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Mardelle Fortier

Susan T. Moss

John Quinn

Mardelle Fortier, November, 2011

Greetings to all poets and ISPS club members!

Once again, it is fall and a new football season is upon us with all its excitement. As much as I enjoy the spectacle of football, it has always seemed to me that, in terms of toughness, it cannot compare to the literary life. The lives of poets, filled with emotions of sublime beauty, also have ambition, pain of loss and rejection, and intense rivalries, some of which last years, even a lifetime.

For example, in his book Birthday Letters, the poet Ted Hughes savaged a number of well-known authors and critics for their rejection of his wife Sylvia Plath's poetry during her lifetime. Critics, he wrote, made Plath suffer intensely: "And as if/reporting some felony to the police/they let you know that you were not John Donne." He recalls Marianne Moore returning a Plath poem without comment. This led to years of ill-feeling: "And she Marianne, tight, brisk/Neat and hard as an ant,/Slid into the second or third circle/Of my Inferno." ("The Literary Life," p. 76) As Marianne Moore approached death, she praised one of Sylvia's poems as Ted listened. Ted wrote nothing about forgiveness, however.

Bitter struggles and rivalries, we observe, can last for years. Compared to the literary life, football is for wimps! This is why I stress that ISPS meetings offer not only poetry, but friendship and acceptance. Also, the club is a forum in which we hope to improve our art. As Mary Oliver has written, "A poet's interest in craft never fades, of course." (A Poet's Handbook, p. 4). As Halloween approaches, we remember one of our greatest poets, Edgar Allan Poe: "I dwelt alone/In a world of moan,/And my soul was a stagnant tide." ("Eulalie")

But then I come to the ISPS meeting, and life is better!

Sincerely,

Mardelle Fortier

Mardelle Fortier, September, 2011

Firstly, we should recognize that the ISPS Anniversary Gala was well organized and attended. Special thanks to all who organized the Gala and made it such a successful event. We also appreciate those who attend the poetry readings at the Brewed Awakening.

There are ambitious goals we hope to achieve in the next two years. We want to increase our number and especially interest young people in poetry and our club. We wish to reach out as well to the elderly, the lonely, the sick or forgotten and help to brighten their lives. For our current members we want to make our meetings both useful and enjoyable so members look forward to and attend them.

With your help these goals can be achieved. Any ideas or suggestions you have are very welcome. Please feel free to communicate them to me.

Sincerely,

Mardelle Fortier

Mardelle Fortier, July, 2011

Blizzards, earthquakes, tsunamis, heat waves, climate change and a tornado! Isn't it wonderful to come to ISPS meetings, a calm refuge from the world, where good friends can meet, socialize and celebrate their love for poetry?

Firstly, I wish to thank all club members for electing a new slate—my fellow officers are all great—and to thank the prior officers for their stellar service. In the coming months we hope to increase both membership and attendance at our get-togethers by both current and new members, veteran and young poets, and to extend the love of poetry as widely as possible. It's great that so many make the effort to travel to meetings despite rain, snow, heat, or sports games; we enjoy hearing such a wide range of creative and strong poems.

We wish to personally show our appreciation to Caroline Johnson for her work in our meetings and her wonderful service in providing our newsletter. Special thanks also to Barbara Eaton for all of her facilitating and organizing of Club matters.

On behalf of the officers, we look forward to seeing all our friends at ISPS and serving you in the new term!

Susan T. Moss, May, 2011

It is with some sadness that I write this last message of my two-year term. However, as we approach our twentieth year anniversary and look toward the future, there has been much to celebrate over the last couple of years. From publishing our first anthology to adding two new chapters, attaining Articles of Incorporation and displaying members' poetry in eight libraries during this year's Poetry Month, we can be proud of all our hard work and accomplishments. Membership is at a new high of 122 with consistent growth, and there is a celebration to look forward to on August 20, 2011.

While we are celebrating the past, it is also important to preserve the institutional memory of Illinois State Poetry Society. The next decade will bring more events, changes and additions that need to be chronicled as well as our history. It would be useful as well as interesting for new members and long-time participants to know about this statewide group.

Regarding poetry, an acquaintance, who is not a poet, asked how she is supposed to read a poem and then interpret the poet's intentions behind the words. Of course, we cannot control what effects our work may produce nor how a listener or reader deconstructs its content. Once the poem is set free, it takes its own path, and sometimes we gain insights from what others see. There is often some intuitive reference that speaks to many and strikes a chord of recognition. The "aha" when somebody does find the poet's deeper subtext or motivating force can be rewarding but need not happen in order for the piece to be appreciated. The process might be compared to actors developing their characters. They create stories, reasons, ideas, history or any other number of motivations for what is ultimately seen in the actual play. These will probably never be known by the audience, however.

