It’s clear even from distant Galveston that the spirit of poetry still works its wonders in the City of the Veiled Prophet. Most of the themes one finds in huge volumes like the Norton anthologies are here in the Sol/Nerinx Hall 2000—love, friendship, nature, urban life, violence, death and those psychomythological interiors where a young woman works out her destiny.

There is expertise in both fixed form and free verse. It’s a world. As we hope for all worlds, literary and actual, it’s a world full of splendid moments. "The sea is now a desert." So much power of thought and feeling in that imaginative reversal. "…the tallness of new shoes." A delightful line suggesting both a teenager’s covetous glance at a pair of high heels and the way she feels in her mastery of them. Or this succession of karate chops; "The wind blows--/hard and cold/ I know I have to keep going/moving on." Here compression of language equals control of will—the persistent O-effect providing a sound track, a desolate background music.

In Kristin Entrikin’s "St. Louis," that elegant city becomes coarse, "filthy…scorching," but never loses its vitality. The voice that speaks the poem is tough and capable of both self-assertion and a gentling hope.

I found the three Carlisle Writing Award pieces intriguing one by one and instructive as a group because they handle what the Greeks call pathos so differently, achieving three strongly realized effects: the eternalized control of the haiku; the narrative in which our own mood changes as we realize the mother has died; the first-person account with Caroline Duffy’s lovely line, "I am slowly beginning to wave good-bye to the reasons for confidence as my soul swells with gratitude."

We want cleverness in our poetry and we get it in this collection. We want sensitivity of ear and eye. We want evidence of the regenerative power of the human spirit as it cherishes the passing world. We get what we want.

Poets of Nerinx Hall High School, your poems speak volumes. You see the world out there and inside yourself with young eyes and innocent hearts, whether lucidly or questioning the inevitable occasional confusion.

High school spans a time of life marked by intense physical and emotional maturing. Your poems clearly depict and reflect that process taking place in your lives. Some of your poems concern youthful struggles and joys, while others explore the more timeless aspects of humanity and our world.

Taken together, all of the poems reveal sights and insights of students on their way to adulthood, young people still learning to discern and describe slices of life, earnestly and carefully. And therein lies the key to your success: earnestly and carefully, you are studying and learning. From you arise original ideas, fresh perspectives, new hopes, and the idealistic viewpoints we need throughout life against which to measure our efforts to make this world a better place to live. You are laying a foundation now, upon which you will build skills and ideas as you continue on into adulthood.

Already you display quality in writing. You search for just the right words to describe what you see or how you feel, building thought upon thought into an artistic expression that captivates the reader, and in these things you share a precious part of yourself.

To paraphrase a line in one sophomore's entry, "You are the poetry and the poetry is you." Your vision, tempered with tenderness and strengthened by your firmness of conviction, is a window to truth and beauty, not just for your readers, but for yourself through all your future years. Keep a journal, save all your poems, re-read and re-work them, read and sing and write from your heart. You will be blessed in ways you've yet to imagine. Thank you for sharing yourselves so excellently. You are your poetry, and your poetry is you.

Why do we write? We write because we must – we must share, communicate, preach, teach, entertain, pass on our stories, and create new worlds.

Many of the young women who sent us their writings chose to do so in the form of poetry. In their lilting words we find ourselves new again, with eyes that see everything from light to dark and in between. We find our own stories here, filtered stanza by stanza through and by the agile minds of a younger generation.

As you read the work contained within these pages, look not only for past history reported in an original way, but also future history. Out of the quick pens and typewriters and computers of these thirty-four young women come all the clues anyone would need to map a clear path into tomorrow, a path into another world.

Good work. Good work.

ALAN BIRKELBACH: Thank you for allowing me to read your fine poems. There was obviously an abundance of talent here, making it difficult sometimes to decide which poem to choose as a winner when so many showed talent and skill. At the very least I can only encourage each and every one of you to keep writing, and then write some more. If you are already so good at this tender age then imagine what type of exquisite poets you will be as you mature!

JANET PARKER: It was a pleasure to read these poems by these young poets. I look forward to seeing more of their work.

