Thursday, December 19, 2013

Thinking Through the Tree of Life

by Dennis Fargo
 
He stared at it for two weeks. He did not know what to do.
So he picked up his tools and began …

First he stripped the log of all its bark.
He cut its length in half, that a sturdy crossbar could be fashioned to carry the unseen,
Precious Weight.
He wanted strength, but
At its head appeared a twisted crown evoking thorns and gold.
Suffering and glory at once revealed by the strokes of his chisel.

Cedar filled the carver’s head like incense, but still he didn’t know …
Anxious now, he stood in the woodchips.

The bottom next, perhaps. He meant a worthy pedestal for the base.
The column started true – but – the – tools – gave up instead a mirror of the chase.
Alright, he thought. Strong roots to grasp the Rock that bears the tree,
And yet, within, the unmistakable joining of ankle and of knee …

A gouge to sharpen the lines, then, that upper and lower might be one piece.
But the knot above asked for more work, and became instead, a wound, a crease.

On the right a simple flourish would do. Follow the twist again, in application.
But as he worked, his tools worked, too.
The braid was open here, a hand up-turned, both plea and supplication.

Still, the work had strength. Then last, the left.
Perhaps the chisel slipped – or was it by design?
The grain was true enough, and fine.
But where at last the limb outstretched, it was as if a hand were cleft.
Good enough, the carver smiled – for WE are His left hand made flesh.

He stared at it for two weeks. He did not know what would suffice.
But working with the carver’s hands, the Maker gave it life anew.
To honor Son and hope imbue,
The Maker carved a Tree of Life.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Christmas Time

by Leigh Giza

The air is cold and crisp
It numbs my fingertips
It’s Christmas time again

In the fireplace logs glow
The forecast calls for snow
It’s Christmas time again

Children make their lists
Grown-ups shop for gifts
It’s Christmas time again

Wreaths and stockings are hung
While carols are joyfully sung
It’s Christmas time again

Lights on faux firs twinkle
Holiday partygoers mingle
It’s Christmas time again

I wish I could feel this way
Not just now but every day
It’s Christmas time again

Friday, December 6, 2013

Fear of Creativity?

by Patricia Daly-Lipe

Creativity leads to creation,
An imitation of God's work.
Our best is our breath,
Our life called inspiration
Living where the spirit dwells,
That Creative Muse who lurks within us all.
A soaring spirit seeking truth,
An intuitive attribute of the divine.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Calls for Submissions and Contests

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

SPEECHLESS AND ROUTE 66
Speechless the Magazine will be publishing a feature on poems pertaining to Route 66—opened in 1926, decommissioned in 1985—the highway that gave rise to the country’s first franchise (Fred Harvey Restaurants), played a large (and long) role in the Great Depression, served as a corridor for people fleeing the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, and has been immortalized in the classic The Grapes of Wrath. They want strong, accomplished poems with interesting takes on the “Mother Road”.
Deadline: Undetermined

POETS.ORG AND LINES THAT HAVE SHAPED YOUR LIFE
Poets.org wants to know what lines of poetry have shaped your life. As executive director Jennifer Benka recently said "It's poets who sculpt ideas, images, and experiences in language that reverberates across our lifetime and beyond; whose lines we turn to for a distillation of truth we can hold like a mantra in our mind." You can share the lines of poetry that have sustained you by emailing Jennifer at JenBenka@poets.org.
Deadline: On-going

HER STORY ANTHOLOGY: WRITE TO HEAL ABUSE
Writing is one way to make sense of our experience and turn pain into art. Your insight matters, to you and to other women who don’t yet believe they can get out. Pick one moment when you knew something had to give, and for once, it wouldn’t be you. This anthology will contain short stories, either non-fiction or creative fictionalized accounts, of your experience which demonstrate creativity and clarity.
Deadline: December 15, 2013

VOICES ISRAEL 2014 ANTHOLOGY
Voices Israel announces the opening of submissions to the 2014 Annual Anthology (Volume 40). Submissions are accepted from Voices members and non-members alike. There is no fee for submitting poems to the anthology.
Deadline: January 31, 2014

MONTEREY POETRY REVIEW
Their vision is to publish the highest quality of poetry online from the many talented poets in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as from poets anywhere with a connection to the Monterey Peninsula.
Deadline: February 15, 2014




CALL FOR PRIZES AND FELLOWSHIPS

WRITERS @ WORK FELLOWSHIP COMPETITION
Enter a series of poems, a short story, novel excerpt, or an essay. Winners in each genre receive $1000, publication in Quarterly West, a featured reading at the Writers @ Work conference, and 2014 conference tuition. The judges are Ellen Bass (poetry), Robin Hemley (nonfiction), and Michael Martone (fiction).
Deadline:January 15, 2014

