Featured Poet Laureate
Billy Collins - US Poet Laureate 2001
Billy Collins was born in New York City in 1941. He is the author of several books of poetry, including Ballistics (2008), She Was Just Seventeen (2006), The Trouble with Poetry (2005); Nine Horses (2002); Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems (2001); Picnic, Lightning (1998); The Art of Drowning (1995), which was a finalist for the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize; Questions About Angels (1991), which was selected by Edward Hirsch for the National Poetry Series; The Apple That Astonished Paris
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/278
Fishing on the Susquehanna in July |
I have never been fishing on the Susquehanna |
Featured Classical Poet
Langston Hughes
James Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was a small child, and his father moved to Mexico. He was raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen, when he moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband, before the family eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in Lincoln, Illinois, that Hughes began writing poetry. Following graduation, he spent a year in Mexico and a year at Columbia University. During these years, he held odd jobs as an assistant cook, launderer, and a busboy, and travelled to Africa and Europe working as a seaman. In November 1924, he moved to Washington, D.C. Hughes's first book of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania three years later. In 1930 his first novel, Not Without Laughter, won the Harmon gold medal for literature.
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Pasted from <http://www.cswnet.com/~menamc/langston.htm>
Featured Form
Ottava Rima
A Ottava Rima is a poem written in 8-line octives. Each line is of a 10 or 11 syllable count in
the following rhyme:
one octive poem. abababcc
two octive poem. abababcc, dededeff
three octive poem. abababcc, dededeff, ghghghii
...so on and so on
Example:
He is There
When sorrow lies entrenched within your heart
And doubts, like ocean waves, around you churn,
When chaos reigns o’er life and won’t depart
And for the peace of yesterday you yearn,
When evil thoughts are tearing you apart
And there is nowhere left for you to turn,
When dark of night persists throughout your day,
It’s time to fall upon your knees and pray.
For God is there, He’s always by your side,
He is your life’s companion and your friend,
He’s with you through each bitter storm you ride,
From morn’s first light to sunset at day’s end.
You must give up your bitterness and pride
And to your Lord extend your hand again.
He only wants for you to ask Him in
And you will be forgiven for your sin.
Copyright © 2003 Linda Newman
Winklings Buzz
This week has been a very sad and difficult week. Pamela has left us. We were all shocked and saddened. I was asked to step in as second in command. A decision I think everyone is still dealing with and some are questioning the logic of. I can only say we will move on through this. There is a lot of changes happening. All good I hope. Recently a set of Hosting Guidelines has been posted and you can find the link to them on the Winklings home page and the Group Home page. Provided here is also a link. We are all about getting to know our fellow winklings and learning about poetry, sharing our love for poetry and improving upon that craft. To that end you will see some new additions to this column and start to see some new things taking place in the forum and with Winklings in general.
Hosting Guidelines http://allpoetry.com/column/show/2346795
For those of you interested in knowing me here is my bio http://allpoetry.com/column/show/2336658
If you are interested in taking part in some fun and interesting contests check out this thread; contests by Winklings can be found here http://allpoetry.com/board/topic/268612527
To catch up on all of your fellow Winklings and share some of your day with them check out the post Winklings weekly news column which can be found here. http://allpoetry.com/board/topic/268612584
Want to read some good poetry by fellow Winklings look no further; 'Ars Poetica' September 2008 edition can be found here: http://allpoetry.com/board/topic/268612653
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Featured Winklings
Amarige
I don't consider my self to be poet, English is my third language, so any friendly suggestions are always welcome. Thank you for visiting my page.
Dear faithful one~
Dear faithful one,
I do not want
just a 'man'
to be one of your 'Harem'
to fill your cup with wine
I do not have
the knowledge you have
gained from Antar
and Haroun Rachid
but let me tell you
when you become free
from your mysterious thoughts
I will then
take you on pilgrimage
to my soul where there is
only 'One' ..'You' and 'me'
Pasted from <http://allpoetry.com/poem/4460261>
Winkling's Contests
Open to Allpoetry #129 Poems on Arthurian Legend
by Winklings 6000 points, ends October 22, 13 entries In Big points, Chivalry, Creative, History, Imagery, Legend, Lotsa fun, Love, Research
#128 Winklings but open to all at Allpoetry! Yes, you!!!
by Winklings 6000 points, ends October 17, 6 entries In Big points, Contest, Creative, Happy, Imagery, Lyrical ballad after henry, Memories
Variety
Poet Quote of the Week
A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.
W. H. Auden
Who Wrote these words - 50 pts
A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds.
What Winkling wrote this - 50 pts
I dream of a land where I’ve never been,
a land yearning for their own chosen king,
in far-distant Scotland by me yet unseen,
and of the heartbreak wars always bring.
Riddle Me this Riddle Me That - 50 pts
When you arrive,
for these you look around.
These you will find always,
standing on the ground.
For them you don't want
to stand in line.
As often you don't have
much time.
And using them
is not much fun.
When camping out
you'll always find some.
Kids have been known
to knock them about.
Frustrating people
without a doubt.
http://www.things-to-say.com/e-cards-greetings-riddles.htm
Answers to last weeks Variety Questions
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
Answer: Oscar Wilde
There are many of them
They really are swell
Some people you know
May call them their pal
They come to our heed
When they are needed
The loyalty inside them
Is deeply seeded
Most people for them
Have real respect
They do more than
We really expect
Answer: Fireman
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