Lavina Blossom's poem, "Three" (from the humor issue) featured today on Best New Poems Online

Hope you've all had a wonderful Independence Day! I spent mine watching the fireworks through the lens of a camera trying to get a decent shot, while also trying to hold my hands over my son's ears to shield them from the noise, then this morning read Shaindel Beers' A Brief History of Time.

Just a couple of really quick FYI's as we still have a few hours left of this holiday weekend:

First, the deadline for the gender issue has now passed. If you've submitted work, you can look forward to a response sometime before the summer's out, with this issue breaking with tradition and launching in October (usually it would go up in June, but I've recently made the decision to change the publication dates to October & April).

Also, I'll be making an announcement in the near future about upcoming calls for submissions, but in the meanwhile this would be a good time to check out the humor issue (if you haven't done so already, or even if you have), in particular Lavina Blossom's poem, "Three", which is featured today on Best New Poems Online.

The fireworks may be over, but the hottest part of the summer is still to come. Take advantage of it, or stay as cool as you can, but whatever you do make sure to dip into some summer reading.

Welcome back!

A couple of years ago I made the decision to consolidate this blog with my own, but Poemeleon has grown a lot since then and it deserves its own space, and I need somewhere to make more public announcements.

To begin with, several of our contributors are up for Rhysling Awards this year. Our congratulations go out to:

Diana Adams

Mary Alexandra Agner

Jeannine Hall Gailey

Lynn Strongin

(We're keeping our fingers crossed for you! To read the full list of nominees click here.)

I would also like to announce our nominees for this year's Best New Poets anthology (published by Meridian, University of Virginia Press):

Jon Stone, for "Bullshit Related Injuries in the A & E"

Ellen Goldstein, for "Landscape"

We've had a little luck with this particular anthology (Alex Grant's "The Steps of Montmartre" was chosen for inclusion in a prior year's issue), and these are certainly memorable poems, so we wish them the best of luck. To be nominated, the poem must have been published sometime during the twelve months prior to the deadline, and the poet must not have a full-collection in print, or in progress to be published before November of the following year. In combing through the issues, I was amazed at just how accomplished our contributors are; there were only a handful who met the requirements, which made it both easier (fewer to choose from) and harder (how to choose?).

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Also, I've made a change to the publication schedule:

As many of you know, after mothering two small boys for nearly ten years, last year I decided to go ahead and apply to a MFA program that would allow me to work from home while still managing the household, Poemeleon, as well as my own writing and reading schedule (nevermind the fact that I am expecting again, which should throw a brand new wrench into the works!). I will complete my first year this June, but something that I hadn't factored in was that the mandatory residency period falls just when Poemeleon's issues should be coming due (June & December). This past issue was delayed until March as I struggled to get caught up after the new year, so I have decided that to better serve everyone's needs the new publication dates will be October and April. The next issue, which will focus on the issue of gender, has a submission deadline of June 30. Last year we implemented an online submission form which is now in full swing. It has made for a more efficient way to read and keep track of submissions. And as always, we encourage you to track your submission through Duotrope's free submission tracker.

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In other news:

Every associate editor has come to me first as a contributor: Maureen Alsop and Ren Powell had poems published in the first two issues, and Tom Hunley, who sent me poems first, then later book reviews. In keeping with what seems to be our tradition, we are adding a new Associate editor. We have published her in several issues, and as she is retiring from her University position this year, we are pleased to welcome to the staff Judy Kronenfeld. A little more about Judy:

Judy Kronenfeld is the author of two books and two chapbooks of poetry, the most recent being Light Lowering in Diminished Sevenths, winner of the 2007 Litchfield Review Poetry Book Prize, which was published in Summer, 2008. Her poems, as well as the occasional short story and personal essay have appeared in numerous print and online journals. Recent and forthcoming poem credits include Natural Bridge, The American Poetry Journal, The Innisfree Poetry Journal, Calyx, The Hiram Poetry Review, The Pedestal, The Cimarron Review, as well as a number of anthologies, including Bear Flag Republic: Prose Poems and Poetics from California, edited by Christopher Buckley and Gary Young (Greenhouse Review Press/Alcatraz Editions, 2008) and Beyond Forgetting: Poetry and Prose about Alzheimer’s Disease, edited by Holly Hughes (Kent State University Press, 2009). She is also the author of a critical study: KING LEAR and the Naked Truth (Duke U.P., 1998). She has taught in the Department of Creative Writing, at the University of California, Riverside for twenty-five years.

