolyn York NCPS retains first publication rights for wining (see page 10 or 12). Poets need not be NC residents. poems published in Pinesong, after which publication rights will return to the authors. Winners will receive POET LAUREATE AWARD one copy of Pinesong and will be invited to read at Open to poets currently residing in NC. A single prize of $100 for a Awards Day (May 16, 2009). Notification to winners serious poem, any subject, any style, maximum of 100 lines. will be mailed in April, 2009. Contest results Entry fee: $5 for NCPS members, $10 for non-members. will be released to newspapers after Awards Day. The winning poem is selected by the North Carolina Poet Laureate. Rules are posted at www.ncPoetrySociety.org

8 2009 Student Poetry Contest Grades 3 through Undergraduate Sponsored by the North Carolina Poetry Society Entries must be postmarked by January 20, 2009

Contest Categories Contest Guidelines

TRAVIS TUCK JORDAN AWARD 1. Student may submit a di!erent poem to !!!!grades 3-5 each category for which he or she is eligible. MARY CHILTON AWARD 2. Send 2 typed copies of each poem on !!!!grades 6-8 8 1/2 by 11 paper. 3. In the upper left corner of each copy, JOAN SCOTT MEMORIAL AWARD type the name of the category. (Do not ! poems about the environment put your name or address on these !!!!grades 3-8 copies.) 4. On a separate piece of paper, type or SHERRY PRUITT AWARD print: !!!!grades 9 + • the name of the category and the title of the poem LYMAN HAIKU AWARD • your name, home address, and telephone !!!!grades 9+ number • the name of your school, your grade, All poems (except the Haiku category) may be in teacher’s name, your school address and any form, but not exceed 32 lines per poem. No telephone number copies will be returned. • your teacher must sign this piece of paper before you send it with the PRIZES: poem(s) you must sign this paper and write in 1st place: trophy, certificate, $25 • your handwriting, “I pledge that this is my 2nd place: certificate, $15 original poem.” 5. Send $2 per poem. Make checks payable 3rd place: certificate, $10 to NCPS. Honorable Mention: certificate Mail entries to: Winning poems will be published in Pinesong, the NCPS annual anthology. Each winning poet receives one copy of the book. Poems may be Sara Claytor chosen as poem-of-the-month on the NCPS web 103 Estes Drive Extension site (with the permission of the author). Carrboro, NC 27510

9 Board Members and Committee Chairs NCPS

President Sue Farlow Members-at-large Regional Workshops 5634 Mack Lineberry Road Michael Potts Gail Williamson Climax, North Carolina 27233 8513 Appleridge Drive [email protected] 336 685 7006 Linden, North Carolina 28356 [email protected] 919 980 0900 [email protected] Webmaster 1st Vice President (programs) Earl Hubbard Sara Claytor [email protected] 103 Estes Drive Extension Committee Chairs: Carrboro, North Carolina 27510 919 370 9324 Book Citations Web Consultant [email protected] Ray Dotson [email protected] 2nd Vice President (membership) Book Sales Guy and Carolyn York Patty Williams 315 North Steele Street [email protected] Historian Sanford, North Carolina 27330 Barbara Presnell 919 776 7525 17 Hege Drive [email protected] Brockman-Campbell Book Award Lexington, North Carolina 27292 Jenny Braswell 336 248 4459 Recording Secretary [email protected] Malaika King Albrecht 62 Kilbride Drive Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374 [email protected] Contest Judges CALLING ALL MEMBERS Corresponding Secretary (newsletter editor) Jo Taylor Contest Sponsorship As part of the community of North 7232 Ridgeline Drive Carolina poets, you know the value of Raleigh, North Carolina 27613 belonging to the 919 518 2228 Gilbert-Campbell Distinguished Poet Series North Carolina Poetry Society. jogreason@bellsouth,net Bill Blackley [email protected] Treasurer Take an active role in the function of Bill Griffin our society. As you see, we have two 131 Bon Aire Road Long Range lanning board positions (student contest director Elkin, North Carolina 28621 and one member-at large) and several 336 835 7598 [email protected] committee chairs open. Strengthen your Nominating connection to our community by Adult Contest Director volunteering to fill a role. Beth Browne Pinesong Dedication PO Box 1612 Call or e-mail President, Garner, NC 27407# 919 989 8768 SUE FARLOW [email protected] Pinesong Editors

Student Contest Director Publicity TBA Caren Stuart [email protected]

