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SPARE MULE ONLINE                    January 1, 2010  

 
SPARE MULE ONLINE is a publication
of Missouri State Poetry Society, which is
a federation of local chapters of poets as
well as some poet members-at-large who
join the state organization directly. The state
society is, in turn, part of the National
Federation of Poetry Societies. The
purposes of the group are to stimulate the
appreciation of poets and poetry, to provide
opportunities for the study of and practice
in writing and reading poetry, and to unite
poets in bonds of fellowship and understanding.
 


FROM YOUR PRESIDENT, BILLY ADAMS--

Faye and I are in the process of judging the 600 plus poems from the Wyoming state poetry contest. We are in the process of making "good and bad" heaps. I was surprised to find that usually agree when choosing which pile the poems end up in. The problem we will have is picking the final list from the "good" pile.

As most of you are aware, I’m a poet by accident and still learning new things about the craft. The following is an example of the learning exercises that I use to improve myself. Please note that I’m aware of mixing metaphors in the examples.

In the October 2005 issue of By Line magazine there is a great article, "Using Sound Symbolism" by Katryn Wilkens. She discussed using words that refer to sounds. The technical name is onomatopoeia. It’s a long article so I’ll not try to discuss it here but I recommend that you read it.

The other technique is taking something, usually a noun describing an object, and have it perform in a way that is impossible but readily understood by the reader. Below is a before and after example using a poem.

Before:

Wormwood

In my dreams
I always find elegant solutions
to the most knotty problems.
As I sleep, soaring lines
flow through my mind.
But upon awakening,
they all turn to wormwood.
Morning light glints
upon the flaws,
like sunlight on snow.
I have the soul of a poet,
writing skills of a blacksmith.
After:

Wormwood 2

In my dreams I write poetry.
My words dance to the tune
of a pristine mountain stream,
climb to heights where eagles soar
and plunge to icy depths of inky seas.
But upon awakening, my words
turn to wormwood and gall.
My carefully crafted phrases
fade into the morning mist.
I have the soul of a poet,
writing skills of a blacksmith.

Usually, comparisons are linked by the word like. For example, "The evening sunset is like molten lava flowing across the seam that separates the earth from the sky." Not using it (like) will normally improve the word picture you are trying to paint. Try instead, "Molten lava flows from the evening sun along the seam that divides night from day."

Billy Adams, President

 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM YOUR EDITOR

  Beginning with the January issue of the SPARE MULE we will be sending Spare Mule via e-mail. This was discussed and unanimously approved at the 2009 MSPS Convention by all those present.

  STROPHES, which is normally sent with the Spare Mule will be available, as always, at www.nfsps.com and will be referenced in each Spare Mule.

  Spare Mule is issued 4 times a year at the beginning of January, April, August, and October. To be viable and up to date each chapter is asked to send in Chapter Reports prior to the deadlines which are the last week before the months listed above. All members of MSPS are asked to send in poems, notice of awards won, and any items of interest that might interest the state organization. These may be sent in at any time before the deadlines.

One other important note. It is much simpler for each member who has e-mail capabilities to send an individual e-mail to mopoetry@mchsi.com with SUBJECT: SPARE MULE and a short request to be added to the e-mail list. This way all that is needed is to save the address. This saves me time and assures the correctness of the address.

One additional benefit of going electronic is that we will not be limited to the number of pages we send. This should be an opportunity for members to send in more poems for publications and awards

This conversion to electronic delivery of the Spare Mule takes effect with the January issue, but please send in your e-mail addresses as soon as possible to provide the easiest transition.

E-mail contact with the Spare Mule editor should be via mopoetry@mchsi.com Subject: Spare Mule
 

 

REPORTS FROM OUR LOCAL CHAPTERS:

Crawford County Bombadils: Though membership is low during these cold months, we have still had quite a bit of fun. Crawford County Bombadils hosted a Poet Speak in November at a local coffee shop here called Java.net. We had a fantastic turnout with eight readers and a warm, welcoming audience. With the coming of the New Year, we are again holding a Youth Poetry Contest and planning a Spring Poetry Read-Around in our community. Our focus for our meetings is small workshops in writing and sharing ideas and new material. We are looking forward to many new adventures in 2010, one of which will be the hosting of the MSPS State Convention in September. We hope to see you then here in Cuba.                               Dawn Harmon