So what shall we write this spring into summer? Perhaps memories will fill notebook pages for future poems or reworking former pieces for a collection will call to us. Much waits to be noted and said. With each observation and daily event dangles the possibility for a poem—it's just a matter of writing it!

What has been true over the years and remains the goal of our society is to promote and support poets and their work. We are a vital force for getting out the word through various venues we offer plus wherever members seek places to read and submit their work. There is an esprit de corps, and many of us have become good friends through a love of words and participation in ISPS. I shall be around and invite your thoughts as we start another adventure over the next two years. I have enjoyed working with the present Board members, and I shall remain on the Board. I wish the new leaders much success.

Susan T. Moss, March, 2011

A few events are worthy of note in this March message. First, an update on the ISPS anthology includes the final touches on editing and formatting before sending everything to the publisher. The process will include return galley proofs and more editing before the final printing. Next, a date and location for the official celebration of our twentieth anniversary and anthology are also in the planning. Another chance to participate in the NFSPS convention as a ISPS delegate will be in mid June. Check STROPHES for further information. Please let me know if you are interested in helping to represent ISPS.

Other events involving ISPS include several things for Poetry Month in April. Members' work will be displayed in the Westmont, Winnetka, Northbrook, Wilmette, Lisle and Lemont libraries. Also, member Gail Goepfert will be leading two student workshops at the Northbrook Public Library on April 16, 2011. The first session will be for 5th and 6th graders and will run from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A second class will be held for 7th and 8th graders from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. It is free for students who register by calling the library at 847-272-6224. This program entitled "Finding Poetry and Painting With Words" is sponsored by ISPS, the Northbrook Arts Council and the Northbrook Public Library. Attendees will receive a writing journal from the local Arts Council.

Richard C. Wilbur, second Poet Laureate of the United States, just celebrated his ninetieth birthday on March 1. He writes in concise, formal verse, but not very quickly. As Wilbur said, "I often don't write more than a couple of lines in a day of, let's say six hours of staring at the sheet of paper." Conversely, Alan Ginsburg wrote rapidly and prolifically but with many false starts that were discarded.

Whatever our work process is, it is useful to write down the thoughts that trickle into our consciousness and need to be addressed before they disappear. Giving ourselves permission to just write the general ideas down is important and then save them for another time when we can fill in the missing pieces. It might be equated with a painter who makes a preliminary sketch and then begins the longer process of layering subtle shades of paint, dabbing and smudging, scratching and highlighting. The end result is a picture greater than its skeletal beginnings that perhaps tells a story or illustrates a place.

Some poets get stuck with making an idea into what is considered poetry. The form or poetic devices elude them, and the initial concept starts to fade into frustration or a lack of confidence. Most poets feel that there could be a little more to improve in any given piece. What is almost always true, on the other hand, is few poems are completed in the first several drafts. Almost anything can be the subject of a poem, but not all poems accomplish what we have in mind. However, some poets have discovered as Wilbur has that writing can "calm my own nerves."

Susan T. Moss, January, 2011

First, I would like to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and productive new year. The beginning of 2011 finds editors and committee members working to put together our twentieth anniversary anthology. In February the first meeting to discuss selected poetry sent by seventy-four members will take place. Each stage of the process thus far has gone smoothly, and after formatting final entries, the printing could take as long as eight weeks for completion. The goal is to have a finished product by early June if not before.

More news includes the conclusion of two of three steps toward making ISPS a not for profit organization. We have attained an issuance of Articles of Incorporation from the Illinois Secretary of State and also have an EIN (Employer Identification Number). These steps now enable us to pursue a 501 (c) (3) status. This effort requires some further assistance, which I am seeking from a member or members who have experience in filing for this important final stage. With the 501 (c) (3), ISPS would become a tax deduction for any donations by members and outside sources. It would allow us the ability to apply for grants and bring us into the arena many other state societies already profit from and enjoy. Please consider helping with this project that would benefit everyone.

As for poetry, I recently attended an entertaining and informative play with songs called Local Wonders which is about the life and poetry of Ted Kooser, United States Poet Laureate from 2004-06. It was written by Virginia Smith and Paul Amandes and was adapted from Kooser's book by the same title, which came from a belief that "If you can awaken inside the familiar and discover it new, you need never leave home…"

When attempting to "awaken" ideas and overcome moments of writer's block, consider one technique involving what some poets call a "frame" for a poem. At a fall workshop some other members and I attended, we discussed this concept of putting thoughts into a specific organization as a way to guide the poet and reader. For instance, writing in a recipe style: First you… then add… and so forth, extending a metaphor throughout the poem, trying ideas on like clothes, making a comparison and contrast poem, and telling it like a story or fairy tale are some ways that might structure your writing.

