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ON THE EDGE

MEMBERS: As of March 7, 2007, there were 19 members in this poetry society. MEETING DATES, TIME, AND PLACE: First Tuesday of each month 7:00-9:00 pm at The Holiday Inn, in Festus. Third Friday 10:00-12:00am at the De Soto Library. OFFICERS: President Roberta Craig, Secretary/Treasurer Faye Adams, and State Society Representative Billy J. Adams. PROGRAMS: The members read their poems to other members of the group and encourage each other with comments and suggestions for improvement.  The poets cooperate with other members of a local writing group from time to time to produce an anthology.  Guidelines and the entry form for the next anthology are given below.  Click here. CONTACT PERSON: Those interested in attending a meeting of this group to see if they would like to become members should contact Billy J. Adams at  badams0523@esagelink.com or 636-337-0523 or 12600 McKinstry Road, De Soto MO 63020.

RECENTLY PUBLISHED POEMS INCLUDE: BROKEN STONES, BROKEN BONES Faye Adams Last winter, the weather cracked the stones I had so carefully laid along the garden path This summer, Mother fell causing a bruised, chipped bone in her left hand and broken pelvic bone New stones crack Old bones break Fresh out of the earth, unweathered stones surrendered to pressure Too long at work-- 88 years in her body— my mother’s bones snapped Stones get harder and stronger as they age Would that bones could do the same   BROKEN Cindy Tebo A cinquain clay pipe with leaf imprints like a child taken from its mother, the stem no longer remains.

GRAND DESIGN Billy J. Adams In fields and along roadsides, slender grass stalks, laden with seeds wave in the soft morning breeze. In lawns, they spring up overnight to sow next year's harvest. Flowers long dormant start their frantic race to bloom before being snuffed out by frost Mud wasps hum with their multi-note song as they build cocoons for their offspring. Hummingbirds put on spectacular acrobatic displays. In a short time they will fly south. Soon God will descend with his paintbrush and convert the green forest to a multicolor wonder, where individual leaves vary in hue. In a short time colors will fade. A year from now the cycle repeats. If God interacts in detail with temporal things, I know He watches me.

2008 Poetry/Story Anthology Guidelines The On The Edge MSPS chapter is seeking submissions for their 2008 anthology. This year’s theme is Emerald Fields.   Each person whose poem(s) or story gains acceptance for publication will receive a free copy of the published book, a $15.00 value. The books are library-bound (stitched) hardback and have an ISBN number assigned. This will be our sixth annual anthology. We plan to limit the book size to approximately 200 pages. We are seeking artwork for the cover, and illustrations for your work. Contact Billy Adams for detailed art submission requirements. Submission Guidelines You may submit five poems of one page, or a maximum of five pages, and/or a nonfiction story. Printing space for each page is approximately three (3)" wide and six (6)" high. POEMS: Maximum number of lines 36,including spaces and title. Maximum number of characters per line is 50. Two-page poems are permitted, but the five-page limit will not be waived (36 lines per page). STORIES: Limited to 1500 words, nonfiction or creative nonfiction only. You may submit both poems and a story. If you choose to submit both, the entry fee will be $15.00. Poems and/or stories may be edited for content.              Subject:  Any (related to theme if possible)          Poetry Form:  Any  Submission fee: $10.00 for entry of (5) poems or one (1) story. $15.00 for both if entered by the same author. Deadline: May 31, 2008 - Early submissions preferred. Accepted submissions printed in order received. Make check or money order payable to On the Edge, and mail to the following address.  Entry must be accompanied by a signed submission form. Do not email submissions unless your entry form and fee have been sent. Mail to: Billy J. Adams, 12600 McKinstry Road, De Soto, MO 63020. Electronic submissions: email to Billy at: badams0523@esagelink.com. Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format, 1997, 2000 or 2002 version. You may also send submissions by mail on a 3" floppy disk. Mac users may submit Apple-works format to Faye at: aloe095@esagelink.com, or mail on a floppy. If you have questions, call Faye or Billy Adams at (636) 337-0523, or use either email. Please use Times New Roman, font size 12, if possible. Poetry: Start all lines at the left margin, except lines tabbed or spaced for emphases. Centering all lines between margins is acceptable. Each poem must be on a separate file or page. Story:  Single space with indented paragraphs. Printed Submissions: Each poem must be printed on a separate page, single spaced, plain white paper only. Submit one copy of each poem. No frills, please. Submit story printed on plain white paper, single spaced, indented paragraphs, 1500 word limit. Reminder: You may include illustrations for your poems or story, if you have them   Entry Form MSPS Chapter On the Edge 2008 Anthology  Name: __________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________               _________________________________________________________________               _________________________________________________________________               _________________________________________________________________ Pen Name (if other than your legal name and you want your poems identified by your pen name)___________________________________________________________________ List of submitted poems: 1.      _______________________________________________________________ 2.      _______________________________________________________________ 3.      _______________________________________________________________ 4.      _______________________________________________________________ 5.      _______________________________________________________________   Story:  1.________________________________________________________________   I give permission to the On the Edge Poetry Chapter to publish the above poems and/or story in their 2008 anthology. If submitted works are published, compensation will be made in the form of one copy of the 2008 anthology per 5 poems and/or single story. After publication, all rights will revert back to me. These are original works, written by me.* Signed by: ______________________________________________________________