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And if you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, the humor issue launched last month. It includes poems, reviews, and essays by:

Malaika King Albrecht, Sherman Alexie, Renee Ashley, Diego Baez, Lavina Blossom, Deborah Bogen, Jason Bredle, Patrick Carrington, Alex Cigale, Barbara Crooker, Carol Dorf, R.S. Dunn, Tim Earley, Kate Fetherston, Ann Fisher-Wirth, Richard Garcia, David Graham, Alex Grant, Matthew Henrickson, Paul Hostovsky, Tom Hunley, Luisa Igloria, Roy Jacobstein, Julie Kane, Janet Kirchheimer, Judy Kronenfeld, Robert Krut, Haley Lasche, Wayne Lee, Paul Lieber, Sarah Maclay, Holaday Mason, Ann E. Michael, Jessy Randall, Moira Richards, Penelope Scambly Schott, Marian Kaplun Shapiro, Martha Silano, J.D. Smith, Mari Stanley, Jon Stone, Marilyn L. Taylor, Charles Harper Webb, & Katherine Williams.

Have a look, and if you want to keep up with what's going down on Poemeleon, subscribe to the NewsBlog, or if you're on Facebook be sure to join the Poemeleon group page.

Many thanks for three fruitful years and many more to come!

Cati Porter

Founder & Editor, Poemeleon: A Journal of Poetry

Form issue just released, and some news

The form issue has just gone live at Poemeleon -- check it out!

Also, a quick note about this blog: I am discontinuing it in an effort to consolidate things. I have imported the posts from this blog into my new blog. From now on, please check either the Newsblog or my personal blog (just click the Poemeleon link in the tag cloud) for information about the progress of this journal. I've just been way too spread out. Having everything in one place just plain makes sense.

Thanks!

Updates, and Male/Female Ratio

In my travels around the web searching for all things Poemeleon, I found a post in a poetry-discussion forum saying how much they like the journal, but wondering why the 80/20 ratio of female to male poets.

Well, the answer is pretty simple. I don't get enough submissions from men.

I am not biased in any way, and would prefer it be more balanced. But of course, it's the quality of the work that counts -- I'm not going to publish junk just to include more men. That would be wrong for so many different, but obvious, reasons.

Now that the ekphrastic issue is live, I am going to take a breather and focus on the looming holiday, turning my attention again to Poemeleon, and to the form issue, after the first of the year.

The submission deadline for the next issue is the last day of February.

Also, I am going to host another Poemeleon reading next summer. More than likely it will again be in July at the Riverside Art Museum. I am hoping to include contributors from both the form issue and the ekphrastic issue, with contributors' books available for purchase. Something to look forward to...! I'll keep you posted as things progress.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday. I'll be back online after the New Year.

Cati

Poemeleon Volume I Issue 2 Launched!

Dedicated to ekphrastic poetry, it features new work by:

Maureen Alsop, Tony Barnstone, Deborah Bogen, Rachel Dacus, Ann Fisher-Wirth, Jeannine Hall Gailey, Alex Grant, Eloise Klein Healy, Roy Jacobstein, Shin Yu Pai, Chris Tusa, and lots of others.

It is a feast for the mind -- and the eyes. Scroll down to the bottom of each poem for a link to the artwork that poem is responding to.

Thanks to all of you submitted work for this issue. Please submit again -- I'm now reading for Volume II Issue 1, which will be dedicated to form.

winter issue update

Hello, and sorry to keep you all waiting.

I've been busily putting together the winter issue. It's taking more time than I had anticipated, but I assure you it's getting there (check out my other blog for more details).

I'll keep you posted as the launch date draws nearer. Should be soon.

New Look, Plus (Most) Acceptances Sent

Hi all.

Well, the submission deadline has passed. I have spent the last couple of weeks finalizing selections, and, with the exception of a select few that I am still considering, all of the acceptances have been sent out. Because of other family obligations, I won't begin sending out the official notices until next week. Thank you all for being so patient, and please do consider submitting again if you weren't' selected for this issue. The next will focus on poems written in form -- both traditional and experimental. Stay tuned for more info at a later date.

Some of you might have noticed that the look of the journal has changed. I did this mostly because I wanted to address the issue of readability, but also because I wanted to try something different this time. I would love to get some feedback regarding the new look. If any of you would like to comment I have re-instated the "tell us what you think" page, or you can send me an e-mail.