JOHN RICE: Many of these young people write well. Some, however, write with an insight, beauty, emotion and maturity far beyond their young years. I was very pleased to see that Poetry is in good hands as evidenced by what I've seen in these contests. It's good for us old Pentametric Plodders to see some of the flashes of brilliance coming up behind us - we can learn from them, too.

    Table of Contents
 

FRESHMAN COMPETITION
Faithlessness
My Turn
Questions

SOPHOMORE COMPETITION
The Art of Living
The Moon Lights the Doorway of a Child's Soul
Exultation
Making Apple Butter
June's Proposal
Joy Is
Beginnings and Ends
The Art of Happiness
Star Daze
Pleasures of Life

JUNIOR COMPETITION
Life
The War Hero
Resisting Anxiety
Foreign Lands
The Fight
Forgotten Strength
Unrequited Love
To See
Laughter and Tears
Australia or Bust

SENIOR COMPETITION
St. Louis
Mississippi
Forsaken God
Tides of Time
The Audition
Salvador
Little Brown Faces
Look Into My Eyes

CARLISLE WRITING AWARDS
Memories Erased
An Empty Room
Seventeen and Full of Dreams
Since July
With You
Whisper
My Summer Love

Exactly What They Want - Working With Publishers
Staff
Judges
Ordering a Printed Document

TEACHER: Mrs. Lytton

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Good metaphors mixed with clear statements in clear language. It would be easy to move into this poem and let it shatter and scatter around, until the thought was carefully completed, the poem finished powerfully. This nature/love metaphor is exciting and well used, especially the first and third lines. This technique effectively demonstrates the depth of emotion. Excellent writing. Poet’s turmoil captured amid well-expressed symbols of nature. The title and last line support each other well.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Lytton

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Good content, with a nice flow and good rhyme. The lines seem to have a rolling rhythm, difficult to achieve. Good closure technique in the shortened last line. The twist at the end made me go back and read it again, and then again, touching me more with each reading. It says it all, but I still wish there were more. Good writing.

TEACHER: Mrs. Lytton

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Good poem. Its mood clings tenaciously. The quandary of this timeless philosophical question is expressed very well. I like the sparse style and implied anguish. Nice alliteration in the first line. A heart-felt question with no ready answer.

TEACHER: Mrs. Lytton

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: This poem scintillates in a subtle way – phrases are skillfully painted, exquisite in delicacy and powerful in reality. The list quality of the poem, working through all the simple wonderful things we so often overlook in life, contributes to the impact of the closing lines. Startling phrasings ensure the reader’s attention never strays. This poem highlights the simplicity and wonder of life surrounding us, and portrays the essential nature of happiness in the everyday. Splendid poem, well crafted, filled with interesting description throughout. Unusual choice of words makes this work stand out. This poet has discovered the art of writing as well as the art of living! Excellent personification in the line, "dewdrops whispering a lace over my hair."

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: A fresh take on an old favorite topic. Constant repetition sets the reader into a pattern effectively broken by the introduction of "I did." Well-held ending rhymes throughout add to the rocking motion of the words. The final lines are a triumph of the inner self and a unification with nature and its happiness. Beautifully flowing poem, abounding in happiness on target with the topic. Makes the reader want to travel with the poet on this trip. Wonderful use of imagery. Captures the essence of a child’s imagination.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Good use of action words. Delightful refrain of "thought" lines. The last line is an introspective observation many would fail to notice. This poem is a powerful personification of art as "utopian lover" who controls the sprit and takes over. The keenly effective theme pulls this poem together. It begins slowly, in low key, and gradually builds speed and intensity until the final climatic lines and declarations. The sense of timing is what makes it work. Well paced. Beautifully portrayed.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: The rhythm and rhyme of this poem are delightful. The poem allows the reader to see, smell, taste and feel, and this work does it all in a charming manner. It turns the clock back for many to happy home moments. A good poem to keep close at hand to read often.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Fry

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Diction and phrasing are what makes this poem such a treat for the mind; it is short, but the soul of it is not lessened at all by this brevity. Artfully, this poem draws up through a range of sensorial experiences, beginning with the coolness of the night on warm skin, and progressing steadily to the composed conclusion. A joyful experience of happiness written in glorious yet sober manner. Keen phrasings complete the essential experience. Excellent onomatopoeia with the "buzzing" in line two. A+ for this poem. Good contrast moving temperatures from cool to warm. Well done.