GIVAL PRESS POETRY AWARD
A prize of $1,000, publication by Gival Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection.
Deadline: December 15, 2013

POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA CHAPBOOK FELLOWSHIPS
Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication by the Poetry Society of America are given annually for poetry chapbooks by poets who have not published a full-length collection. Two fellowships are open to poets 30 or younger living in any of the five boroughs of New York City, and two of the fellowships are open to poets of any age living anywhere in the United States.
Deadline: December 21, 2013

TUPELO PRESS DORSET PRIZE
A prize of $3,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 88 pages.
Deadline: December 31, 2013

NEW AMERICAN PRESS POETRY PRIZE
A prize of $1,000 and publication by New American Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Jillian Weise will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages.
Deadline: December 31, 2013

THE FROST PLACE CHAPBOOK COMPETITION
A prize of $250, publication by Bull City Press, and a fellowship to attend the Frost Place Poetry Seminar will be given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner will also receive a week long writing residency at the Frost Place in Franconia, New Hampshire.
Deadline: December 31, 2013

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Bethesda Literary Festival Writing Contests Beginning


The 2014 Bethesda Literary Festival writing contests applications are now live! You can find more information and links to the application below.

Essay Contest
DEADLINE: January 24, 2014
Apply Online

Topic: Open

Awards
Adult:
First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150
Honorable Mention: $75

High School
First Place: $250 and published in Bethesda Magazine
Second Place: $150
Third Place: $50

All winning essays will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership and Bethesda Magazine websites and will be honored at a special event during the Bethesda Literary Festival on Friday, April 11, 2014.

Requirements
Essays must be limited to 500 words or less about a topic of the writer's choosing. Only one entry per person. Your essay must be your original work. Any essays containing material that is obscene or objectionable will be disqualified. Previously published essays are not eligible.

Eligibility
Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Current and former employees, contractors, directors, and officers of the Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP) and their immediate family members are ineligible. Current students, relatives, or close personal friends of the judge(s) are also ineligible.

Judging
The judges for this contest are Lisa Page, acting director of the Creative Writing Program at George Washington University; and Lisa Shroder, editor at Bethesda Magazine.

Notification
Winners will be contacted by March 28, 2014.

Copyright
All entrants retain the copyright rights that they have in the essays they submit, but by participating in this contest and submitting essays, all entrants grant Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP) the right, license, and ability to use and publish all submitted essays (in complete form or in excerpted form) on the BUP Web site, on other Web sites, and in other media.

Questions? Please email essay@bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660, Ext. 117.

For more information, please visit www.bethesda.org.


Short Story Contest

DEADLINE: January 24, 2014
Apply Online

Topic: Open

Requirements: Stories must be limited to 4,000 words or less.

Eligibility: Residents of Montgomery County, MD and Upper NW Washington, D.C. (20015 and 20016 ZIP codes) are eligible. The contest will take entries in two categories: High School (grades 9-12) and Adult (ages 18+).

Awards
Adult:
First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150
Honorable Mention: $75

High School
First Place: $250 and published in Bethesda Magazine
Second Place: $150
Third Place: $50

The first place winners in both categories will also receive a gift certificate to The Writer’s Center.

All winners will be published on the Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Urban Partnership websites and will be honored at a special event during the Bethesda Literary Festival.

Poetry Contest

DEADLINE: February 14, 2014
Apply Online

Awards
First place: $500, published on The Writer's Center's "First Person Plural" blog, and a free class and membership to The Writer's Center.
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150|

All winners will be published on the Bethesda Urban Partnership Web site and honored at a special event during the Bethesda Literary Festival, held April 11-13, 2014.

Requirements
Poems cannot be more than 21 lines of text. Do not double space your entry. Only one entry per person. Your poem must be your original work and must be currently unpublished. Any poems containing material that is obscene or objectionable will be disqualified.

Eligibility
Open to residents of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. who are 18 or older at the time of the entry deadline. Current and former employees, contractors, directors, and officers of the Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP) and their immediate family members are ineligible. Current students, relatives, or close personal friends of the judge(s) are also ineligible.

Judging
The judge for this contest is Professor of English at George Washington University, David McAleavey.

Notification
Winners will be contacted by March 24, 2014.

Copyright
All entrants retain the copyright rights that they have in the poems they submit, but by participating in this contest and submitting poems, all entrants grant Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP) the right, license, and ability to use and publish all submitted poems (in complete form or in excerpted form) on the BUP Web site, on other Web sites, and in other media. Questions? Please email poetry@bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660, Ext. 117.