Thanks again to everyone who submitted. I'm pleased with the quality of work I received and look forward to another successful issue.

Ekphrastic Issue

I just thought I'd post a couple of links to sites that give examples of ekphrastic poetry as well as detailed explanations. In short, if I haven't already said this elsewhere (which I may have), ekphrastic poetry is poetry that responds to, evokes, or is informed in some way by another work of art. It doesn't just describe the artwork, it explores it; illuminates it.

I'm hip-deep in the process of selecting work for the ekphrastic issue. Lot's of good stuff, I'm afraid. It's going to make it tough to choose.

Anyway, here are links. Happy reading.

Some examples, including classic works like Keats' "Ode on Grecian Urn"

Examples and explanation by Jennifer Bosveld of Puddinghouse Press

About the reading...

I think it's safe to say the reading was a success. Every seat in the room was filled. There were even a few people lingering at the back and near the door, a couple sitting outside the room, listening. I had a great time, and really enjoyed listening to all of the poets read.

My husband came along and helped me get set up. He also ran out to get the coffee at the very last minute so it would stay hot throughout the reading. And, though he didn't plan to, he ended up taking all the pictures. After I went up to the podium to make my opening remarks and to introduce the first poet, I turned to go back to me seat near the book table and realized -- I can't get through. So I took the only empty chair -- at the front of the room -- and that's where I stayed, only getting up between poets. I read bio's and statements on place as introductions (the statements really are interesting to read, if you haven't already read them).

Click on the header above to view the photos on the website.

Press Enterprise Article Now Online

The Press Enterprise article is now online. Click the header above if you'd like to see it.

The reading is tomorrow, by the way. Hope to see you there.

Press Enterprise to Run Feature Story on Poemeleon

Features writer Pat O'Brien of the Press Enterprise is running a story on me, Poemeleon, and the upcoming reading.

Look for it in the paper, or on their website at www.pe.com, Friday July 28.

Announcing the Poemeleon Launch Reading

For anyone who will be in the area on Saturday July 29th, I am hosting a reading to celebrate the launch of the journal.

Nine contributors so far have signed on, one of whom is flying in from Montana just for the event, and another who will luckily be in the area, all the way from Norway. Aside from locals, I also have someone driving down from Santa Barbara, and someone driving up from L.A.

I'm really looking forward to it. There will be light refreshments and copies of contributors books for sale during the event. It will be at the Riverside Art Museum in the Atrium Saturday July 29th from 11 a.m. until about 1 p.m., or whenever we're through.

Check the website for more details, or send me an e-mail.

Poemeleon Now Online!

Poemeleon is now online!

Featuring poems by Maureen Alsop, Heidi Arnold, Larry Bauer, Sheila Black, Lavina Blossom, Gayle Brandeis, Wendy Taylor Carlisle, Christina Cook, Chella Courington, Catherine Daly, Iris Jamahl Dunkle, Julie R. Enszer, Ann Fisher-Wirth, Lucia Galloway, Bob Hicok, Judith Kerman, Judy Kronenfeld, Ann Neuser Lederer, Gary Lehmann, Adrienne Lewis, Ruth Mark, James Penha, Ren Powell, John Rauschenberg, Helen Ruggieri, Andrea Scarpino, Margo Solod, Eileen Tabios, Marilyn Taylor, Steve Trebellas, and Sholeh Wolpe.

www.poemeleon.org

Check it out!

journal update #3 -- almost there!

Just finished entering the last poem this morning. I have a couple more housekeeping things to do before I send out e-mails and instructions as to how to view your page. You'll have a chance to e-mail me with corrections before the issue is made public.

I'm still waiting for a few of you to forward your contributor's note and/or links you want included. Please do so when you get the chance.

I would like to see a show of hands as to how many of you would be interested and able to participate in an inaugural issue launch reading. I've counted and there are at least nine of you within driving distance -- I think. Now, unfortunately, I can't pay anyone, and I have no budget for travel expenses as of right now. But if you live elsewhere and will be in Southern California at all this summer, please speak up and I'll try to schedule the reading around that.

Thanks again to everyone who submitted. As soon as I get this first issue up I will be officially reading submissions for issue #2 -- see submission guidelines on the website for more details.

Journal Update #2

Okay, so I lied. It has been three months. Again.

