The Utah State Poetry Society’s POET TREE February ‘12 President’s Message — Eric Read Dear UTSPS Friends: I have been reading a book by Harold Bloom titled Till I End My Song that is a collection of last poems by many great poets. I quote from the book, “We turn to last poems at whatever age because we both desire and fear finalities. We want to know and not know the extent of our temporal spans, and we hope to learn from the poets not how to die but how to stand against uncertainty.” We have felt the loss of many valuable friends and poets recently. This has given me pause to reflect on life in general. We all need a particular kind of nourishment for the spirit in sad and trying times. This counsel always helps me: If of thy mortal goods thou are bereft My best wishes to all of you in this exciting New Year, and And from the slender store two loaves of bread alone may we all be winners in life. Always remember this to thee are left, favorite saying of mine: “It’s not the stroke of the pendulum as it goes to and fro, but the essence which Sell one, and with the dole drives it that makes us go.” Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul. — Saadi, “Garden of Roses” What’s Inside However, I don’t propose that my entire message be ◆ Chapter news . 2 gloomy. In fact, since I’ve heard Norman Vincent Peale, ◆ Round Robin information . 2 I’ve lost my run-down feeling. Let us carry on! ◆ Dixie Poet Wins Prize . 3 Poetry in the Park and The Red Rock Writers Seminar will be held March 29 to 31. Former NFSPS President ◆ April Awards Festival information . 4, 5 Bud Powell Mahan will be our poet headliner. This ◆ Redrock Writers Seminar . 5 promises to be a great experience for all in attendance. Look for more information on page 5 . ◆ Poetry in the Park . 5 ◆ Poet Tree Publication Schedule . 6 Whether or not you entered our annual contest, I hope ◆ Calendar . 6 you’re planning to come to the April Awards Festival. We ◆ Gordian Knot of Plagiarism . 6 will have Ted Kooser, former United States Poet Laureate, as our main presenter. I would love to see all of you in ◆ Best Deal in Town . 7 attendance. For more information, see pages 4 and 5 , and ◆ Panorama submissions . 7 the registration form included with this newsletter. You can also visit our website at www.utahpoets.com for ◆ Critique Bureau information . 7 registration information. POET TREE February ‘12 CCHHAAPPTTEERR NNEEWWSS:: What’s Up Where You Live? titled “Writing from the Heart” on February 4. This event is BEN LOMOND POET PENS CHILDREN’S BOOK sponsored by Heritage Writer’s Guild. Joel Passey from Ben Lomond Chapter has published a pic - ture book for children titled Treweena . It’s a fanciful story On February 1, Lin Floyd (director of Poetry In Action) will about a cat named Treweena who has a special affection for participate in an original poetry program titled “Voices of tomatoes. It’s a fun read. To buy a copy, go to Xlibris website Women.” UTSPS poets Marilyn Ball, LaVerna Johnson, at http://bookstore.xlibris.com . and Leah Zollinger will read their poems. Preparing for Poetry in the Park and the Redrock Writers Dixie Chapter Lin Floyd annual conference in March is also keeping us busy. We are off and running with a myriad of activities for the new year. Our group is growing under the new leadership of co-presidents Lin Floyd and Barbara Funke, with LaVerna Oquirrh Chapter Marney Zambrano Johnson as Lesson Coordinator, Gary Christian as Secretary, It’s official: By unanimous decision, Oquirrh Chapter has a and Marilyn Richardson as Scheduler. Thank you to “new” president as well as a “new” home! Elaine Ipson is Robynn Jones for her service as president. We’ve had as replacing Marney Zambrano—effective immediately. Until many as 14 poets come to our twice-monthly meetings in further notice, our chapter meetings will be conducted on the Washington County library, during which we have a the last Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at lesson and individual poetry critiques. the Ipson residence (449 Country Club Drive, Stansbury We participate monthly in the Second Thursday poetry Park, UT). Not only is Elaine the founder of our chapter, readings sponsored jointly with Redrock Writers at the local but she’s also been president before, and we used to meet at Barnes and Noble bookstore. Pine View High School’s Eng - her house all the time. We look forward to gathering there lish students join us and read their poems at this activity. again. Our February 23, 2012, meeting will feature guest poet Rose Ostler, who will present selections from Walking We will be judging the English Quest in February for Snow the Earth