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: A beautifully sung poem that fairly lifts off the page with its rocking chant-like mantra of the glory of everyday things that make the poet’s heart sing. This poem relies on a consistent and soothing rhyme scheme to lock in the sing-song qualities of the lines. It never crosses over into being repetitive, nor is it ever childish – it is simply a revel in life’s little wonders that we all so often overlook. Calls up the joy everyone has experienced and allows each to feel them again through the words of the poet. A delightfully warm poem.

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: We have all been here! This poem gives a perceptively honest look at the tumultuous upheaval of graduation, and also of the various stages of Life which bring on these thoughts. The parallel between days and nights in lines three and four was especially nice. The final lines bring home the key point, that Life and Death are, in the end, the end. Interesting meter patterns, concise summary of life’s journey. Thoughtfully constructed.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Remarkable poem to be read and re-read often, filled with truth. This work contains lovely rhyme schemes throughout as well as a universal message about life.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Well-constructed review of shows we’ve all viewed. The clever ending catches the reader by surprise.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Interesting rhymes. Excellent example clearly stated makes the reader aware that happiness is ours to take. This would be a good poem to post on the refrigerator so you can read it daily, and share with others who are feeling low.
 
 

TEACHER: Dr. Bartz

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: This poet’s use of short sentences and a staccato simplicity give great impact to this illustration of courage in the face of adversity. Fear almost conquers - but not quite. Well done. Effectively communicates through the use of alliteration and near rhyme, such as blow, cold, going, moving, on, nothing, tough, etc. It leads us to the final single meaning of the poem with the contrasting word/image: "terrified," effectively expressing courage and fear.

TEACHER: Dr. Bartz

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Alliteration, rhythm and strong images all serve to strengthen the action portrayed, as does the creative use of rhyme such as "a-ringin’, a-tollin’, a-burstin’, a-screamin’." Good portrayal of courage and fear. A lot going on in this poem that speaks not only to "Courage and Fear," but also to "Honor and Dishonor." Good use of rhyme, near-rhyme, rhythm, alliteration and dialogue. A vague uneasiness flows through the piece. The setting could be in any of today’s "hotspots," or even in the bedroom of a quiet suburban home. Fine metaphorical commentary. Very well done.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Wonderful imagery in the phrase, "neglecting light." This poet manages to get much emotion into the poem without making it specifically about romance. It could be about many different kinds of relationships; very perceptive. A nice piece with well-chosen words. Clear metaphorical phrases such as, "song of you, the beat that stands still," strengthen the poetical voice of this poem.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Strong use of descriptive language and clear images lead us through the happy beginning of a journey from which we will not return, for, as the last three metaphorical lines express: "Like a boulder being dropped in a pond" – we will not be the same. This poet brings us a sobering, maturing experience in this interaction of people from different worlds. Reality strikes in the ending lines. Fine choice of words.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: A "pocket poem," with lots of meat. Listen, and you will "hear" this poem being said, with verve and passion. Presents two sides of a paradoxical proposition without under or overstating. In three lines of figurative language, the poem illustrates how the use of strong images can startle the reader into attention. The last line extends the subject by not saying more or less, and asks the reader to form an opinion on whether the speaker of the poem expressed courage or fear. In three short lines, this poet has illustrated two fights: the one that was defused, and the internal fight that rages when one has the courage to walk away and be thought a coward for doing so. Well done.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Nice images, consistently carried out. Strong metaphorical language in phrases such as, "the house about my soul, dust carries joy, downward descent of despair, the heart of faith," etc. Heartfelt commentary on the strength of faith.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Tears and laughter well-presented. The line, "My smile is forced upside down," says it all. This poem captures that special view of someone searching to re-capture love. Trust and betrayal, love and loss, clearly and succinctly written.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Oh, to un-say those harsh words, to soften the slap that was meant to be playful. Nicely done. Title goes well with this topic.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: This poem gives us a clear balance of the contrast between the words in its title. Good scene setting. This is a nice narrative poem.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: This poet uses a series of rhymed couplets, capped off by a triplet, to broadly hint at laughter and tears. With tongue firmly in cheek, we’re given a surprise ending.

