The Possibility Tree

THE POSSIBILITY TREE

There is a tree somewhere

Hung with all the ornaments

That pre- or post- trimming

Were broken

Crushed underfoot.

Sprung loose from the wire

Batted around by the cat

Lying in pieces in the box.

We gave up on these ornaments

Scooped them up

Tossed them

Vacuumed well

Maybe shed a private tear

Fussed at a careless child

Shopped E-Bay for replacements.

I believe that someone

Call him Santa’s Super-Glue-Man

Busily repairs all the broken ornaments

With the brightest metallic glue

Silver, gold, copper

Just imagine this tree

Lights reflected in jagged glue lines

Some say the repairs

More beautiful than

The ornament all by itself.

I have for you the top entries

In a contest to name this tree;

Tree of Lost Causes

The Reunion Tree

Tree of Many Crackpots

The Tree that Zigged and Zagged.

You, my dearest friends

Get to choose a name

Or make one up

That might create

A private holiday space

Where all our repairs

Don’t seem quite so impossible.

Happy Holidays

Wherever you are

However you celebrate.

By: Mary L. Barnard 

12/1/2010

Poem: Christmas on the Farm, 1955

Christmas on the Farm, 1955


Leaden skies turn into spitting rain.
Daddy stokes the fire and grins.
Got the day off.
Get to eat my fill.

By Judith Stanton                                                           

12/18/10                                                                        

Poem: Gold LIght IV

GOLD LIGHT IV


"Unto us a child is born..."

Every ordinary human birth, a miracle,
that out of the full womb comes this
head of hair the mother's pangs and
wrinkled brow have birthed. That little
cry, the mother's arms reaching, her shift
from agony to joy, from seeking comfort
as she clings to the hands of husband and
mother, to comforting her baby, quickly
wrapped to lie upon her breast:
"Oh, Bobby, it's okay. We love you, Bobby."
The human greediness for love, there
from the beginning. All our lives we fight
to know that we are loved, and then,
once reassured, we turn to pour our
blessings and affection on young and old
alike.
The cold clear air of December, the sun
alive in the sky light. The carved Russian
goose, suspended, its wings spread
for flight, moves slowly. Outside the pines
wave their brushes, the dead grasses stir,
the last ragged brown leaves of the oak
dance.
Our child arrived safely. Wrapped in his
blanket, he turns his head toward food,
mouth open, seeking his first experience of love:
to be fed, to be held and warmed.
I celebrate birth
at Christmas, the Nazarene's, who shaped
our centuries, our laws and sense of justice,
our wars for equality and liberty, our value
for each person, no matter his race or religion,
his clothes or income level, his education or
background-poor or luxurious.
I also celebrate
the turning of the sun back toward our planet,
the saving leap of the goat in Capricorn.
And the sun that warms us and keeps green
life even when the earth is frozen, the air
chill with hoarfrost.
We live and try to love,
and when we fail, we are forgiven. We wait for
the coming of love, its reckless strewing of the
flowers of spring, its Madonna of the Earth in
her red robes, the blissful dance of the goddesses
in their Grecian gowns. Hades must surrender
the bride he stole away, and Paris has not yet
started the Trojan War, a blissful moment
when Spring arrives mid-winter.

By: Judy Hogan                                                    

12/4/10                                                               

Mary['s Secret

MARY’S SECRET

mother of wisdom

more strong than weak, more bold than meek,

she knew she was worthy

MARY PONDERED

Voices of custom and convenience

had no hold over her.

She listened to angels.

GOLD, FRANKINCENSE AND HER

three Wise Women arrive

see the Light of who you are

bear gifts for your journey

By Sharon Blessum

12/3/10

Christmas poem 12/01

A Christmas Lament

An old, old story that has been oft retold.

Of a special time, of a night still and cold.

A new-born infant, and where does he lay

But out in a stable, in a manger of hay.

NO PAYMENTS UNTIL FEBRUARY! DISCOUNT! BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL! TOYS R US! SPECIAL! COUPONS! SAVINGS! NO MONEY DOWN!

Calm and serene the dear Mother lay there

Hearing the sounds in the cold, night air.

Of shepherds and wise men coming to see

This special new baby, this Savior to be.

EVERYTHING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! FREE SHIPPING! 20% OFF

CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED! XMAS SPECIAL! ATM! WHILE THEY LAST!

Each year at this time, we retell this story

How Angels were singing, in splendor and glory.

And like them our loud hosannas we raise

And fill our churches with music and praise.

But then immediately head back to the store

To buy and buy, to get more and more.

