A POKE AT EKPHRASTIC POETRY

My visual arts past has a lot to answer for. At first my poems were often described as ‘painterly.’ Then it made me want to produce art & text works. Then it made me want to create haiga. Then it made me ... You see what I mean … I poke about, never get passed a dabble …

It also has me hooked on ekphrastic poetry - again I just poke about. I think I’ve written maybe three ekphrastic poems in all the years I’ve been writing. I have a couple which are descriptive responses to visual works, however some definitions say that ekphrastic poetry needs to do more than simply describe. I aspire to that and there I am stuck.

Except on one occasion. Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello invited me to watch her at work at the Glassworks in Canberra and to write for her then forthcoming exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre (BAC). I’d hoped to write a few as the artform and Jenni’s own work certainly are inspiring enough.

I managed one poem. I know I brought more to it than simple description. I researched indigenous basket making searching for more than images, trying to understand the context of land, culture and community to some degree.  My research was superficial compared to Jennifer’s but still I hope I painted a world of women’s making adequately.

I like the poem and felt honoured to play a small part in Jenni’s project, alongside Berry poet Chris Mansell. The poem was a finalist in the 2014 Aesthetica Poetry Award and published in the following Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual 2015. But it feels like a one-off. 

It’s an aim to write a series of ekphrastic poems at some later stage – to rise to the challenge. There would be much reading to do among other things. Here’s a small start:

1. A fine example of an ekphrastic poem is When the Wind Stopped by Erin Shiel, published in Cordite Poetry Review, November 2014. See the article ‘When the Wind Stopped’ - Erin Shiel and Judith Beveridge.

2. Rattle (US) now has a monthly ekphrastic poetry challenge. The current challenge to write poetry in response to a selected photograph by Howard R. Debs, closes on August 31. Visit http://www.rattle.com/poetry/extras/ekphrasis/

INKERMAN & BLUNT - NEW PUBLISHER

Inkerman & Blunt: is a new Melbourne-based Australian press 'dedicated to publishing books of originality, intelligence and beauty: poetry and stories—both real and imagined—that open your mind and let your spirit fly'. No unsolicited manuscripts but they'll take a pitch. Visit their website or see them on Facebook.

NEW POEM PUBLISHED ON WONDERBOOK

Just had a poem titled Sisters posted on The Wonder Book. To read it click here. The Wonder Book is a conversation in text, image and music. Names you may know; some you may not know. From Australia and other places. To find out more visit http://wonderbookofpoetry.org/about/ 

Remarkable Australian Poetry

Did you know that the most remarkable thing about the inaugural Montreal International Poetry Prize in 2011 — apart from its $50,000 prize money — is that seven Australian poets were shortlisted? That's including the Australian winner.

Visit Australian Poetry’s Sotto for more on this and an interesting six month roundup of Australian poetry prizes including results, quotes from judges, poets’ movements and other titbits.

Sotto also carries a rousing profile on Pitt Street Poetry founded almost one year ago. Re-issuing selected out-of-print titles and publishing up to six collections of new poetry a year; hardback, paperback, illustrated limited editions, illustrated pamphlets, e-books (only $5) and e-pubs. 

Drunken Boat - Poetry opportunities

Drunken Boat accepts general submissions at any time – guidelines here - but have fixed deadlines for feature ‘folios’ including First Peoples, Plural (accepting now) in issue #13 - poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, essays, visual art, sound art, video art, and web art by indigenous people worldwide.

Followed by The Bernadette Mayer Folio (closing April 15): ‘Bernadette Mayer's writing experiments, from the 1970s to the present, challenge artists to change the world. We are looking for art and writing that responds to this notion and/or to Bernadette Mayer. Consider ways in which your response might operate at the intersection of conceptual art, performance and experimental work.’

The feature in the current issue is on Eugene O’Neill the Irish-American playwright. Essays (and some poetry) by writers of note, including playwrights, poets, novelists, journalists.

In the poetry section you can experience ‘the huff and shake of Tokyo’ in Three Words, and a Train Station by Stephany Prodromides; How the Great American Novel is Written – for example the protagonist: ‘must live on a reservation or the poor Indian section of a large city/
and refer to it as the Urban Rez’ - by Lara Mann; or what to do when a woman who does not speak English collapses at your feet in Straddling the World in a Rented Car by Bruce Cohen who: '...did not pick up her panicked Spanish but do recognize human urgency anywhere.' Some contributions come with an audio option.


By the way - more Stephany Prodromides poems here.

Electronic Poetry Network (EPN)

Click here for more information about Poem of the Day at the Shreve Memorial Library. They are inviting submission of small poems - does NOT have to be Haiku - for their electronic message board and website.