TEACHER: Mr. Kwapy

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Beautiful voice and tenor sets the rhythm for this ballad-like poem. The diction hearkens back to old river songs of the Mississippi, and the famous river is well personified in this poem. A grand song of inner peace and relationships mended. The closing lines are left suitably "open" to interpretation, while still allowing a feeling of closure in the poem. Splendid diction and rhythm, as well as keenly-penned phrases. Likable poem. Good repetitive words and sounds make it feel like an old blues spiritual. Excellent poem all around. Well thought-out, unrhymed triplets sing the song of St. Louis, and stir us to a sad smile.

NOTE FROM THE EDITORS: Last year, Kristin Entrikin won Second Place in our Junior Poetry Competition with the following poem, "Mississippi."

EDITOR’S COMMENTS: In "St. Louis," Kristin writes to a continuing theme of City and River. Her deep feeling not only about St. Louis, but also of the Mississippi River permeates every line of both poems. In "Mississippi," she rejects someone who is leaving. In "St. Louis," she salutes the drifter who may be returning, and offers a welcome.

In both poems Kristin, who lives and attends school in St. Louis County, Missouri, builds for us a new world vision based on her deep connection to the very real geographic place where she lives. We thank Kristin for sharing this view with us, and look forward to reading a book someday based on these and similar poems.
 

Reach of that hand
From the child
With the swollen belly
And the sunken face.
Flies all around the child
Landing-infesting her with
Disease
Though she does not cry
She just stares
No emotion.
Extension of her hand
Waiting for mine to connect.
But –
No grasp, no hold.
Leaving this child with only
A smile
A smile and disappointment.
Leaving, unable to deal
With such a beautiful face
I weep.

TEACHER: Mrs. Lytton

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Heartbreaking. This poem personalizes the tragedy of starving children, and by using graphic description without explicitly emotive words, the poet strikes emotional chords – a difficult job, well-done.

An ocean sways between thought
singing along the shores of revelation
dancing beneath my eyes
And I am feeling,
tasting,
breathing,
absolutely
savoring every touch of serenity.
The glistening sand outlines my dreams
underneath the moon enthroned heavens
chasing without caution such fickle devotion.
And I am kissing,
loving,
living,
eternity
within a single breath.

TEACHERS: Mrs. McCurley and Mr. Kwapy

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: The ending ties it all together. Excellent closure, with a good balance between "eternity" and a "single breath." An inspired thought. Well-planned, well-crafted poem. Subtle but well-balanced internal shifts in cadence with effective use of participles: "feelings, breathing, kissing, living," which ultimately bring both writer and reader to the peace of "eternity within a single breath." Very well done.

TEACHER: Mrs. Lytton

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: This poem is probably the last answer anyone would give in reply to the query, "How do you make someone smile?" - but this poet seems to rely on unorthodox measures to get each point across. The line structure of the poem is really unstructured, and the words themselves seem to have been chosen for their brevity. Add into this mix an emotion that seems barely contained, and this poem leaps off the page at the reader. Nice concise piece that packs a lot into a few lines. A great statement of both hope and self-confidence, this well-metered poem gives a concise commentary on the power and strength of inner peace.
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Three well-done verses commenting on perseverance in the face of the world’s injustices. This poem begins each line with a verb, with three words in each line, to focus and sharpen the images, and to set the rhythm. The poem operates in both the present and in the past, a very effective style for this topic. In a few short, blunt lines, an entire painful history is approached, artfully sketched out and explained. As with all histories, the future holds promise, while the closing lines build a subtle bridge from agony to ecstasy. Nicely written.

