Sol Magazine © 2000
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The use of Sol Magazine's e-mail address for anything except entering
a contest is not permitted. Do not add us to any distribution list
without our permission.
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Twice a month, Sol Magazine sponsors poetry contests. From the
results, we produce an electronic poetry magazine. It is published
on or near the last day of each month. The winners are posted to
our website at:
http://pages.prodigy.com/sol_magazine
Our topics touch a variety of subjects about nature and the nature of humanity. Our purpose is to educate poets, and to foster the reading and writing of short poetry. We are not a vanity press. Not every poem submitted will be published.
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Why so many pre-set themes and forms? Encouraging a fresh approach
is what we're all about. We want poets to try new topics and forms
that might never have occurred to them without a gentle nudge. We
suggest that each reader and poet find and read a good handbook of poetic
forms just to keep the mental coffeepot percolating. Who knows?
That rich brew may wake up something special!
CONTENTS:
WELCOME
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
TOPIC ONE: Poet's Choice
POETRY WORKS: Two Views on Writer's
Block
TOPIC TWO: I Read it in the Paper
ALPHA POETS CONTEST: Body of Water
WELCOME:
Joe Boush, Gaynor Deal, Pansie Floyd, Celia Lawton Livingstone, Donn Taylor, G. "Elton" Warrick.
| SAD NEWS: Carlyn Reding's writing partner, Glen Alyn (born Glenn Myers) and his beloved daughter, Sequoia, died in an automobile accident the evening of June 4, 2000, Austin, TX. |
| SAD NEWS: Adelaide W. Ferguson passed away on June 23, 2000. She was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Romance Writers of America and the Bay Area Writers League in Seabrook, TX |
| SAD NEWS: Houston Chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas's Julia Smith Brueggeroff passed away May 17, 2000, Houston, TX. |
| GLAD NEWS: The music composed by Ken Langer for "Eternal Sprit," written by Sol poet Martha Kirby Capo, has been signed under contract with Yelton Rhodes Music, Los Angeles, CA. |
| I enjoyed the poetry in May's issue. I especially enjoyed Susie
Barnhurst/Sherman (TX) - "Pernicious," and "Fey Diggers" by Ruth Soloman
of AL.
Brenda Roberts, Fort Worth, TX REPLY: Thanks for writing! We're glad you like the Magazine, and are proud to have you as one of our poets. |
| Trying all the different contests is a wonderful way to improve one's
poetic skills and I look upon each issue as a fun, entertaining and educational
collection of exercises. Being a poetry editor myself...I can surely appreciate
the time and effort it takes to put together such a publication and my
hat's off to you and your great staff!
Maryann Hazen-Stearns, Ellenville, NY REPLY: Thanks for the accolades! |
Susan Barnhurst, Sherman, TX
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HONORABLE MENTION
I feel your stirring
in your mother's warm cocoon
your fans are restless
Roberta Pipes Bowman, Fort Worth, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Interesting ambiguity. Is the unborn child stirring
because the fans are restless, or are the fans restless because the unborn
child is stirring? Either works.
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raccoon eyes and hands
visited overnight and
ate Grandpa's big fish
Coke Brown Jr., Fort Worth, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Fresh twist on a "one that got away" story,
with a thief so stealthy that only his eyes and hands visited. A family
legend in the making!
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Legs of gold never
Kissed by the sun - bronzed daily
In a tanning bed
Lois Lay Castiglioni, Galveston, TX
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: This woman lives next door to me!
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sturdy red wagon
race the dreams of my childhood
baby curls unfurled
Helen David, Stamford, CT
JUDGES' COMMENTS: This turns back the clock and lets the speaker
once again feel the wind in her hair.
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my friend listens when
I'm not talking then responds
by nodding her head
Kay Lay Earnest, Smyrna, GA
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Subtle use of internal rhyme and good word
selection to create a clear image - we know this friend. The writer's
sadness pervades this piece.
