Poetry Tips: Happy Halloween

Instead of trying to write poems, I dare you to read some. Find all the poets you know who write about spooky events, ghosts, etc. such as Poe and Dickinson and see if you can sneak in lines while you’re out at Halloween parties or trick-or-treating with the kids. Give yourself 5 points every time someone recognizes who you are quoting and see how many points you can win yourself at the end of Halloween night. Think classic words or lines such as “Nevermore” or “Because I could not stop for death…”

Have a Happy Halloween and see you Monday after you’ve recovered from your sugary hang-overs…

Nerve Cowboy Chapbook Open Submissions

If you haven’t read Nerve Cowboy then please be sure to check out their site and read some sample poems. If you have a batch of straight-talking, sharp-shooting poems then this is the place to submit your chapbook. Submit 24-40 pages of poetry with an Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
Nerve Cowboy Chapbook Contest
PO Box 4973
Austin, TX 78765

Check it out at:
http://www.jwhagins.com/ChapContest.html

Thanks for dropping in, please stop by tomorrow for more Poetry Tips…

Poems Found by Poet Hound

http://www.versedaily.org/2008/chinesebox.shtml
“Chinese Box” by Carmen Germaine

http://www.trout.auckland.ac.nz/journal/15/15_2.html
“Among the Freuds” by Diana Bridge


PS: Jim Murdoch has a wonderful two part interview with Claire Askew and here are the links below:
http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.com/2008/10/and-interview-with-claire-askew-part.html
http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.com/2008/10/interview-with-claire-askew-part-two.html
Claire explains her reasoning behind creating One Night Stanzas, how she grew as a poet, and so on. It’s very educational and entertaining so please take a look!

Thanks for clicking in, please stop by tomorrow for more Open Submissions…

Christopher Cunningham's In Gambler's Blood

Christopher Cunningham’s chapbook, In Gambler’s Blood is available from Kendra Steiner Editions and is about the different perspectives of the gamblers at the gambling table. Think of it as a story unfolding through the eyes of the characters that brings to light their backgrounds as well as their emotions brimming through every turn of the card.

There are two poems I particularly enjoyed in the collection and the first one is:

the calculation of risk

the one with the difficult job
watches the cards as they slip from the
dealer’s fingers onto the dark burgundy felt.

four of diamonds
ace of diamonds
eight of spades.

he sees the gambler on his right move a stack of chips
in his direction. he takes a breath, very shallow.
he looks at the dealer.
he thinks about
the different kinds of luck
a man can have.

and not have.

the air is heavy with rent money and pain.
he reaches down and lifts the corners
of his cards
with rough fingers
to make sure his ace and his eight are still there.

he counts the chips in the pot.
there are two cards to come.
he calls.

sometimes,
life moves strangely.

he scratches his face and looks out over the
edge of his world
into the unknown.

My favorite line is “the air is heavy with rent money and pain” because it places the emphasis on what’s at stake to lose and win. It also indicates the place where the gambler is coming from, his need for the money, the pain that comes with addiction in needing to play. You can also find yourself holding your breath waiting for the outcome just as the player is deciding his move. The ending leaves you hanging in suspense which furthers your desire to read the other poems hoping the answer will be found.


The second poem I enjoyed immensely is:

a matter of reward

the one with the family doesn’t like
what he sees.
he rolls the gold band around his finger
with his thumb while he thinks.

at home his wife
is putting the kids
to bed. the television is on
but the sound is down.
she turns out the light
on the children
and has a glass of wine
in the silence.
her mind is quiet.

the gold is cold under his thumb.

he looks at the four again.
the one with the difficult job
is sitting very still,
staring at a spot
atmospherically removed from the game.

when does a man
ever truly know
anything
for certain?

he pitches his cards in the muck
along with the money
that will not be his.


This poem not only encompasses the player but also his family and their activities while he is playing cards. The line “her mind is quiet” piques my interest because I cannot imagine a woman whose mind is quiet if her husband is out gambling and she knows it. However, she may not know what he’s up to and that could be why her mind is quiet. Chris, when you read this review, would you be so kind as to which is it?
Also, when the player is lined up with the stanza “when does a man/every truly know/anything/for certain” it makes a great setup for the letdown. It’s as if the player lost confidence and threw his cards and money into the fray regardless, recklessly. Again, this brings me back to the wife whose “mind is quiet.” What do you make of all that?

Please visit the Kendra Steiner Edition site and please note there is a 3 for $10.00 special for purchases which is well worth your while. Also, with the purchase of Cunningham’s book comes a special surprise inside hand-made by Mr. Cunningham himself that represents the entirety of the chapbook.
You can also visit Christopher Cunningham’s wonderful blog at the link below:
http://savageheavens.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading, please stop in tomorrow for more Poems Found by Poet Hound…

Catapult to Mars

Check out this interesting blog written in several languages by Gordon Mason who has the same goal as most of us: Increasing readership of poetry (hence writing in several languages such as English, Scots, and Spanish). Poems galore from around the world, please check it out at:

http://www.catapulttomars.blogspot.com/

Thanks for dropping in, please stop by tomorrow for another featured poet…