TEACHER: Mrs. Ryan

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: The winning point of this poem is the consistent repetition of key phrases, such as "little brown faces," and "little brown feet," among other variations – this lends an air of chanting to the poem while keeping it unified in theme and substance. The moral lesson at the end is very well taught in poetic style. The rhyming technique gives this a measured stately feel while it carries the rhythm through the lines of the stanza. The repeating sounds are especially appropriate for a poem relating to children. Good job. Nice commentary on the world’s disadvantaged children and our hopes for them.
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Staed

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: An intensely personal journey into the soul of one who suffers needlessly, this poem addresses the often-untouched topic of how those who suffer famine view their situation. Here, each movement, each thought, each gesture is meticulously outlined, along with how it feels – and the empathy is very well portrayed. The phrasings are gentle, yet honest, and in the honesty lies the very strength of this poem. This strong poem distills the plight of the world’s hungry into one telling line, "Why do I deserve this?"
 
 

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Wow. Good, good, good haiku. Precise, metaphoric images. This poem almost leaves a person breathless. These few well-chosen words paint a remarkable picture of the swift passage of time from child to adult. Breathtaking in brevity and beauty, each word counts. Amazing work. This poet delivers a powerful message in three lines. This is a first-class example of what poetry can do. In one sentence, three well-metered lines, this poet has stripped down to bare bones, yet written volumes on the journey to adulthood. This is a fine piece of work.

She smiles at the unmade bed and randomly
scattered clothes on her daughter's bedroom floor.
A silent stereo and a charged phone
make her aware of her daughter’s absence.
Certificates, plaques and awards adorn the walls;
all reminders of the accomplishments and triumphs her daughter had received.
Her fascination and love of angels is revealed in the collection of posters and statues throughout her room.
Noticing a picture of her daughter, among the many encompassing the room,
she suddenly begins to miss her,
as tears stream down her face.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Perhaps the writer will save this poem and take it out when the next empties as the cycle completes – and begins. This mature poem leaves much unsaid until the end. This method of discovery is excellent. Also, viewed through the eyes of an observer or narrator makes this poem richer and more accessible to the reader. Excellent writing.

I am seventeen and full of dreams. I am slowly beginning to wave good-bye to the reasons for my confidence as my soul swells with gratitude. Looking back, my eyes show the loyalty and love of my family. I am the all-too-common product of divorce. With that obvious tearing apart of a supposedly binding love, I discovered four hearts so open to accepting me that my character is humbled every time a thought of them enters my head. These four people, my brothers and sister, are people who deserve more than myself alone can deliver. My angels on earth have shared each of their talents with me, and have sacrificed amazingly for my happiness: Duff with his undying artistic ability-shining through his uncomplaining judgment; Tommy with his supreme knowledge and sweet, humorous charisma; Mike with his passion for everything that meets his vision; Kat with her unrelenting patience and worry. Without the lessons I've been gracefully taught by my secret heroes, I would be a lost breeze entering a world both unforgiving and full of chaos. Through them, my story is told.

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Strong, well-organized poem, piecing together a story of family survival, that draws the reader into the work to admire the mutual support indicted in the last line. Heart-rending. Great work. In this nicely done essay, this writer reveals the stability and strength those secret heroes have brought to her journey along life’s rocky road.
 

TEACHER: Mrs. McCurley

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: The intriguing title, well-controlled cadence, and powerful closing line open our minds to ponder what has happened "Since July." This powerful poem invites the reader to feel the motion and action and music expressed in the words. Great first word, and first line. It sets the poem, and makes a good visual image of those people who pass through our lives. Much said in four lines. It conveys heartbreak and frustration effectively.

With you I've shared many memories, both good and bad.
With you I've experienced new things for the first time.
With you I've laughed and learned to laugh at myself.
With you I've fought and cited, and learned how to deal with the pain.
With you I've grown and learned how to change.
With you I've learned how to forgive and be forgiven.
With you I've made some bad mistakes and watched as you did the same.
With you I've learned how to compromise.
With you I've learned to be patient.
With you I've learned how to listen and not just hear.
With you I've learned never to settle for less than the best.
With you I've learned how to love, instead of hate.
With you I've found myself.
With you I've learned what it means to be a friend.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: This writer has experience that perhaps purest and most undemanding of loves: friendship. The repetition of the title throughout unites the poem. Interesting summary of life’s lessons. Tightly constructed. The random rhyming is effective. We spend a lifetime looking for a friend like this.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: In three lines, this whisper becomes a shout. Makes the reader want to rescue the speaker. Excellent use of few words to capture a complicated and difficult situation.