W.S. Merwin, present U.S. Poet Laureate, and other poets recognize what his "To the Consolations of Philosophy" states, "I know the design/of the world is beyond/our comprehension." Poets, hope, however, that poetry is a way to gather, sort, analyze and categorize aspects of life. We keep spooning thoughts onto the page in an attempt to make sense of everyday rhythms, to attach a ribbon from one observation to the next and tie all together if just for a moment of illumination and understanding.

Susan T. Moss, November, 2010

There are several exciting topics to share in this Thanksgiving and winter holidays ISPS newsletter. Many creative endeavors are underway and members can continue to contribute to their success.

On November 7, 2010, the first meeting of our newest chapter took place in Anna near Carbondale. Nine of us met at the spacious Anna Art Center and enjoyed lively discussion plus a delicious variety of treats. Jim Lambert is the facilitator who gathered the friendly and talented poets.

Our third chapter, founded a year ago, will celebrate its first anniversary on December 11, 2010, at the Pontiac Public Library. David Alexander hopes many members will join critiquing poetry and sharing food. One more invitation involves a visit to the Evanston Public Library where members' poetry will be displayed through November instead of the initial October time frame. ISPS is always open to sharing our poems in public arenas, and members are welcome to investigate their local libraries and art centers to see if they would be interested. Please let me know of possibilities for the coming months.

An exciting event is further explained in the guide sheet included in this newsletter. The completion of the first ISPS members' anthology is planned for next spring and will rely on your support and best poems. This milestone will help further our goal to put poetry out into the world.

The Illinois State Poetry Society will soon celebrate two decades of its existence. Further history of the organization's earlier years would be useful to create a more detailed picture of where we have been and how we continue to grow. If you have any old newsletters, announcements, programs or related information, it would be very helpful to share them in order to tell our story. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Another ISPS goal is to offer youth and adult writing workshops. A member, Gail Goepfert, will present two sessions for students at the Northbrook Public Library in February. This will be one of several kinds of programs we want to offer the public and members in the new year. If you have experience working with either younger or more mature writers, please join the growing outreach to experienced and aspiring poets.

And what of poetry? We are known by the words we write in varying voices which stay true to an inner calling. While some things do change like the seasons, our desire to capture and hone impressions viewed with curiosity and contemplation is the constant that keeps us on course. May the holidays be filled with creativity, peace and joy.

Susan T. Moss, September, 2010

As summer slowly glides to an end, we look back on the events, travel and hopefully, creative inspiration of the last three months. In past newsletters, I discussed ways to improve our poetry through writing and researching other sources for ideas. During my recent trips, I was aware of how poetry seems to be everywhere. Of course, one has to be open to it and then take in the many surprises.

My first pleasant encounter with a book of verse was at Thomas Cole's house in Catskill, New York. Although an artist and the founder of the Hudson River School, he was also a poet. His early 1800s rhyming verse is as colorful and thoughtful as his paintings, which both serve to emphasize the intimate relationship between literature and visual art.

Another and more obvious location for finding poetry was in the Athenaeum, an historic public library in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. While there viewing murals and architecture of the later 1800s, I found the poetry section tucked upstairs among smooth, dark wood stacks. Walt Whitman to Galway Kinnell were among many representative poets.

When approaching the Billings-Marsh-Rockefeller Mansion in Woodstock, Vermont, the first thing a visitor notices are the many typed placards of Robert Frost's poetry along winding paths. Among large Norway Spruce everywhere, are also reminders of the connections between humans and nature accompanied by a solid, welcoming brick house. Here many good conservation decisions were made over a hundred year span and which are again reflected in Frost's work.

Then there was Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac radio production that followed me from New England to Duluth, Minnesota, and Door County, Wisconsin. His wide-ranging poetry selections bridge the gap between the everyday mundane and expansive horizons of mind and spirit.

The final stop on my summer odyssey was William Caxton's Bookstore in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Here, among thousands of used and remainder books, is one of the largest collections of available poetry at reasonable prices. This oasis along Route 42 offers a wonderful chance to turn from lake and shops to a place poets can nurture themselves and often share with others through the written word.