Poets & Friends Winter Banquet:  If you were not at the Pasta Express in Springfield, MO on the 21st of December, you missed a great time! You also missed a great dinner and you missed all the winners and some wonderful poetry!  We had nearly 30 people attend the dinner. Thirty-five contestants entered the contest with 270 entries from New Hampshire to Florida to Utah. The nationwide contest drew some wonderful poetry that we read and enjoyed. Also, there were 29 entries to our Youth Poetry Contest with many excellent offerings. The group even had a read-a-round with some great Christmas poetry. Next year, plan to attend our winter party for some great fun, poetry and food.                                                                         Marsha Becco
 

On Edge:  Billy and Faye Adams were recent judges of the Wyoming State Poetry Contest. There were 648 poems entered. After narrowing it down they still had over 100 on their long list. That’s when they found that they had to really get picky to narrow it down to the few winners allowed. This is very often the case. Judging is sometimes harder than writing a winning poem.  

Billy Adams had an article accepted for Guidepost Magazine’s book called The Healing Touch, which is the second book in a series of twelve books called The Incredible Prayer.

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 Search is on for Native American Poet Laureate

Monterey, Calif.--(1/1/10)--Entries are now being accepted in the First White Buffalo Native American Poet Laureate poetry contest. The winning poem will receive a $100 cash award. Native American ancestry is not a prerequisite; good writing in the voice of the Indian Spirit is necessary. Deadline for entries is Feb. 28, 2010.

Co-sponsors are White Buffalo Tribe honorary chiefs Barbara Callahan Quin (LittleCrow WalkingEagle), Springfield, Mo. and Yvonne Londres (Dances with Poetry), San Antonio, Tex. Contest administrator is Wanda Sue Parrott, (Prairie Flower), Monterey, CA.

Details and rules are available on the online-host home page links "Contest—White Buffalo" and "Newsletter—The Diploemat" (Sept. and Dec. 2009) at www.amykitchenerfdn.org ---Wanda Parrot

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POEMS FROM OUR MEMBERS:

WINTER HAIKU
John J. Han
On the Edge

snowy football field
steam comes out
of players' mouths

melting in the sun
drop by drop
icicles

winter garden
perching on a bare branch
golden butterflies

growing out of
a deserted wheelbarrow
winter grasses

icy rain
sipping hot tea
by the fireside

 

 

 

 

 

midwinter night
sound of migrating birds
then silence

deep snow
a prayer—
may school be closed

UNTITLED
Frieda Risvold
Member-at-Large

I swept a mess of leaves
clear off the deck and steps.
A gusty wind came up
and blew them back to me.

Then sheets of rain came down
and plastered leaves to wood
making such a mucky mess
I retreated to the house.

This game's no longer fun.
Let Mother Nature have her way.

 

 

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MSPS WINTER 2010 CONTEST:


Here are the guidelines for the MSPS Winter 2010 Contest:

 Deadline: Postmarked February 15, 2010 [EXTENDED TO MARCH 1, 2010]

 Format: Submit two copies of each entry, category number and name in upper left-hand corner of both copies, poet's name and address in upper right-hand corner of one copy.   If you are a member, put "Missouri State Poetry Society" below your address.  Put "Non-Member" if you are not.

 Limits: Poems may be 40 or fewer lines.  They may be unpublished or previously published if the poet retains the rights to the poem.  Poets may enter each category as many times as they wish.  No poems will be returned. 

Categories:

 1. Rhymed verse or blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) any subject, serious or humorous
 
 2. Free verse, any subject, serious or humorous

 3. Humorous verse, any subject

 4. Any form, winter subject, serious or humorous

 5. Members only--Poet's choice: any form, any subject, serious or humorous

 6. Youth Poetry  Division I:  Middle School 6th-8th grades
                           Division II: High School 9th-12th grades
                                   (See Special Rules Below)

Fees for Categories 1-5:

  • Non-members pay $1.00 per entry.  Members pay $1.00 for two entries.  Make money order or check payable to MSPS and mail to Bill Lower, 21010 S. Hwy 245, Fair Play, MO 65649.  Include an SASE or your e-mail address on an index card for a list of the winners.

Prizes:

  • $25, $15, $10, and three honorable mentions in each category. 

Membership: 

  •  If you do not belong to one of our local chapters but wish to join Missouri State Poetry Society, pay the $13 annual member-at-large fee and enter the contests by paying a member's reduced contest fees. See Membership Application on the menu on our webpage at www.nfsps.com/mo.