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FIRST PLACE
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Marked pause at end of second line is typical of good senryu and haiku. Excellent shift in tone between the first two lines, and the bitter question of the third. This powerful piece says much about the plight of battered women, particularly those with difficulty departing an abusive partner. These three lines illustrate physical, mental and emotional relationship factors. Subtle alliteration helps make the point. Very well done!
as body renews
she waits for her mind to mend
how much is enough
Maryann Hazen-Stearns, Ellenville, NY
Kathy Kehrli, Factoryville, PA
JUDGES' COMMENTS: "Mischief lurking" and "angel puppy" are nicely
contrasted.
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a hesitant kiss
two lonely hearts briefly touch
love blossoms anew
Celia Lawton-Livingstone, Colchester, UK
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: Captures that sweet first kiss.
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born into this world
eyes shine towards a new day
what dreams does he hold
Nicole Nostramo, Elmwood Park, NJ
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pounding the keyboard
feels like riding the waves of
a limitless dream
Mary Pat Rafferty, Sugar Land, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: This poet's probably been surfing her thoughts
since long before The Web showed up. All writers should have this
ride. Good word selection.
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HONORABLE MENTION
"farewell" - old-fashioned
greeting, merging sorrow and
hope into one word
Mary Pat Rafferty, Sugar Land, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: This piece invites immediate analysis
of the opening word and suggests we do the same with other words.
Zen flows through this well done senryu with positive/negative, black/white,
yin/yang.
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constant frustration
based on unanswered questions
is there a true love?
Lynne Remick, Nesconset, NY
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: This most universal question of all has a
double answer given only case-by-case, yes or no.
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THIRD PLACE
skateboarding lessons
his new jeans torn at the knee
teardrops falling hard
Brenda Roberts, Fort Worth, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Teardrops aren't the only thing falling
hard here! Clear imagery; makes every parent laugh in sympathetic recognition
of one of the rites of childhood. "New" jeans remind us that lessons in
any new subject or experience come at a price, in this case torn knees
and tears.
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Ash clean and white will
Fall about me at my end
Blue sky fill my eyes!
Adelaide L. Socki, Houston, TX
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: Wonderfully tight writing about "the end."
Concise, precise, crisp.
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SECOND PLACE - TIE
white ball soaring high
plummets into pit now stuck
like bird in quicksand
Craig Soderquist, Universal City, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Vivid image of a "bird in quicksand" makes
this senryu stand out. Packed with movement, contrast (soaring, plummets,
stuck). Nice and tight--no extra words to dilute the impact.
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taking care of me
they're always there to lean on
friends can't be replaced
Kate Strickland, Fort Worth, TX
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: This universal truth clearly came to be known
through experience.
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SECOND PLACE - TIE
walking among stones
relatives gathered at rest
I still feel the love
Patricia A Tabella, Providence, RI
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Nice contrast of movement (speaker "walking")
and stillness ("stones," "at rest"). "Gathered" sets the tone, prepares
the reader for the last line; at such a family "gathering" one would still
feel the love of the departed.
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wiggling into slacks
memories of stuffed shells
no dessert for me
Patricia A Tabella, Providence, RI
JUDGES' COMMENTS: A humorous visual senryu, with a self-deprecating
tone, very Japanese.
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violating marks
virginal lines pumped with ink
bloodied paragraphs
Jade Walker, New York, NY
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Ohhh, yes! We've all limped away
from encounters with editors - dragging our tattered manuscripts behind
us. Excellent metaphorical piece.
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HONORABLE MENTION
your picture smiles, glows
at me from our years long past
I smile and miss you
Claiborne Schley Walsh, Montrose, AL
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Tender and bittersweet vignette. Poignant personification
of a loved one's photograph.
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attracted eyes smile
intimacy, ecstasy
will love complete me
G. "Elton" Warrick, Sacramento, CA
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| POETRY WORKS
Two Views on Writer's Block |
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Writing, Reading and the Fragments File by Craig Tigerman In creative writing, inspiration may strike repeatedly for a while and
then retreat for a frustratingly long period, weeks and even months.
What can a writer do to overcome the block?
Write every day. With this approach, a writer may eventually hit
upon the winning combination of opportunity, desire and creativity, and
break the mental logjam.
Read more intently. By becoming busy with successful literary
work, a writer may eventually gain a vision of expression waiting
to be made.