But I have a good excuse. Really.

Okay. Well, maybe not. Just life. Yes I do have a life. Actually, the past week and a half has been spent just trying to keep my three year old from reopening a gash on his chin that we sat through six hours of Urgent Care to treat. Though we narrowly escaped stitches (All hail the inventor of Dermal Adhesive!) I doubt that will be our last trip -- his nickname is Danger Baby if that gives you a clue.

For all of you out there who are wondering what's going on with the journal, here's where we're at:

1.) I am about halfway done entering all the yummy poems into the journal.

2.) I am in the process of compiling and entering all of the authors' statements, links to more of our contributors' work, and general site updates. (If you still have something to send me, please do so ASAP)

3.) I am in the process of scoping out potential locales for an Inaugural Issue launch reading.

I went to a reading yesterday during the Orange Blossom Festival here in my hometown, Riverside, CA. It was held in the atrium area of the Riverside Art Museum, and put on by a local print journal, Epicenter, who did a great job organizing the reading and even moved us out-of-doors to the community stage for the final reader of the two-day festival series, LA poet Catherine Daly, who is also a Poemeleon contributor. It was a nice location -- casual, bright, tree-filled. I am considering the museum as a possible venue for the launch reading, but if anyone else has a suggestion for a venue in Southern California, preferably the Inland Empire, feel free to forward it to me.

Already I'm looking forward to the next issue, which will be art-centered. While I would love mostly ekphrastic poems (poems that evoke a specific work of art, not limited to paintings), I am broadening the search to include poems that reference art or artists. Of particular interest are poems that address a work of art/artist that ALSO include references to place. I prefer work that is grounded in the physical world; somewhere real, somewhere I would go; somewhere I could want to go. If this seems confusing at all, or if you have something that you think might fit, even if you aren't sure -- send it on.

For the first issue, I'm aiming for a launch date somewhere in the middle of June -- maybe a little earlier; maybe a little later. I've still got a lot of work to do. When we get closer I'll be in touch.

Danger Baby is back in the room, plodding around in my plaid slippers. I can only slip away for just so long before Life starts calling me back.

Cheerios,

Cati

Journal Update

Forgive me bloggers for I have sinned. It's been three months since my last post.

During this time I've created a website, ditched it, created another website, called for submissions, and am now in the final selection process. If you haven't heard from me yet, you will soon.

The journal is poised for launch in June. I originally wanted to push this puppy out twice per year, but because I've received so many submissions that I would like to use (far more than I actually can use, as you can well imagine) that I may take it to four times a year.

Thanks to all who've submitted -- for your work, and for your patience. I've received many many poems that evoke 'place' in one form or another. Not all of them do, and that's the way I wanted it, because the focus of this journal is not 'place poems' per se, but the plain fact that where we are influences at least what, if not how, we write.

To give you a little more input, for those of you who might be wondering, I'm not looking for poems that do nothing more than describe a place: I want poems that make me think, hurt, laugh, cringe; I want poems that make me want. I want poems that pay attention to linebreaks and rhythm without seeming forced. I want the subject and the tone of each poem to not feel trite or overused or inflated beyond what feels natural for the subject, and if you must rhyme, I want it to be seamlessly integrated, preferably as offrhyme. I really, really, don't want poems that read like a Hallmark card. And absolutely no proselytizing.

Okay. Phew. I guess I want a lot. My own poetry may not meet all those requirements. And if you catch me on a good day, and I like what you're trying to do with a poem, I may let something slide. But if you haven't been writing poetry for all that long, my suggestion to you, before you send anything out, is read read read all the poetry you can get your hands on, and revise until your head hurts. Cut out anything that seems suspect, or that you think maybe you've heard before, because you probably have.

In lieu of a traditional bio, I have asked contributors to write a brief statement about how 'place' influences their writing. It's been really cool to read all of these -- some poets' statements have been better than the poems they submitted. The statements have ranged from one or two lines to several paragraphs. I've asked for these because I think the standard bio puts too much emphasis on past accomplishments, or lack thereof, which can devalue or inflate a poem's perceived worth.

This is not to say that I don't believe in shameless self-promotion. There is no shame in promoting one's work. We are all working to build an audience. So, I have asked contributors for links to their work online, and am providing links to places where their books can be purchased (unless they have expressly asked me not to).

Well, I guess that it's for now. I promise not to take another three months to update this thing.

Thanks for stopping by.