TEACHER: Mrs. Pennington

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: Splendid story of personal growth through love found and lost. This mini move is aglow with sight and sounds. We see, hear, and feel each detail those essential concepts of great story-telling. This poem reminds us that each first love leaves an indelible mark on us all. Nicely done expository piece about a growing experience. The calm and measured tone is a good reflection of the maturity you convey.

Whether it's a monthly poetry journal, a journal sponsoring contests, or a publication keeping to set themes, publishers usually post guidelines for submission, or will, when provided with a self addressed stamped envelope, return an outline of their specific requirements. Before submitting to any publisher, be sure to understand exactly what is wanted. Sponsors of poetry contests always provide a set of rules. And some, such as Sol Magazine, define poetic forms within a glossary, and provide example poems.

Why follow the rules? Your poetry may be rejected out of hand if not in the format requested.

How to get started? Study the requirements before creating the poem for contest. Have the rules close at hand. Keep your poem in accord with the demands of subject, line, syllable count, character count, etc. Remember, contest rules and the poem to be submitted are inseparable. If the rules say to not use the topic as a title, don’t reword the topic, but instead choose something fresh for that most important beginning to your work. Once the poem is finished, proofread carefully, making sure each rule has been met. Paying attention to details can make or break even the best of poems.

In addition, be certain you have met other requirements necessary to enter. If the rules ask for a phone number or mailing address, include a phone number or mailing address. Keep to the letter of the guidelines and your poem will be well on its way to possible publication.

Professor John Gorman: Professor Gorman teaches literature and creative writing at University of Houston, Clear Lake. He has two chapbooks from Mac*Kinations Press, and is widely published in Texas and nationally. He is the leader of the Galveston Poets Roundtable, and lives on Galveston Island.
 
 

MARY MARGARET CARLISLE: Mary Margaret Carlisle wrote her first poem when she was eight, when her Grandmother Bloesch started clipping and sending her poetry from a New York newspaper. She has a BA from University of Houston, Clear Lake, in Applied Design and Visual Art. Her work has been published in several national anthologies, and in journals such as Lucidity, New Winds, the b.a.w.l. point pen, TAACL, Tidelines I, Tidelines II, and Texas Poetry Calendar 2000. Her poetry and essays also appear on many electronic web sites. She loves to garden, bake, eat banana splits, and travel, in no particular order. She keeps a guest room for visiting poets; its latest inhabitants were from Australia and England. One sister, Georgeanne Carlisle Gass, is an artist and the owner of the Golden Koi Studio in Balwin, Missouri; another, Kiwi Carlisle, a writer in St. Louis, Missouri, was one of the judges of the Nerinx Hall Poetry 2000 Competition. She has two children, and four grandchildren.

Mary Margaret Carlisle, Managing Editor of Sol Magazine
http://pages.prodigy.com/sol_magazine
 
 

JEAN MCALLISTER: Jean McAllister, born in New York City, and raised in Princeton, NJ, now lives in the state of Washington. She received a BA at University of Santa Clara, and a PhD in English from University of Washington. An extensive exposure to woods and streams shaped her approach to imagery and poetry. Her focus in writing is on nature and spirituality. Her work has been published in Sol Magazine, and she was recently a finalist in Houston Writers League 1999 Chapbook Competition. She has three grown daughters, and two granddaughters. Jean has been Book Reviewer of Sol Magazine for several years. In her words, "My passion is helping people grow toward God."
 
 

CRAIG TIGERMAN: Craig Tigerman was born and raised in Chicago where he began writing poems as a teenager. He received a B.S. in Mathematics at the University of Illinois, and Masters of Divinity at Wittenberg University. Craig is an IBM software support representative at Deere & Company in Moline, Illinois. He prefers reading and writing structured poetry such as villanelles and sonnets, likes to experiment with rhythms and rhymes, and hopes to expand his repertoire of styles in the new century. Craig has four children, ages 11 to 23, and one grandson. His interests include writing poetry and songs, playing guitar and tennis, gardening, teaching 8th grade Sunday School, and working for Sol.