Special Rules for Youth Poetry (for Category 6 only):
1. FREE. There are no fees for the Youth category.
2. Open to Missouri students only, currently in grades 6-12.
3. Limited to one poem per student.
4. Students may individually submit an entry, or they may be submitted by their teacher.
5. Any type of poetry accepted except “found poetry.”.
6. 37 line maximum, including lines between stanzas; lines no longer than 45 characters.
7. Cash prizes will be awarded. In addition, first place winners will be published in the MSPS Anthology Grist.
8. Winners and HMs will automatically qualify as candidates for MO entries to the Manningham Student Poetry Award Contest, sponsored by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies.

Submit two copies:
1. On one, write only  “category 6”  and the student’s grade in top right hand corner.
2. On other copy:
     a. in top right hand corner, write category 6, student’s name, address, and grade.
     b. on top left hand corner, write English teacher’s name and email address, school name and address     
Send Youth entries to:       Judy Young                                  
                                       MSPS Youth Director                         
                                       6155 E. Farm Road 132
                                       Springfield, MO  65802

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Missouri State Poetry Summer 2009 Contest Winners

Category 1, Rhymed or Blank Verse--Judge, Eugene Shea

1st Place….We Sit Alone. . Faye Adams
2
nd place…Back Yard Play Space ….Marilyn Camden Norton
3
rd Place… Insight….Lou Layman
1st Hon. Mention.. High Noon in the Old Country .. Geraldine Felt
2
nd Hon. Mention.. It is Enough.. Ted O. Badger
3
rd Hon. Mention.. Pointe du Hoc.. D. Gary Christian

Category 2, Free Verse--Judge, Larry Thomas

1st place.. Spring Stampede.. Geraldine R. Pratt
2
nd place.. North Star.. John McBride
3
rd place.. A Gardener’s Life…Eugene M. Gagliano
1
st Hon. Mention.. Inheritance.. Ellaraine Lockie
2
nd Hon. Mention.. Blue Chenille Tales.. Carol Carpenter
3
rd Hon. Mention.. Prayer Meeting.. Anna Roberts Wells

Category 3, Humorous Verse--Judge, Tom Padgett

1st Place….Bare Necessities… D. Gary Christian
2
nd Place…A Shortening Story… D. Gary Christian
3
rd place ….Taxes…Jerri Hardesty
1
st Hon. Mention..Truelove…Lou Layman
2
nd Hon. Mention..Beverly Hills Lunch …Frank Adams
3
rd Hon. Mention…The Short Pants Blues…Jim Barton

Category 4, Summer Verse--Judge, Harding Stedler

First Place--The Corner Store….. Loretta Diane Walker, Odessa Texas
Second Place--
Getting Away… Nedra Rogers, Lawrence Kansas
Third place --
A Nudist's Bill of Rights…. Wanda Sue Parrott, Monterey California
First Honorable Mention--
Cottonwood Encounter….Geraldine R. Pratt, Murray UT
Second Honorable Mention--
He Paddled the Kayak Across the Lake.. Mary Jo Maguire
Third Honorable Mention --
Passive Submission… Annetta Talbot Beauchamp

Category 5, Judge, Pat Laster

First place.. Lilacs Bloom in the Vacant Lot.. Carol Carpenter
Second place..
Capri, by the Sea .. Gilda Kreuter
Third place..
My Body Which Was Broken.. Tania Gray
First Honorable Mention..
A Wretch Like Me.. Ellaraine Lockie
Second Honorable Mention..
Beneath the Layers.. Catherine Moran
Third Honorable Mention..
Vintages.. Von S. Bourland


TIME TO PAY 2010 DUES FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T ALREADY PAID!

Chapter Treasurers: please send payment and list of members, including $7 and an e-mail address for each, to State Treasurer Bill Lower, 21010 S. Hwy 245, Fair Play, MO 65649.

Members-at-Large, those not a member of a local chapter, pay $13 per year and payment should be sent directly to Bill Lower at the above address.

Please make all checks payable to MSPS.
 

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Spare Mule is edited by Don DePriest of Springfield's Poets & Friends chapter.  When emailing copy to him at mopoetry@mchsi.com, please place “For Spare Mule“ on the subject line.  When using US Postal Service, address him at 1241 W. Vancouver Drive, Springfield, MO 65803.  Tom Padgett is the MSPS webmaster who posts the copy to this web site.  His e-mail address is tpadgett1@windstream.net.


ANYONE
INTERESTED in further information about MISSOURI STATE POETRY SOCIETY may contact President Billy Adams at bja54@fayeadams.com.
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Home | History | Bulletin Board | Articles of Incorporation | Members | Local Chapters | Members-at-LargeWinter Contest
Summer Contest
| State Anthology | State Convention | Membership Application | Links | State Report | Contact Us

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