Keep a file of "fragments." Fragments are pieces of poetry
tucked away for a literary rainy day. These may include stanzas,
couplets, perhaps even single phrases or ideas, each of which may be worth
filing away, but not enough to develop into a finished creation at the
time. By patiently saving fragments, a writer can build a varied
repository of "starter kits" for use in future projects.
Writing, Reading and the Fragments File: In each of these approaches,
patience is of utmost importance, so include a sense of pacing, of ebb
and flow.
Craig Tigerman, Assistant Editor
http://sol-magazine-projects.org/prodigy/craig_tigerman |
|
Just Start Writing by Betty Ann Whitney Ever feel as if someone pulled the plug on your inspiration to write?
Many teachers and writers recommend "cures" to help defeat the block.
One of my favorites while I'm feeling blocked is to just start writing.
I don't think of this writing as meaningful. I may start with a color,
a smell, or even a shopping list. As I begin to sense a loosening
up, I switch to ideas, such as what do I want the reader to feel about
this color, smell, or an item from my shopping list. As my writing
begins to develop, I abandon this sheet of paper, and on a second (or third)
sheet of paper, choose a character and a setting, and write down the emotions
I feel about them. If I get stuck, I refer back to my "starters."
This helps me develop the story I want to tell. When the pieces begin
to fit together, it's like plugging back into inspiration to write.
For some excellent ideas on "freeing the writer within," pick up a copy
of "Writing Down the Bones," by writer, poet and teacher, Natalie
Goldberg.
Betty Ann Whitney, Assistant Editor
http://pages.prodigy.com/dandelionsoup |
Harry Horton
Harry, a devout vegetarian
Lived to be a centenarian
At the sight of hamburgers he shook his head
Ordered tofu, yogurt and black beans instead
Broccoli and greens filled his plate
Since antioxidants made him feel great
Folks believed he'd become fanatical
Using Vitamin E to grab free radicals
Harry's drank mineral water plus orange juice
Got his medical advice from a doc named Seuss
Harry Horton
Lois Lay Castiglioni, Galveston, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Orange juice and Dr. Seuss - formula for a
long life!
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Jennie Craven Ralston
Jennie Craven Ralston gathered answered prayers
station, wealth and fineries, little room for cares
Bedecked in yellow satin she posed for artist's brush
a portrait for posterity to ponder, emulous
Beneath the ageless gaze of lovely Jenny's face
the flow of generations marched a steady pace
Painter's fame brought praise to portrait now antique
raised frantic bidding antes at famed Sotheby's
Then drew the greedy eye of still elusive thief
left a bare museum wall, stares of disbelief.
Jennie Craven Ralston
Helen David, Stamford, CT
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Very nicely ties the model to the painting.
Probably snitched by her ghost. A pocket drama with excellent vocabulary.
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Susan Sharp
Susan Sharp lectured on breaking the glass ceiling
Gave tips to send the competition reeling
The important issue for women is dress
She explained it's the first step for success
From the cut of her dark pinstriped suit
Ms. Sharp looked professional and astute
The businesswomen thought she had elegant style
Till she finished the presentation with a smile
They all stared in complete disbelief
Poor Susie had red lipstick on her teeth
Susan Sharp
Kay Lay Earnest, Smyrna, GA
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Good use of rhyme in this expose of one of
success's weak links - appearance. Meets the criteria of rhyme and
metre and has fun while doing so. Nice contrast between the professionalism
of Ms. Sharp and the dilemma of Poor Susie.
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FIRST PLACE - Winner of a Sol pen from Bookstop/Barnes & Noble.
Monkey BoyJUDGES' COMMENTS: Well metred and rhymed. Leaves the reader/listener unsure whether there's a talking monkey or a tailed human - but who cares when you're having fun! Readers will "yammer with delight" over this poem with its amusing situation and carefree, unusual protagonist. Meter and rhyme perfectly appropriate for tone and content.
I'm sure you've heard the latest news
Of Monkey Boy who sings the blues
It seems his gimmick is to flail
A guitar with prehensile tail
On evenings when the weather's right
We hear him yammer with delight
Now Monkey Boy performs for free
And plays his gigs up in a tree
When asked which is his favorite song
He shouts "Who cares? Just sing along!"