Craig Tigerman, Lead Editor of Sol Magazine
http://sol-magazine-projects.org/prodigy/craig_tigerman
 
 

PAULA MARIE WHITE: Paula M. White was born in 1977 in Portsmouth, Virginia; in 1995 she graduated as valedictorian from Portsmouth Christian High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. Immediately following, she began undergraduate studies at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia; she graduated with a B.A. in English. Paula studied overseas at the University of Cambridge, undergoing extensive courses focusing on various British poets. Her interests range from playing piano to playing basketball. She has been with Sol Magazine since May of 1999. She now calls Lexington, Kentucky, home; works for IBM; and loves to read and write poetry in her spare time.

Paula White, Assistant Editor of Sol Magazine
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Cafe/1773
 
 

BETTY ANN WHITNEY: Artist, fiction writer and poet, Betty Ann Whitney has written for publication over the last decade. A contributor to Sol Magazine from its beginning, she was Sol’s1998 Poet Laureate. Betty Ann's recent work has appeared in numerous literary magazines and collections of poetry, including a short story in Galaxy Literary Journal. Betty Ann says her direction, whether in painting or writing, depends on how she connects to a subject at the time of expression so her purpose is understood.

Betty Ann Whitney, Assistant Editor of Sol Magazine
http://pages.prodigy.com/dandelionsoup
 
 

LEO F. WALTZ: Leo Waltz was born in Denison, Texas, where his family's business, Chris Waltz Supply, an electrical and plumbing supply company, was founded by his grandfather. (For information and some historical photos go to this web site: http://sol-magazine-projects.org/prodigy/leo.waltz/gen/chrwaltz.htm). After receiving a BS in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech, Leo was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Ordnance Corps. Upon leaving the active army, Leo joined the US space program in 1966 during the Gemini space flights. He still works for NASA at the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas, and gardens and takes photographs in his spare time. He is married to the Managing Editor of Sol Magazine, Mary Margaret Carlisle. They reside in Webster, Texas.

Leo F. Waltz, Web Manager of Sol Magazine
http://pages.prodigy.com/sol_magazine
 
 

ALAN LEE BIRKELBACH: Award winning poet, judge and speaker, Alan Birkelbach has been writing poetry for 30 years. He is a Director and Membership chair of the Poetry Society of Texas. For three years he was a finalist in the Annual Poetry Competition sponsored by the Dallas Poets Community, winning Grand Prize in 1996. His first book of poetry, Bone Song, was published in 1996. His second book of poetry, Weighed in the Balances, won the 1998 Stevens Manuscript Poetry Competition offered by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (and is available via amazon.com and borders.com). His work has also been published (or is scheduled): Borderlands, Grasslands Review, Lucidity, Haiku Headlines, Potpourri, Ilya's Honey, Shadow of the Green Fuse, Venue. (Anthologies:) New Texas '95, New Texas 2000, Of Hide and Horn, Behold Texas, and Suddenly.
 

KIWI CARLISLE: Born in St. Louis, and raised in Glendale, Missouri, Kiwi Carlisle received a B.J. from Missouri University in 1975. She now lives close to Washington University where she works. Her writing has been published in Sol Magazine and Ozark Avalon newsletter. Kiwi has put in forty years voraciously reading poetry and literary analysis. She likes to write humorous and "memory" poetry, short stories, and is working on a mystery novel set in St. Louis. She loves cats, and gardening, and often raises herbs on her windowsill for use in cooking and aroma therapy.
 

LOIS LAY CASTIGLIONI: Lois Lay Castiglioni is a dietitian at UTMB in Galveston, Texas. She grew up in the red clay hills of north Georgia with five siblings. Several members of her clan are published writers. All are raconteurs. They recall or invent stories as quickly as their grandmother spun wool yarn in 1864 for passing soldiers. Lois echoes the told and retold family stories in her work. She likes to write poems with a humorous twist. She is published in Sol Magazine, Lucidity, and Tidelines II.
 