My suitcase is back in the basement, and the roses insist on one last pink blush. I am counting on more poetry everywhere and often when least expected. It's a little like the first soft snow or first spring blossom. When we are alert and open, we are ready to share in their many gifts.

Susan T. Moss, July, 2010

my time in Memphis, Tennessee, where it was held. The first noteworthy point is that ISPS received four awards for participation in various events including National Poetry Day and Poetry Month, serving as an example of Order and Method in our organization, Award of Merit for Outstanding Youth Activities plus state participation in the 2010 Manningham Poetry Contest. We were among the highest recognized states due to members' interest and efforts to grow our society.

An enduring impression I have is how poetry is a natural icebreaker. The poets were on equal footing and eager to share their work at morning and evening open mics and to discuss the operating procedures of their state societies. There were also several presentations about poetry and related areas plus a book room to sell our own work. Although state groups vary in organization styles, the goals are the same—share ideas and words that create a poetic environment.

Arkansas stated that poems should have "an angle" or specific "view" and could start with something like "I knew the minute I walked in the door..." or "I didn't mean to tell you...." She also suggested avoiding common word use and to write with active verbs and vivid description. In related but more philosophical points shared by Mississippian Randy Smith, "We write about what we know to discover and understand what we don't know." Creating metaphors can help do the search and say so much more than explaining in straight narrative or conversation. Smith also quoted Robert Frost who said, "If the poem doesn't offer surprises to the poet then there won't be a surprise for the reader."

From a historical view, Jonathan Randle, also from Mississippi, pointed out that the paradigm of poetry spans four thousand years and continues to "privilege the scope of emotions, immaterial, and intimacy poetry embraces." As in Aristotle's "mean between two extremes," a good poem captures rather than strains content and style. Dr. Randle finished with the concept that we poets share a community of exchange to hold something in common which can change our culture and stop "the mud slide."

An added attraction was the keynote speaker and poet Lola Haskins who shared some of her poetry relating to the 1860s in Florida where she lives. Her writing, energy and performance were part of the highlights of the convention.

I would like to mention that the next NFSPS convention will be June 16-19, 2011, in Dearborn, Michigan, at the Dearborn Inn. A feeling of esprit de corps with poets including from Illinois, learning first hand that three ISPS members won something in various contest categories, hearing views that might be new or worth revisiting, laughter and experiencing Southern hospitality are some of the things that I enjoyed. It would be worthwhile for members to consider attending next year.

On another note, Bonnie Matheis, from the Illinois Center for the Book, has asked me to request members who have book and biographical information on the Illinois Authors website to update their profiles. This would be very helpful for all concerned.

Finally, members should be aware of future events in October. We have been invited for a second month-long display of our poetry in the Evanston Public Library where we had a show in April. The other invitation is from the Northbrook Public Library for their annual arts night on October 1, 2010. We have been asked to read our poetry again and share in the reception beforehand. Further details will be forthcoming for both these opportunities.

Susan T. Moss, May, 2010

We read and write poetry for many personal reasons as well as those that motivate in a larger shared sphere. Annie Dillard states in The Writing Life the notion of writing is a way to "magnify and dramatize our days, illuminate and inspire us with wisdom" while at times opening "our minds" to life's "deepest mysteries." Once our work takes its course and evolves, for more and more ISPS members into a published poetry collection, the questions mount regarding outlets for these illuminations in the form of a full length poetry book or chapbook.

Most of us don't have agents to spread the word about our creations. It becomes a valuable service, to ourselves and others, therefore, to find ways to publicize it. There are many ways we can do this, and the easiest one as I have mentioned in a past message, is to put the book title and your contact information on our ISPS website. Other outlets require a little more effort but can be very beneficial.

Another fairly effortless way to promote your work is to bring it to chapter meetings and display it or make an announcement that it is for sale. Several books have been sold with this approach.

Some investigation could start with your hometown public library. Most of them don't have readily available purchasing funds for unsolicited books, but they often accept donations of local patrons' written works. This does require a library of Congress number and a spine with the title printed on it. Your book becomes a part of a large poetry section, and anyone can read it.

A little more proverbial footwork includes making visits to independent bookstores and asking if they would be willing to carry your poems. This has been another successful venture for some poets who mostly are offered a consignment deal with a specific percentage set by the store. In some rare instances, the poet can sell several copies outright. In these commercial situations, an ISBN number and spine with title on it are necessary. Having a Library of Congress registration is also useful and provides an official aspect and safeguard.

