The Political Poet Poetry Competition Awards Winners Announced

 The Political Poet would like to thank everyone who submitted poems for the Poetry Month Competition in Honor of Countee Cullen. Many poems were entered, but only a few could be chosen as finalists. We would like to remind poets having the courage to submit poems makes you winners regardless of placing as finalists or not. Honorable Mention/Finalists’ poems and bios will be posted throughout the month of April. Prizes will be shipped by the end of April.

Place	Poet	Poem	Location
First	Bob McNeil	Text to Resurrect Revolution	New York
Second	Shawn Hamilton	McDonalds and Disneyland in Baghdad	California
Third	Taunja Thompson	These Blues (for Shane)	Kentucky
Fourth	Carmen Borrero	Devil's Kiss of Fire	Georgia
Fifth	Lisa Koohns	I look around	Indiana
First Amateur	Delores Almond	Broken	Virginia
Honorable Mention	Laide Salako	WE ARE NOT BLACK	Nigeria
Honorable Mention	Mary Poe (not related)	"Not without my Daughter" (A Dedication to Betty Mahmoody)	California

The Political Poet Poetry Competition in Honor of Countee Cullen

The Political Poet Poetry Competition in Honor of Countee Cullen (1903 – 1946)

April is National Poetry Month, and The Political Poet is having a poetry competition in honor one of the most respected and leading American poets of the Harlem Renaissance movement, Countee Cullen.

"There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.' In order for a writer to succeed, I suggest three things - read and write - and wait."                - Countee Cullen

The competition is free, no entry fee, but limited to three poems per person. Poems of any length, style, form, structured or free verse. Your poem(s) must be in English. Any subject matter is acceptable, but anything deemed derogatory to anyone due to race, religion or sexual preference will be removed. By submitting to this competition, poets are verifying they are your poems your original work, and you must not assign or license to any other party any copyrights or other rights in your poems. Poems should not contain material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, pornographic, harassing, threatening, harmful, and invasive of privacy or publicity rights, abusive, inflammatory, or otherwise objectionable. In other words, your poems must be suitable to be posted on an unrestricted web site that minors access.

Contest open to individual persons who are 18 or older as of the time of their initial entry. Current and former employees, contractors, directors, and officers of The Political Poet, or Dark Butterfly Publications, their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, and spouse), and those living in the same domicile therewith are ineligible. Sorry, contest is open to United States residents only. Poets living outside the USA can submit poems for posting consideration, but they are ineligible for prizes. Minors under the age of 18 can now submit poems to the competition, but all entries must follow previously posted guidelines and be accompanied with a signed statement granting permission from one of the minor’s parents or legal guardians. Prizes won by a minor will be shipped to the parent or legal guardian.

Amateur category is returning this year. If you are not a previously published poet then your entries qualify for the amateur category to encourage new poets and students. Your entries will still be considered for the regular competition, but only unpublished poets qualify for the new prize. Please notate your entry as AMATEUR POET for this additional consideration. The Political Poet defines published poet as anyone previously paid for their poetry, sold chapbooks or won monetary prizes in competitions where their work is then featured. If in doubt, ask for a ruling by email stating your question to poeplace@aol.com in the subject line state POETRY CONTEST QUESTION.  

Email submissions to poeplace@aol.com and put THE POLITICAL POET COMPETITION in the subject line, or send submissions by regular mail to The Political Poet, PO Box 90, Falmouth, KY 41040.

Include your name, address, email, and phone (optional) with your submission(s). Deadline for submissions is March 22, 2014. Finalists will be notified by March 31, 2014 and their names posted on The Political Poet blog along with honorable mentions.

The top 5 actual poems will be posted on The Political Poet web page throughout April, 2014.

Prizes
1st place gets $50.00
2nd place gets $25.00
3rd place gets $15.00
4th and 5th place get signed copy of Star Child and 13 More Twisted Tales.
1st place Amateur category gets $25.00 and signed copy of Star Child and 13 More Twisted Tales.
Estimated prize values including postage: 1st ($50.00) 2nd ($25) 3rd ($15.00) 4th/5th ($11.95) 1st Amateur ($36.95)

Merry Christmas!

'Twist Of Fate' Anthology Now Available

The 'Twist Of Fate' anthology which raises money for the victims of the Moore tornado, is available for purchase here. Kindle version here.

