In 2017, I started a “Why I Write Poetry” series of guest posts. I’ve already received so many, and I hope they keep coming in (details on how to In this post, Sofia Kioroglou, an award-winning poet from Athens, Greece, shares her reasons for writing and publishing poetry.
Πηγή: Why I Write Poetry: Sofia Kioroglou | WritersDigest.com
Thank you all! You have been all so supportive! Blessings to all my fellow writers and friends
Subscriber News: May 2018
Recent Honors
Congratulations to Gary Beck. His poetry collection Expectations was released in April in print and e-book editions by Wordcatcher Publishing, an independent press in Wales. From the book blurb: “His explorations of a ‘bankrupt civilization’ and society’s dependence on the cycle of consumerism make a reflective and at times uncomfortable read. Gary is unafraid to challenge us, our ingrained behaviors and our apathy as a society.” Bill Brocato at the Houston Literary Review says, “His work stirs the emotions.” In other news, Gary’s poetry collection Rude Awakenings was published in April by Winter Goose Press. Paradise Review praises his “imagery and emotion that felt unique yet universal.”
Congratulations to Débora Ewing. Her story “Full Moon New Year” was a finalist in the 47th Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest and was published on their website. Visit her website for more of her writing. This thrice-yearly free contest gives prizes up to $100 for short stories that reflect the online journal’s “interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film, and theatre, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-20th century America.” The next deadline will be May 31.
Congratulations to David Michael McNelis. His memoir My Most Wanted Marijuana Mom: Growing Up in a Smuggling Family was recently published by Exposit Books, an independent publisher that “combines popular topics such as true crime with a serious approach.” McNelis’ book describes growing up in the 1970s with family members who went to prison for smuggling marijuana into the US when it was still illegal here.
Congratulations to Sofia Kioroglou. Her debut poetry collection, Literary Journeys to the Holy Land, was published by Gramma Press in affiliation with Promachos, an NGO dedicated to the raising of public awareness about the problems of starving children in Africa and the provision of food supplies. The book is a fusion of poetry and narrative accompanied by pictures from Sinai and Israel. The images and captions transport the reader to the places where Moses received the Ten Commandments and where Jesus walked and was crucified. This edition is in the original Greek; an English version will be published in October.
Congratulations to The Poet Spiel. His poem “Naked Arms” won first prize in the Colorado State Fair 2017 Poetry Competition. He kindly shares it with us here. His book Revealing Self in Pictures and Words, a collection of new and selected paintings and poems, will be released later this year.
Congratulations to Rick Lupert. This month, Rothco Press published his 22nd poetry collection, Beautiful Mistakes, a travelogue of Seattle, Portland, and Twin Peaks. Rick says: “I drink coffee, I have conversations with Alexa, I search for owls in the trees, I have a Doughnut party in the hotel lobby, I dine with friends, and poets, and all is documented in these caffeinated, pie-filled, weird and beautiful poems.” Read sample poems here. Rick will be reading with poets Amber Decker and Alexis Rhone Fancher at 8:00 pm on Friday, June 8, at Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA.
Recent Publications
Dan Klefstad was the featured guest on the first episode of Guildy Pleasures, a podcast from the Rockford Writers Guild. He read a chapter from his novel-in-progress, The Guardian, and was interviewed by host Connie Kuntz. Visit his Amazon author page for his other works of fiction.
Mike Tuohy’s political satire story “Fantasy Cabinet” was reprinted in Alycone: Speculative Fiction & Poetry, Issue #2 (2018). The story was originally published in 500 Miles Magazine in 2017. In other news, his story “Wunner If Elvis Got the Gun Instead?” was published in the 2017 Scribes Valley Writing Contest anthology Take a Mind Trip: Book a Fantasy. Mike says: “This story was inspired by a visit I made (at the suggestion of my editor, Jacq Marie Jacq) to the Tupelo Hardware Store where Elvis got his first guitar. According to lore, he came into the store on his 11th birthday to get a bike, but didn’t have enough money. Then he spotted the .22 rifle. When his mama objected, the proprietor, Mr. Bobo, brought out a guitar. My story explores how things might have gone otherwise.”
Judi Francis has started a blog, Miracles Do Happen, about raising a son with a developmental disability.
Lesléa Newman will be reading from her latest poetry collection, Lovely (Headmistress Press, 2018), at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 13, at the Amherst Senior Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA.