Participating as a featured poet and signing up for open mics at places like Westmont's Brewed Awakening, The Café on Lincoln in Chicago, various local groups and library events are other venues to showcase your books. Another possible place to have a sponsored reading is at a bookstore that will then sell the specific poetry. This also takes some effort but can be highly rewarding. Members of ISPS have done this at The Book Stall At Chestnut Court in Winnetka and Women and Children First in Chicago, but there are many other places that could offer this type of venue.

One of the more obvious ways to initiate interest is to mention that you are a poet and see where the conversation leads. That approach has prompted sales on more than one occasion. When possible keep some copies handy—you never know!

Susan T. Moss, March, 2010

Spring is surely coming if one is to believe what the birds are saying in the backyard. So much chatter is an indication, according to an ornithologist I know, that they talk more when they have a reason. That is not so different from poets.

We write poetry for many reasons, and like our desire to find signs of renewal in early buds and bird talk, poets need some sustenance. Sometimes we feel alone and dejected because of too many hours working solo or another "thanks but no thanks" from a journal. However, seeing a bigger picture and making connections can help build a positive outcome.

Uniting self with what moves us beyond words produces a harmonious oneness and can affirm the creative process. In some ways it is like a religious or mystical experience when we allow vulnerability and thus, an open heart and mind to find that fertile space which Walt Whitman understood in his Leaves of Grass.

It can also be useful to talk with other poets and share these moments of uncertainty. This unity can move us to be in touch with similar and different views, strengths and even disappointments. For example, recently I had coffee with two local ISPS members, and it was rewarding to discuss our work and get feedback on individual ideas and concerns.

Another way to have someone to talk to is to try writing an objective review of your own work. Not long ago I had the privilege of reviewing a forthcoming joint collection of two members. This process helped me in new ways to objectively read and analyze in terms of subject, style and voice.

Further interaction can be achieved through ekphrastic writing. This is poetic story telling about a specific piece of art. A poem becomes a dramatic description and interpretation in a call and response between the poet and the artist's visual form. The end result is two different kinds of art conversing about art.

With this greening and sprouting season, we can awaken and listen to our own voices. Talking to ourselves and others keeps us in touch with shared yearnings, goals, challenges and the creative spirit.

Susan T. Moss, January, 2010

I would like to start by wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year filled with inspiration and peace. The beginning of another year usually brings hope and a list of resolutions, and for poets, often a goal of writing more and getting their poetry out to the world. In keeping with new starts, the first meeting of the Central Illinois ISPS chapter had a successful gathering in December led by David Alexander at the Pontiac Public Library. This location enables us to further expand our society with poets who live in the region close to Bloomington. Members are invited to join any and all of the three chapters for friendly and helpful critiquing of their work.

One way to continue growing as a poet is to try writing in other styles. Many of us tend to use free verse, but form poems can be interesting and offer different challenges. A genre seemingly less explored is haiku. Recently, I received two e-mails about this abbreviated poetry which might be a fresh way to help tighten ideas and see things from an alternative perspective. A haiku program will begin on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Winnetka Public Library from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Charlotte Degregorio, Midwest Regional Coordinator for the Haiku Society of America, will lead the gathering. A related event is a contest sponsored by the Haiku Foundation.

Another possible way to open doors to creative thinking is to read a variety of books, poetry of course, but also fiction and nonfiction. As most of us have discovered, ideas can come from anywhere and often do. The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker offers an often humorous book about a fictitious poet and anthologist who expounds on many real poets and their work. The protagonist also discusses several ways to get ideas for poetry and how to improve them. For example, listen to other people's stories and let some aspect of them form the bases for a poem. After you take a scene, incident or idea and describe it to your best ability, let it go and allow others to see if the result can "breathe in its own world." Picking the best moment that happened to you in a day can be a further source for a poem according to the narrator, who recommends jotting down your thoughts as soon as they percolate in order to capture their poignancy.

A nonfiction selection entitled Proust Was a Neuroscientist, by Jonah Lehrer, offers a different approach to insights and works that are reflected in essays about past imaginative people such as Walt Whitman, Virginia Woolf, Paul Cézanne, Igor Stravinsky and Gertrude Stein, to name a few. You may not always agree with the author's views, but details of avant-garde endeavors offer topics for potential poetic material. Lehrer states, "Both art and science can be useful, and both can be true.... This is the artist's purpose: to keep our reality, with all its frailties and question marks, on the agenda."

While reading anything, it's good to be conscious of word usage and its rhythms, nuances and what make or do not make for good images on the page. So much of what we write is directly related to and dependent upon the process. It's in the doing which includes gathering ideas, forming new phraseology, falling in love with your words and then deleting some of them, that enlightens and fortifies the incorruptible joy of creating poetry.