Barefoot , her 2010 UTSPS Book of the Year. All Canyon High School’s English classes. Tooele County poets are welcome to join us that evening. Four of our members (Marilyn Ball, Lin Floyd, Barbara Please call 435-882-5183 or email [email protected] for cur - Funke, and LaVerna Johnson) will teach a poetry workshop rent information about future Oquirrh Chapter activities. Rhyme & Reason Chapter Kolette Montague There’s a major change in the air for our chapter. The How to Join a Round Robin Bountiful Davis Art Center is undergoing a renovation. Looking for help and encouragement? A poetry snail- The blueprint is already on the drawing board to make the mail “round robin” might be just what you need. building more ecologically friendly and compatible for its When you join, several other people will read your various uses. Those attending state workshops will have a poems and make favorable comments and suggestions. wonderful surprise in the future as you see what the renova - In return, you read and critique poems for the other tion does for us. members. Join today by writing to: We are enjoying success with two meetings a month. And Clarence Socwell we’re finding that one meeting in the evening and one in 2737 N. 650 East the afternoon seems to be an added bonus. More members Ogden, UT 84414 are able to make it to at least one meeting a month. We [email protected] meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at the Bountiful Davis Art Center. Our calling committee reminds Include your name, address, telephone number, and members about each meeting where we continue to improve email address (used for contact purposes only). When our poetic skills and enjoy the camaraderie of poet friends. four to six people inquire, your names will be added to a group and you will receive the first round by regular mail. Our Christmas Party, hosted by Dona Hill, was a fun-filled success where we enjoyed good friends, good food, good 2 POET TREE February ‘12 poems and some interesting white elephants. 2011. Heather traveled to the convention to read from her publication, Mastering the Art of Joy . She has pub - Our Poetry Wall at the Bountiful Davis Art Center is a lished another collection, Strings and Synapses . She does wonderful way to share our poetry with the public for their all this while she studies Integrated Studies with emphasis appreciation, and possibly to inspire new poets. Under the on Anthropology and English Literature, plus a minor in management of Maxine Shreve, during the past 11 years we creative writing—plus being wife and mother of five. have had almost 400 poems displayed on the Wall. We hope to continue this after the building renovation, too. • Published in this year’s Panorama are Word Weavers Karen Keith Gibson and Susan Randall. We look forward to another year of productive poetry writ - ing, sharing, and learning. Got poems? You bet! • Mary Keith Boyack has realized a life-long dream to write and publish her story of Joseph of Egypt. Now 80, Mary (grandmother and great-grandmother of 50) is on Valley Winds Chapter Paul Ford signing tours for The Coat and the Crown , available on - Our twice-a-month meetings this fall and first half of winter line and at Deseret Book. have averaged 10 participants. At our last August session, Lee Snell presented poems from his winning book, Night • And grandly last, Utah’s 2011 Poet of the Year is our Wind Home . own Lee Snell. He has done readings around the state and at the October Book Concert sharing his heart in We held our winter holidays dinner at the Golden Corral on Night Wind Home . His book is available through UTSPS. Fort Union Boulevard in Midvale. Fifteen of the faithful en - joyed food and friends, along with poetry. We ended our feast See what we mean? Our minds overfloweth. with an on-the-spot poem composed in couplets by attendees, *An artful online magazine in its third year: www.provoorem using for inspiration the Christmas carol, Up On the Roof Top . word.org . Congratulations to Ned Snell for his win in the Utah Arts & Museums Annual Writing Competition. In the poetry category, he won second place for his collection, With - Dixie Poet Wins Prize drawal . There were 320 entries in seven categories. Lin Floyd, co-president of UTSPS’s Dixie chapter, Our meetings are on the second and last Wednesdays of the won second prize and month at the Holladay Library from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. $750 in the Utah Arts and Museums 2010 Origi - Word Weavers Chapter Pat Johnson nal Writing competition for first books in the juve - We are fast running out of balloons and confetti, so many of our nile book category.