Konstantin Nicholas Rega has several poetry publications to report. “A Little Gardening” appeared in Typo Magazine, Issue 29. “Postmodern Rhapsody” appeared in Crack the Spine #235. “Weep Willow Reeds”, “Like Father, Like”, and “Heart & Soul” were published in Five:2:One. “Weep Willow Reeds” was also the poem of the day for April 18 at Every Day Poems.
Gail Thomas will be reading her poetry on Friday, May 18, at Anchor House of Artists, 518 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA, in their Authors’ Cabaret event for Arts Night Out, a monthly downtown gallery walk from 4:00-8:00 pm. Her portion of the reading will start around 7:00 pm. Visit her website to learn about her books and awards.
Published: May 7, 2018
https://winningwriters.com/whats-new/subscriber-news-may-2018
Read my poem Cattywampus at : Better than Starbucks
Anyone is welcome to join in this creative adventure! I will be marking the kick off of this poetry adventure then join in. When? February 21st is our Kickoff day. Please visit The Idiotic and Feeble Mindeed Poets Page and join in the fun. This is our chance to link us across the planet.
WHAT? There are many ways of doing a RENGA. Since it was through the RENGA that the haiku emerged, ours should be haiku in flavor but without the anxieties of form. There are some who have experience in RENGA and may want to work within a form-that’s ok. But an intuitive 3 line -2 line – 3 line etc is our approach.
Message from the Creator of The Idiotic and Feeble minded poets, Vincent Zepp:
HOW? The poem will be written in the “say something” field on THE IDIOTIC AND FEEBLE MINDED POETS FACE BOOK PAGE with everyone having an opportunity to contribute. The poem has to be copy and pasted into the field each time in order to add the next link -thus eliminating the previous entry. We ok so far? If you can’t copy and paste message me and I’ll do it for you. If you can’t message me email me at postpublishingworld@gmail.com The last step would be to post your link in the comments so we know who wrote it. It is quite simple. If Facebook wasn’t so clumsy I’m sure there’d be a better approach.
WHY? There’s no doubt that THE IDIOTIC AND FEEBLE MINDED POETS is the most unique literary page on Facebook. That’s because of the poets and poetry. The RENGA is a chance to link us across the planet. We don’t have the opportunity to sit down for drinks and dinner and readings-this as close as we can get for the time being.
THANKS! We thank you for what will be a creative fun adventure. Feel free to contact us if we can be of help in any way.
To take part please visit us at :
Συμμετοχή με τρία ποιήματά μου.
“Το Μελάνθιον το Δαμασκηνόν” δημοσιεύτηκε αρχικά στο αμερικάνικο περιοδικό Every Writer και είναι μια αγαπημένη δουλειά. Χαίρομαι που βρήκε σπιτάκι σε μια ελληνική ανθολογία. Καλή Χρονιά να έχουμε.
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The Editorial Team is pleased to announce the 2017 Best of the Net Award nomination list for Lunaris Review.
Read and share!
Poetry
Pansiwaa by Agyei-Baah (Issue 4) http://lunarisreview.com/adjei-agyei-baah-pansiwaa/
Ibadan by Abayomi Ogunniyi (Issue 7) http://lunarisreview.com/three-poems-abayomi-ogunniyi/
Generative Genesis of Grammar by Yuan Changming (Issue 5) http://lunarisreview.com/generative-genesis-of-grammar-yua…/
On Angel Wings Heaven-Bound by Yuan Hongri, translated by Manu Mangattu (Issue 6) http://lunarisreview.com/three-poems-yuan-hongri-translate…/
this is how to live by Stanley Princewill McDaniels (Issue 5) http://lunarisreview.com/this-is-how-to-live-stanley-princ…/
On the death of my father by Sofia Kioroglou (Issue 4) http://lunarisreview.com/sofia-kioroglou-on-the-death-of-m…/
Fiction
Projections by Isaac Birchmier (Issue 5) http://lunarisreview.com/projections-isaac-birchmier/
A Divine Tragedy by Dhee Sylvester (Issue 6) http://lunarisreview.com/a-divine-tragedy-dhee-sylvester/
Creative Non-fiction
First Loves by Adreyo Sen (Issue 4) http://lunarisreview.com/adreyo-sen-first-loves/
Learning to Fly by Susannah Chovnick (Issue 6) http://lunarisreview.com/learning-to-fly-susannah-chovnick/
Congratulations and Best of Luck to the Nominees.