Susan T. Moss, November, 2009

Fall not only brings changes from green to gold, russet, orange and red foliage but also more indoor time to write poetry and research outlets for our work. Over the last couple of months, I have had conversations with members who want to know about how to get out their poems into print and places where they can read their material and hear other poets. More chances to critique each other is another point that has been mentioned.

First, I am happy to introduce the newest source for a workshop opportunity where members can share their poems and get helpful feedback. Under the facilitation of David Alexander, ISPS is starting a third chapter in Central Illinois at the Pontiac Public Library. The first meeting will be on Saturday, December 12, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. This group will meet on alternating second Saturdays in the same months as the Southwest suburban chapter in Lisle, which meets on the first Sunday. This allows another chance to meet at the North Suburban chapter in Northbrook on Sundays in alternating months. Therefore, we have two chapter meetings in December and one in January.

Beside the three ISPS chapters, Rhino Poetry Forum on the fourth Sunday of each month offers critique workshops at the Evanston Public Library. Please share other suggestions if you know of similar events. Another way to get feedback is to start an e-mail round robin where participating poets can write comments on each other's work and send new creations from the comfort of home.

As for open mic reading opportunities and perhaps presenting as the featured reader, there are more possibilities than can be listed here. Coffee houses, pubs and bookstores often have regular events where a poet can just walk in and signup to read a few of his or her poems. The Chicago area venues include places such as Brewed Awakening, The Café, Jaks Tap, Brothers K Café, Myopic Books, Brighton Park Branch Library and many more. We shall learn of other places in Central Illinois as ISPS builds membership there.

Getting work into print is also a conversation many have had and want to pursue. There will be a couple of workshops on this topic in the new year, but an easy place to get our poems out to the world is our website. Six opportunities exist each year to build an accumulative file of poetry that anyone who accesses illinoispoets.org can read. Also, there is often room in the newsletter for a poem contribution. If you already have a poetry collection, consider using the ISPS website to help publicize it. Send the title, your name and optional contact information for purchasing to our webmaster who is creating a page for this new marketing location.

What is most important is to stay alert to all the things that could become the next source of a poem. An idea from an overheard conversation in the grocery store, a fragment of a song, something happening in the news, lunch in a Chinese restaurant, climbing a mountain, seasonal changes or visiting with an aging parent form just a minute list of what calls to our imagination and insists that we capture in our unique voices.

May this Thanksgiving be bountiful and the holiday season joyous.

Susan T. Moss, September, 2009

With new and changing technology possibly resulting in more isolation, plus a downturn of the economy and loss of work, poets have much to contribute. Perhaps now more than in prosperous times and face-to-face communication, we need to help create a world beyond individual views and make greater, healing connections.

Age of Loneliness, thought to be so labeled by poets and scientists. Extinction of many things we know in the present Mesozoic Era would perhaps happen by the end of this century. We as poets have something to say about this percolating and future state of possible existence.

Whatever the style, poetry seems to have a calling to promote and influence our thinking and relationship with life around us. One might wonder how newer types of poetry, such as Language poetry, in their postmodern deconstruction of classical form and content can transcend what some feel to be an increasing sense of loss and alienation. The answer might lie in the larger context of poetics which incorporates many forms and intent to function, like the broad-wing hawks described by Sigurd F. Olson in his book, Listening Point, "Within those little hawks was hidden speed and audacity, beauty and grace, and, above all, sheer poetry of motion."

Susan T. Moss, July, 2009

I am honored to serve as the next President of ISPS and wish to thank the former board members: John Quinn, President; Wilda Morris, Vice President; John Gordon, Treasurer; and Barbara Eaton, Secretary.

It's not too late to submit poetry for our first opportunity to display at the Evanston Public Library. The content should relate in some way to summer.

Although it is only mid-summer, you are invited to start thinking about our poetry contest this September and consider submitting some new or well-cured work.

Another event to keep in mind is all the way to November when ISPS members are invited to read their poems at an arts night hosted by the Northbrook Public Library. The theme for artists and poets is "What's The Big Idea."

On the topic of writing poetry, Robert Frost in his essay, "The Figure A Poem Makes," points out that "We need the help of context-meaning-subject matter." Sound by itself is not enough but is very important to making a group of words into a poem. However, simply creating wild and discordant thoughts plus sound is still not enough and often leads to confusion by the reader and a solo romp in the park by the poet.

The challenge then is to keep the "wildness" of the poem while still beginning in "delight" and "ending in wisdom." It should take its own path and be allowed to carry the poet along while still remaining loosely reined and monitored for logic, clear images, mood, theme, surprise and revelation. Once the words nestle into place, it can be worked over but not to the point of loosing its original creative force or freshness.