Monkey Boy!
Maryann Hazen-Stearns, Ellenville, NY
John Mark was very smart
Always he made high marks
Picked some basil from the bed
Sold it so he could be fed
Bought some seed with the cash
Planted them with a dash
Told the man here is more
I want to buy your store
You can stay here to work
While I do some ground work
John Mark
Julia Jarmusz (Spirit Cloud), Fort Worth, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Turn the tables - buy out the boss.
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Ethel Marie Gue
She bought three cans of Raid bug spray
And brought them home last Saturday.
She placed them on the kitchen shelf.
I'll get those ants, she told herself.
Unbeknownst that very night
Those bombs were fused by pilot light.
A miracle, death she defied
But Ethel took it all in stride.
True to her words those ants did die.
She blew 'em up and let 'em fly.
Ethel Marie Gue
Kathy Kehrli, Factoryville, PA
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Well rhymed. Pest control the hard way!
A laugh-out-loud story of our continuing skirmishes with ants in the kitchen!
Excellent rhyme and metre across all the couplets really ties the entire
piece together. Every line moves the story forward to its explosive ending.
Very fine effort.
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Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin is a handsome young man
never been known to disappoint a fan
He became a teenage Menudo star
then a solo artiste near and far
Way back in early nineteen ninety-nine
his spanish record sales were doing fine
When to Los Angeles he went one day
and took an Academy Award away
The crowd were amazed and shouted "Encore!
of this latin star we want more, more, more!"
Ricky Martin
Celia Lawton-Livingstone, Cochester, UK
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Well rhymed. La vida rapido! Excellent
mini-biography of a popular singing star. Spelling out "1999" helps
the reader with the meter.
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News Flash Will
An inquiring newsman is Will
Who aspires to fill the top bill
Searching high and low for information
He hopes to cause a great big sensation
With pen and notepaper in hand
He travels, open-eyed through this land
Departing from Cedar Hill Texas
He seeks breaking news and a nexus
One day the top story he'll find
If not he'll go out of his mind
News Flash Will
Lynne Remick, Nesconset, NY
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Well rhymed. Will may self-destruct before
he hits the bigtime.
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Alex My Son
Alex, the kid, growing and...just a little bold
Mildly aggressive for someone two-years old!
"I want to see monkeys" he suddenly coos--
Disney's sing-a-long with Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo.
On the family couch as dawn begins to break,
He's staring at armoire holding TV so great.
With every light blazing at a quarter-to-eight,
Cuz Mom's in the kitchen and breakfast can't wait.
Why such behavior? Well, he is a kid of course
With a penchant for cartoons from Mickey the Mouse!
Alex My Son
Craig Soderquist, Universal City, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Excellent description of a two-year old.
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Brownie
Brownie is my life-long friend
He'll stay with me until the end
A light brown bear with chocolate eyes
His little paw sends me "hi"s
On June 10th 1986
We were automatically a fix
He sits upon my bed at day
At night in my arms is where he lays
He never ever makes a sound
And yet he turns my frown upside down
Brownie
Kate Strickland, Fort Worth, TX
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Good use of rhyme and near-rhyme. Charming
picture of a child's well-loved confidante.
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Mercy Lena Brown
Mercy Brown was the youngest daughter
Of Mary and George, well-known horse trader
Became consumptive, regrettably
After mother and sister, long buried
In eighteen ninety-two, she died
But life, it's said, was still inside
Exeter's suspicious folk were shocked
She was exhumed, blood filled her heart
The vampire legend still lingers on
In this sleepy, small, Rhode Island town
Mercy Lena Brown
Patricia A. Tabella, Providence, RI
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Mercy Brown: just can't keep a good ghoul down.
A merry and macabre little New England tale. "Became consumptive, regrettably"
is a wonderful line.
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C W
C W was young and full of vim,
Wanting to impress that one special him.
Didn't want to appear too giggly or girlish.
Tried hard not to be too mean nor churlish.
At the park she saw him while batting baseballs,
Listened raptly, gazed adoringly, got phone calls
Let him throw baseballs for her to bat and hit.