You are gone and with you I cannot converse
my prayer our only communication channel
This phone call will certainly reach you
My cries no longer heave
I have started to play the piano again
got that pixie cut with long bangs
I know you are well
I can feel you
I see you smile
Μανχάταν, Νέα Υόρκη, 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2001 και ώρα 7.30. Άλλη μια κουραστική μέρα ξεκινάει με το ξυπνητήρι ανελέητα να κουδουνίζει… Πόσο απεχθάνομαι το πρωινό ξύπνημα και όσο σκέφτομαι ότι άλλο ένα κουραστικό οκτάωρο θα το περάσω στο παγκόσμιο κέντρο εμπορίου 3 με πιάνει ζαλάδα. Πολλοί λένε ότι το φαινόμενο του cubicle coma που αισθάνονται οι εργαζόμενοι είναι μια έντονη ψυχολογική κατάσταση που μπορεί να προκαλέσει κρίσεις πανικού, έντονη εφίδρωση και ακόμη και χρόνια κατάθλιψη. Ο ψυχολόγος μού συνέστησε να βρω αλλού δουλειά, αλλά κάτι τέτοιο είναι αδύνατον. Χρειάζομαι οπωσδήποτε κάποιο εισόδημα και δεν θέλω να χάσω τη βίζα μου. Όμως σήμερα νιώθω μια έντονη δύσπνοια. Μήπως να ειδοποιήσω τη Σάρον ότι δεν θα πάω στη δουλειά να με καλύψει; Άλλωστε είναι η καλύτερή μου φίλη.
Ώρα 11.30! Το κινητό μου τρελάθηκε. Νόμιζα ότι το είχα κλείσει. Μα ποιος είναι τέλος πάντων; Στο πάτημα του κουμπιού ακούω μια κραυγή που μου σπάει τα τύμπανα.
– Έλα παιδί μου είσαι καλά; Σε παίρνω από το πρωί. Κόντεψα να πεθάνω από την αγωνία.
– Παλάβωσες; Γιατί στριγκλίζεις ρε μαμά;
– Παιδί μου, οι Δίδυμοι Πύργοι καταστράφηκαν. Ακόμη κοιμάσαι;
Εκείνη τη στιγμή ήταν που σκέφτηκα τη Σάρον. Ο κόσμος γύρω μου σκοτείνιασε.
Στην κηδεία της Σάρον δεν πήγα. Δεν άντεχα. Όλοι μου λένε πόσο τυχερή στάθηκα εκείνη τη μέρα. Μέσα μου όμως δε νιώθω καθόλου έτσι. Ούτε πια μπορώ να χαμογελάσω.
Αφιερωμένο στη μνήμη της Σάρον που έφυγε τόσο ξαφνικά.
Το μικροδιήγημα της Σοφίας Κιόρογλου δημοσιεύτηκε στο 69ο τεύχος του Βooks’ Journal Σεπτεμβρίου 2016 στο σχετικό αφιέρωμα για το Σημείο Μηδέν.
Two Poems by Sofia Kioroglou
Where do I belong?
The future coming closer and closer
The already gone, swivelling repetitions
a dystopian reality, my mind falling from itself
into nowhere, into a black hole, into abyss
Hope, a sempiternal illusion
hot metal melting into nothingness
veritable census of the dead
where do I belong?
Existence slipping between parallel universes
a hundred shades of gray and snowflake obsidian
my desire for place always denied
between now and forever, I rappel down into oblivion
When dreams fade away
– Previously published in Forgotten Meadows as part of a poetic collaboration
In the deep sediment of my mind
some long-dormant fragment of memory
has been inadvertently twitched
When dreams fade away
and night segues into day
I try to grasp it but it slips away
It lingers in the mind, unbidden
between and betwixt, drawing my attention
a thin tape whirring in my mind’s recorder
Sofia Kioroglou is a poet, a wife, a missionary, a pilgrim, and a perennial traveler to the Holy Land and Egypt. She likes to take her readers on an exhilarating tour of Jerusalem’s treasures through her poetry and to write articles on the delectable local fare in Jericho, near the Mount of Temptation, and her visits to Cana, where hundreds of couples renew their wedding vows. To learn more about her, visit her blog at sofiakioroglou.wordpress.com.