According to one school of thought then, when we look at our own poetry and that of others, part of the experience is consciously and unconsciously discovering, in a different sense, what Frost's "Hyla Brook" states as "Sought for much after that, it will be found."

John Quinn, June, 2009

One more lecture on poetry, then I'll shut up. As I step down as president, I want to thank you for abiding by an old man's rants.

Poetry‘s roots are in music. Poetry should be pleasant to read — and to hear. Remember that, next time you are at a reading. Good poetry, like good music, depends on image, sound and meter. Too many times at poetry readings I listen to what the poet thinks is great because of content or personal experience, but the presentation comes across as arid, remote and incomprehensible.

Wallace Stevens said, "The poet should find the words that will speak to the delicatest ear of its modern listeners, echoing what it wants to hear but cannot articulate for itself. The poet, in the act of the poem, finds the sufficing words and for the audience and they allow the listeners to hear what is in their ear, their mind. As a result, the emotions of speaking and listening, of poet as actor and listeners as audience, should become one."

In other words, the poem should mean something to the audience, not just the poet. The poet uses image, sound and meter to transit to the listener's reality. Some poets articulate in esoteric vocabulary, obscure phrases and arcane allusions. (The previous sentence is a good example of this.) Their presentation is a sing-song monotone, a gentle hum from the front of the room. The audience is lost — and extremely bored.

T. S. Eliot's "Love Song of Alfred J Prufrock" is an example of esoteric vocabulary, obscure phrases and arcane allusions — but because of the music (image, sound and meter) it is ready for prime time. Reading it sends the reader scrambling for the dictionary (think: estaminet) and a Latin text — but it resonates with most audiences because it uses sound, meter and common images (Let us go then you and I through half deserted streets, muttering retreats) to form a great poem, to take his audience on a great journey.

So in closing all I want to say is, "think music!" and thanks.

John Quinn, January, 2009

Winter never has been so sharp.

It may be my age or it may be my attitude, but there is a good chance that this is just a rotten winter.

Use the winter as an opportunity to find a new poet or revisit an old favorite. Then, while winds gust and the windows rattle with that gusto, we can curl up with cocoa, coffee or a soft glass of wine and think about spring, summer and fall; lost loves and found loves; lost chances or chances that turned out just right.

We may not be able to get out and about as often as we would in a more human-friendly clime, but, what the heck, we have to make the best of it.

Poets have a set of skills that use the senses and the imagination to craft something that is totally original and if we don't use those skills, we lose those skills. Poetry is like any other skill, the more we practice the better we get. The better we get, the more fun it is.

So winter be damned! There is a clump of syllables out there somewhere, frozen and buried vowel-deep in the snow. It is waiting for us to sweep the slush away and sort the syllables into iambs and the iambs into beauty.

John Quinn, September, 2008

Have you read this month's poems on the website?

Did you contribute a poem to the website?

Twenty-four of your fellow poets did contribute. Their offerings ran the gamut in the use of poetical devices. They use their skill to wax nostalgic, talk about social issues, tell a story, describe specific scenes or persons or (of course) lovelovelove.

Some poets used rhyme, some used refrains, some used meter. There were many original metaphors and similes (a few not so fresh, but appropriate). A number of allusions were used to enhance the points that the poem was making. There was no one style or theme or purpose. Reading our poems was/is a really neat way to spend an hour or two.

If you haven't read your fellow Illinois poets lately you are missing a great opportunity. You can get a lot of ideas out of some pretty good poetry. It may be someone else's words, but ideas belong to everyone.

Heck, you may even be able to find a poem in there someplace.

John Quinn, July, 2008

George Carlin just recently died.

George was a comic, a social critic and a linguistic. He once said "... there are no bad words; bad actions and bad intentions, but no bad words." Only he said it a lot funnier than I write it.

Comics and poets have a lot in common. Both twist and taunt language. They find similarities between diverse subjects; connections, where no prior connections existed.

The poet and the comic will put unusual subjects in ordinary circumstance or ordinary subjects in unusual circumstance — then describe the interaction. That is what makes art: the ability to find universal or at least, mutual meaning in what we do or what we are surrounded by, be it a garden or a cesspool.

From Wallace Stevens' "poignancies of a peignoir" to George Carlin's "Napalm & Silly Putty" there are meanings and pictures that just never existed before. They give us joy and feelings that are unique.