He didn't really think she would do well with it.
It's a miracle this fellow's still up breathing and alive.
She conked him in his loins with a solid hit line drive.
C W
Claiborne Schley Walsh, Montrose, AL
JUDGES' COMMENTS: Well rhymed and a lot of fun. The guys will
want to intentionally walk CW at all costs! Not quite the "impression"
the subject was hoping to make on her "special him." Humorous last
line makes the reader wince while smiling.
EDITOR'S COMMENTS: This poem shows how intimate details don't
have to be graphic to make a vivid point. Well done!
Winner of a copy of our first print publication: Nerinx Hall - An Anthology.
Winter TherapyJUDGES' COMMENTS: Beautiful, clearly-drawn imagery drawn not only through the choice of words but in the physical construction of the piece. Near rhymes work well, bringing to mind the near-sameness of each different ocean wave. "Horizonless union" vividly illustrates the gray on gray palette of a winter ocean scene. The rough cadence of "wave-chopped, wind-whipped" echoes the actual movement of the beachfront water, yet acknowledges the water's underlying uniformity with the soft repetition of the "w". The repetition of the initial sounds of "in indecipherable" evoke the backwash of a previous wave as it's overrun by the next wave. Simply an outstanding piece of work. Well thought out, well constructed. An underlying, steady metre serves as a bass line supporting the entire composition. Fine, understated use of alliteration as well as wonderful imagery and contrast in "gray horizonless union" and "gulls glide starkly white." The overall mood is a bit somber but peaceful. Great auditory image. Congratulations to the poet.
Sound drifts in indecipherable fragments,
wave-chopped, wind-whipped bites of poor reception.
No matter, walking the winter beach begets silence.
Atlantic marries sky in a gray horizonless union.
Gulls glide starkly white, mirroring foam-capped waves,
Restless and unsated they fly their celestial patterns
While I meander earthbound, seeking an elusive solace.
Helen David, Stamford, CT
Texas Poets - many groups are looking for new members. Contact Mary.M.Carlisle@prodigy.net for more information about any of the following:
Austin: Austin Writers Guild
Galveston Island: Poets Roundtable
Houston: Poetry Society of Texas
Houston: Inprint - Writers Workshops and First Friday
Pasadena: Poetry Society of Texas
Seabrook: Bay Area Writers League
Webster: Mad Poets - open mic
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Sol Magazine will mail no book prizes to poets outside the United States
of America. Book gift certificates from Barnes & Noble will be
substituted. No exceptions.
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Have a comment? Want to be added to our list? Want to be
taken off our list?
Write to us 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.
Sol Magazine's Website: http://pages.prodigy.com/sol_magazine
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So you want to be judge, guest editor, interviewee? Tell us.
We may have just the spot for you. Judges are asked to write a guest
editorial on a topic we set before being asked to judge a contest.
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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.
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DO NOT SEND US: We do not accept entries that make use of graphic
or sexually explicit language, touch on partisan politics, support particular
religious views, or mention figures out of any holy book unless we ask
for them. Archaic words, such as "Tis," "Til," "Thine," and "Thou,"
will probably not appear in Sol Magazine except in articles or essays.
Mixed case entries only.
We do allow poems about God, mythological gods or goddesses. See
our contest website or last contest for current guidelines.
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We may correct grammar, tense, spelling errors or change punctuation
without asking for permission or forgiveness.
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Sponsors in 2000: Don Castiglioni, James
Lay.
Angels in 2000: Martha Kirby Capo, Lois
Lay Castiglioni, Leo F. Waltz.
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Book donors in 2000: Lois Lay Castiglioni, Sharon Goodwin, Peggy
Lynch, Carlyn Luke Reding, Kathleen Elizabeth Schaefer, Craig Tigerman,
San Antonio Poets Association. Corporate book donors: Flying
Cow Productions, Bookstop. New sponsors and angels always welcomed.
Thanks for your support.
Sol Magazine, P.O. Box 580037, Houston, TX 77258-0037
Phone number: 281-316-2255
Call weekdays 8-5 (CDT)
Send comments, questions, advice to:
Sol.Magazine@prodigy.net