10 Kwame Dawes Happy to Judge the Brockman-Campbell Book Award

Accomplished poet Kwame Dawes said, “It will be quite an honor to judge the 2008 Brockman-Campbell Book Award in 2008,” and he, “will love to read the crop of poetry from NC.” Dr. Dawes is Distinguished Poet in Residence, Louis Frye Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts, and Founder and Executive Director of the South Carolina Poetry Initiative. He is the director of the University of South Carolina Arts Institute and the programming director of the Calabash International Literary Festival, which takes place in Jamaica in May of each year. Dr. Dawes was born in Ghana in 1962, but spent most of his childhood and early adult life in Jamaica, which profoundly influenced the rhythm and texture of his poetry. His book Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius remains the most authoritative study of the lyrics of Bob Marley. Dr. Dawes’ 11th collection of verse, Wisteria: Poems From the Swamp Country, was published in January 2006. In February, 2007, Akashic Books published his novel, She’s Gone, and Peepal Tree Books published his twelfth collection of poetry, Impossible Flying, and his non-fiction work, A Far Cry From Plymouth Rock: A Personal Narrative. His essays have appeared in numerous journals including Bomb Magazine, The London Review of Books, Granta, Essence, World Literature Today and Double Take Magazine. In October, 2007, his thirteenth book of poems, Gomer’s Song will appear on the Black Goat imprint of Akashic Books. Over twenty of his plays have been produced in the past twenty-five years, including, most recently a production of his musical, One Love, at the Lyric Hammersmith in London.

Distinguished Poet Series Readies for 2009

The Gilbert-Chappell You may review the GCDPS Distinguished Poet Series guidelines of the program at http:// (GCDPS), sponsored by the North www.ncpoetrysociety.org/ To learn Carolina Poetry Society (NCPS), more information and see the region kicks off its sixth year this summer. in which your county falls, please Middle school, high school, college look at paragraph 9 A. of the and (for the second year) adult guidelines. The current student poets not currently in school chairpersons for each region are: Bill Blackley, State Chairman of the have until November 1st to apply for GDCPS, may be reached at a poetry mentorship with a East region – Dr. Rebecca Godwin, [email protected] or Distinguished Poet. The student Director of the Sam and Marjorie 336-835-4630 poets will be mentored on a dozen Ragan Writing Center, Barton pages of poetry for four to six College, [email protected], The Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished months and then will read in a 252-399-6364 Poet Series is funded in honor of the college or university along with a late Marie Gilbert, poet and past Distinguished Poet. Each student Central region – Dr. Ted Wojtasik, president of the NCPS, by her may also read with a Distinguished Visiting Faculty in English and husband, Dick Gilbert of Chapel Hill Poet in his or her local public library Creative Writing, St. Andrews and was inspired by in a special part of the Series Presbyterian recommendations from Fred sponsored by the North College, [email protected], Chappell in response to the NCPS Carolina Center for the Book. 910-277-3948 Long Range Plan.

The Distinguished Poets for this West region – Dr. Mary Adams, year (by region) are Lenard Moore Associate Professor, Asst. in the east, Tony Abbott in the Department Head, Director of the central and Catherine Carter Western Carolina Literary Festival, invited in the west. [email protected], 828-227-3269

11 NORTH CAROLINA POETRY SOCIETY NCPS FIRST CLASS organized 1932 7232 RIDGELINE DRIVE POSTAGE RALEIGH, NC 27613 280 members

The North Carolina Poetry Society holds regular meetings the 3rd Saturdays of January, May, and September.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. poetry and programs

NCPS sponsors the annual Sam Ragan Poetry Festival

All meetings are held at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities 555 East Connecticut Avenue Southern Pines, North Carolina

Pencil in: 2008 September 20 fall NCPS meeting November 1 deadline for newsletter 2009 January 17 winter NCPS meeting January 20 contest deadline March 1 deadline for newsletter The North Carolina Collection March 14 Sam Ragan Poetry Festival holds a copy of each issue of May 16 Awards Day Pine Whispers at the Wilson Library University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

submission deadlines for the newsletter are Keep Your Membership Current November 1, March 1, and Membership is renewable in May of each year. July 1. (Members who join after December 1 and before May 1, do not need to renew until the following year.) Dues are $25.00 a year ($10.00 for students). Make your check payable to North Carolina Poetry Society and send to: The Newsletter Editor has a new ad- Guy and Carolyn York dress and e-mail. (See 315 North Steele Street corresponding secre- Sanford, NC 27330 tary, page 10.

...poems are like rainbows: they escape you quickly. !!!!!!!!!! Langston Hughes

12