Some of what George Carlin did is labeled "ADULTS ONLY" and that is okay. He expressed his thoughts in the language he was comfortable with, even if others might not approve. He was original and fresh. Good poets are like that. I am not going to read Charles Bukowski or Alan Ginsberg at a nursery school picnic. Remember, there are no bad words.

So next time you hear a comic, listen for the similes, the metaphors, the rhythm of the language and realize that in every joke is the kernel of a poem (and vice-versa, too).

John Quinn, May, 2008

Gabriel Garcia Marquez said, in his classic book Love in the Time of Cholera, "...there was no one with more common sense, no stonecutter more obstinate, no manager more lucid or dangerous, than a poet."

I think he is right. A poet has a way of looking at the world that is different from most. He or she is a lot like stand-up comedians or preachers, in that they see "things" and are able to move "things" to different contexts: a tiger becomes the spirit of death; an etherized patient is unable to make the decisions that life demands.

Summer is an opportunity to find these similes and metaphors in nature. The physics of a bumblebee's flight is different than the poetry of that flight. The physics dictates that the bumblebee flies from point "A" to point "B". The scientist is encumbered by time, place and the limitations found in "things".

That is not true of poetry. The flight of the bumblebee does not need a starting point or a destination in the imagination of the poet. It needs only a meaning. The poet needs to examine the "things" he or she can see or hear or smell to find a truth that may be uncomfortable or unattainable about the world around us. And new truths make the poet "dangerous."

John Quinn, March, 2008

Spring and April are upon us.

After winter's blows and beatings Spring is sorely needed, if not for inspiration, then for respite. Spring brings not only potholes and lawns that look like straw, but awakening life, itself. Everything seems to come alive — birds, buds and bees. Old men will sit in the sun and kids can finally play outside in the extended daylight hours. We hope it wakes your muse and makes old men and children think of elves and pink pearls.

Listen for the mating robins and the migrating cranes. Watch the green spread across your world. Stop, and take a little time out to smell the pungency of Spring. And by the way, watch out for the doe and her fawn—they are out there crossing roads as you read this.

April is not only the cruelest month, it is also National Poetry Month. I just hope that the connection between cruelty and our addiction is purely semantic. Attend a poetry event or better yet create a poetry event. Support not only your personal delight in writing, reading or listening to sprigs of iamb, but spread the word. You spread it by public readings and cheering your fellow poets on as they recite.

Just think, it may be your poem that stops a war or starts a love. You better sit down and write it before Spring is gone.

John Quinn, January, 2008

Winter gives us all a chance to muse upon the wonders of unshoveled snow and slippery streets. It is the season to sit by a window with a hot drink and enjoy quiet.

People in the coffee shops and book stores in winter are not in a great hurry to go outside and do things, as if reading a book, or scribbling in a cheap-lined notebook, is not doing things.

Some of us take great pleasure in doing nothing — with a book or a number 2 lead pencil in hand. There are any number of productive activities that you could be doing, but a writer loves sitting around putting his or her thoughts on paper and, more, a poet loves to put his or her feelings on paper. To us that is doing something.

So, enjoy the winter and if you find yourself with nothing to do, that's the way it should be.

John Quinn, November, 2007

Recently, at a public reading, a member was criticized for the content of an anti-war poem. Any form of censorship in dealing with an adult audience is inappropriate. Some content embarrasses or offends me; some poetry stinks; some people I choose not to deal with. However, they have every right to voice their opinions and I can boo their message, but I have no right to shut them up.

You may not believe this but, some of my stuff embarrasses or offends others; some of my poetry stinks; and, yes, some people would rather not deal with me.

I am, however, going to proceed to write about the things I want to write about and in the manner I want to write it.

Have a Merry Christmas (and before you say anything about the non-secular content of the message, remember my screed on censorship!).

John Quinn, July, 2007

Happy summer!

Summer provides us with an outdoors which is bursting with life and substance. Winter is beautiful, spring exciting and autumn rewarding, but it is summer that provides the chance to water tomato plants, sit in the shade (and not feel guilty) and talk to neighbors as they, too, water their tomatoes, sit in the shade and talk to us of butterflies and barbeques.

There should be a poem there somewhere, but it's summer and who has the time?

The first thing I would like to do as president is thank Wilda Morris for the leadership she has given us the last two years. Everybody stand and applaud as they read this. She is a wonderful poet, a great leader and an extraordinary human being. Thanks Wendy!

I am looking for help. As president of ISPS, I would like to see growth in membership, active chapters and activities, such as workshops, readings and displays. That is not going to be possible without your participation. If you have any ideas at all to make this a better organization for yourselves and your fellow poets let me know.