In May of 2013, tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, most notably causing severe destruction in the city of Moore. Safety was stolen, dreams were destroyed, lives were lost. Almost immediately, authors and artists from around the world joined together so that their expressions of emotion could be put to good use. The dozens of authors and artists who contributed to this anthology represent caring people whose effort has combined to create the charity anthology "Twist Of Fate."
Representing the Indies In Action group, 60 authors have combined to contribute 78 different writings in a charity anthology to help tornado victims in Oklahoma. The authors represent people from all around the globe. Nine countries are represented, and several of the contributors actually live in or have lived in "Tornado Alley." It is a grassroots, group effort to help those who need it the most. The writing and photos mix to create an experience you will want to share.
This inspiring collection is a wonderful way to make a difference for those who truly need it the most. The proceeds from this book go to the May Tornadoes Relief Fund, managed by the United Way, which in turn is used to help the victims of this tragic display of nature's fury.
Thank you for sharing hope.

A Round of Applause

As Poetry Month comes to a close let's give a final round of applause to our poets who entered The Political Poet Poetry Contest this year. We hope to see them again next year.

First Place Award Melissa Fry Beasley

A Poem Of My Grandmother

Piecing together life

Pain
Joy
Smiles
Into amazing squares
Of faith and strength
Catching laughter
Binding tears
Placing them just so
Feather stitching chaos into order
Into your hoop
Go dreams of the people
Memories of family
Nations quilted into glorious hugs and well wishes
Sent across miles
Or just around the corner
Wrapped tightly
Safely shielded from the elements
Harshness of the world
History woven into each block
Every blanket containing a piece of you
Your wisdom
Reminding us who we are
Where we came from
In one of your blankets I saw chickens in a coop
Another contained startstuffs and Heaven
I've seen wedding rings
A trail across Kansas
Even the path of a drunkard
I saw the blanket of Chiefs and
One men wrap up in to see Holy things
There was even one made by your Grandmother so long ago
When she was still little
Love in each stitch
Prayer in every thread
So much magic in each creation of your beautiful hands
I found my Grandmother
Her Grandmothers
Blowing in the breeze
Soaking in the sun
As this blanket was just hanging there.
Pale and Small
She stood pale and small
Against the night sky
Silently watching behind the full skirts of her Grandmother.
She stood observing all the magic and metamorphosis she could dream of.
“The drum is like a heartbeat,
Heartbeat of the people”
She hears Grandmother telling her.
She watches
As the men become eagles
Take flight.
She sees hunters stalking
Carefully looks on
As even the grasses merrily dance.
Her heart thumps excitedly as Grandmother grabs shawl,
Heads into the circle.
Slows and turns saying, “you coming?”
She danced small and pale against the night sky
Making big circles, hand in hand.
Feeling each beat of the drum
Resonating and vibrating deep,
Down into her tiny bones.
She wondered how long a beautiful moment might last.
She wanted to dance right into tomorrow.
Dance right into next week.
Right into forever.

 

©2013 Melissa Fry Beasley

About the Author Melissa Fry Beasley

Melissa Fry Beasley is a Cherokee Artist, Activist, and Poet from Oklahoma. She is proud to have red dirt running through her veins. She is always so pleased and amazed to learn anyone reads her poems and is humbled when they like what they find there. Her blog is here: http://melissafrybeasley.wordpress.com/

Fourth Place Award David S. Pointer

Fast Riding Emily

Like a pro circuit cycle
rider, or a Cheyenne
dog soldier on a red
road Harley, I would
prowl through asphalt
eternity to find you and
when my chrome kick-
stand comes down-
abrazos y me besas
(hug and kiss me)
until the last love letter
of our coupled lives
is written alive into
our eyes, bright as
(a Valentines Card)
una tarjeta de San
Valentin from my
lips to your inner
light over a saddle
bag bottle of stars
or divine Chianti
rolling and writing
for higher ground

©2013 David S. Pointer

About the Author David S. Pointer

 

David Scott Pointer graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M. A. in Sociology. He would like to thank his creative writing instructor Dr. Rose Marie Kinder for her kindness, encouragement and support. Recent anthology appearances include “Poe-It,” “Proud to Be: Writings by American Warriors,” “The Southern Poetry Anthology Volume 5: Georgia” and others. In 2012, David was asked to serve on the advisory panel at “Writing For Peace.” He would also like to thank Mrs. Carmel Mawle, President/Founder at “Writing For Peace’ for having faith and confidence in him. Moreover, David also would like to thank everyone who was involved in “The Political Poet Poetry Contest” for investing in art and keeping the dream alive.