WARNER D. CONARTON: Poet and screenwriter, Warner Conarton's work has been published in various newspapers and magazines including Sunscripts, Phoenix, JDM (John D. MacDonald) Bibliophile, and Sol Magazine. His play, "The Shooter," was produced in 1999 and performed at Tampa’s Falk Theater by Stage/Works. Moderator for Lansing Writers in Lansing, MI, for 4 years in the early 50’s, Warner had his first stage play produced in 1953 at MSU, and a play produced live on TV in 1957. He was editor of both The Mancelona Herald, and Body, Mind and Spirit Magazine of Tampa Bay. Warner is currently Copy Editor of JDM Bibliophile, the oldest periodical published in this country concerned with a single writer. Born on Halloween, 1930, Warner wrote his first major poem at the age of five. He and his wife, two dogs and a cat, reside in the lovely hills north of Tampa, Florida.
 

JANET PARKER: Award winning poet, Janet Parker has published several books, including: "Forever Yours, Janet"; "Poems To Remember"; "Poems To Share." She was recently awarded a prize for her book, "Among The Leaves," in the CAMEO Chapbook Contest. Her work has appeared in The Roswell Literary Review; The Raintree Literary Review; Mid-West Poetry Journal; and Tucumcari Literary Review. Janet lives in a small town in Central Massachusetts with her husband, Dr. Fletcher L. Parker. They founded Poets' Gathering, an on-going poetry workshop, for the enrichment of local poets.

Janet was a Naval Chief Petty Officer. She attended Assumption College and is a graduate of the Chicago Institute of Graphoanalysis. She specializes in Graphotherapy. She is a retiree of the school system. Janet is also short story writer, and formerly feature story writer for The Montachusett Review.
 

JOHN E. RICE: Born in Galveston 1941, John Rice has lived and worked in Houston since 1969. He is married and has four children, and three grandchildren. He writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry. An artist in several media including watercolor, collage, block print and pen-and-ink, Rice's work is in several private collections. He has variously worked in horticulture, medical research and the international maritime industry. Presently is an executive with an international maritime shipping company. Rice's publishing credits include Sol Magazine, The Writer's Forum, TEXAS Magazine, TIDELINES II, Galaxy Literary Journal, the b.a.w.l. point pen and others.
 

BRENDA ROBERTS: Brenda Roberts is the immediate past President of Texoma Poetry Society. She is currently secretary of Texoma Poetry Society and Publicity Chairperson for Poetry Society of Texas. She is a volunteer staffer in the Amazing Instant Novelist Boards on AmericaOnLine serving as the Senior Manager in Amazing Instant Romance. Brenda believes in the TPS motto, "Promoting Poetry by Participation." She is a voice in Voices of Texoma, TPS' group that travels to events such as participating in the Artist Reception at Fine Arts Gallery in Denison, the Student Activities at Grayson County College, and other spoken art venues.

PAULA MARIE WHITE: See Editors.

BETTY ANN WHITNEY: See Editors.
 

If you wish to purchase a copy of this poetry anthology, contact the Managing Editor, Mary Margaret Carlisle at:

Sol.Magazine@prodigy.net

Or at

Sol Magazine
P.O. Box 580037
Houston, TX
77258-0037

Phone number: (281) 316-2255 - Weekdays 8-5.

All poetry remains the property of the poet, except Sol Magazine reserves the right to publish all poems (once) at a future date, and/or to post them to a web page. NONE may be reproduced without permission of Sol Magazine. Electronic forwarding is permitted as long as no portion of this magazine is changed and all credits are given.

Sponsors in 2000: Martha Kirby Capo, Don Castiglioni, Lois Lay Castiglioni, James Lay.

Angels in 2000: Leo F. Waltz.

Book donors in 2000: Sharon Goodwin, Agnes Meadows, Pauline Brooks, Carlyn Luke Reding, Kathleen Elizabeth Schaefer, Tom The World Poet, San Antonio Poets Association. Corporate book donors: Flying Cow Productions, Bookstop. New sponsors and angels always welcomed. Thanks for your support.