Until sometimes we really don’t know

Just how much we have, for it's all just for show.

0% APR! STORE OPENS AT 6:00 AM! FREE GIFT WRAPPING!

2 FOR 1 SALE! RING RING DING DING! SUPER SPECIAL!

Perhaps it's just me, but I don't understand

The hustle and bustle that's all through our land.

Forget the baby, for that's long gone by

The important thing now is how much can we buy.

An old, old story that has been oft retold.

Of a special time, of a night still and cold.

But don't ask of us where does he lay

For we no longer know. We have lost the way.

By: Al Manning            

12/1/10                     

Here's a Christmas Child for You

Here's a Christmas child for you

At church we have this Christmas tradition
of providing gifts for the Children’s Home.
Paper ornaments, on each a name is written,
dangle lifelessly from the branches
of the Parish Hall Christmas tree.
We are given scrupulous instructions:
"A sweater, slippers or anything
with the Panthers logo. Toiletries,
as long as they don’t contain alcohol,
are okay." A very benign and generic gift.
We each pluck a child hanging from the tree
and next Sunday return its gift to place
underneath. Then all the gifts are delivered and
yearly the Priest praises our 100% participation.
Our cheeks smile;
our sanctimonious sighing
swells the air. II This has been going on for many seasons:
I remember the church groups bringing gifts
and eats; parading through my Home.
Some would put on programs with singing and skits;
some groups would preach and try to convert us.
And now I must tell you a difficult thing:
we didn’t like any of it.
We felt like freaks in a sideshow
as the tourists tramped through
clucking and muttering under their breath:
"Oh ain’t it awful, Oh what a shame such
nice healthy intelligent good-looking
kids have to live in a Home."
Some of us demonstrated our rage by
misbehaving.
That rascal Bud would scratch his armpits,
hop around on his haunches and growl "Ooo
Ooo, Ooo," in his deepest pubescent voice.
The tourists were horrified but we laughed
ourselves silly. How else to deny that
we were sad and lonely; hurt and afraid?
III

Some of the kids, their spirits long since broken
by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
or under the fist of some adult, were
quiet and withdrawn to the church groups
and to everything else. We knew the church folk
came to salve their conscience,
to cleanse their wealth.
Are you really surprised we knew this?
Soon the church groups no longer
came to gape at us; they had their gifts
delivered to the Home instead.
IV

Now I will tell you church people
what I would have wanted for Christmas.
Would you bring me to your house
for a home-cooked meal?
Nothing fancy; some hot, creamy, saucy food
like mashed potatoes and gravy will do.
Would you have me eat with your family–
just a normal meal with a typical family?
I promise I’d behave–
I’d be too intimidated by your abundance,
too awed by your lightness of life.
Would you share your richness of family with me;
discussing the day’s events, the news?
And during the natural course of conversation,
would you inquire as to my interests, favorite
classes, college plans; what I might do with my life?
Because in so doing you’d be suggesting my potential,
that I should apply, that I might even get accepted,
that I might have a future. I’d hear my heart pound
NoNo, NoNo, NoNo. I’d be taken aback by you
so easily suggesting these things to me
because I am so lonely and so afraid
and I don’t have the confidence to dream.
Yes! Yes, Martin Luther King,
but it takes at least some
small measure of confidence to dream.
It takes some hope to dream.
V

It takes some hope to dream.
VI

Where will I get this; how can I get this?
Would you have me gather with your family
‘round the piano after supper,
join in the carol singing?
Invite me to play; I’d give anything
to have access to a piano.
I want to learn, I want to play.
Would you show me your favorite books,
the artful pictures; read me a poem?
And at the close of the evening
would you ask me for a photo of myself?
So that you could hold me in your heart
not just at Christmastime,
but all the year around.

By Blaine Paxton Hall                                                 

      11/30/10                                                                       

Creative Writing at CCCC, Sping 2011

Registration for the CCCC Continuing Ed Creative Writing Spring 2011
Schedule begins December 8. For class and workshop listings, visit
www.cccc.edu/creativewriting. All classes meet on the Pittsboro campus. To
register, call Continuing Education: 919.545.8044.

The Creative Writing Program at CCCC offers continuing education credits for
courses in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and creative inspiration.
Beginning and experienced writers are welcome.

Submission possibility

Welcome to The Lorax Correspondent, an online magazine for the 21st Century. The Lorax Correspondent is devoted to publishing stories of the highest quality. Themes to be included will include family, spirituality, work, literature, music, visual art, and others. Our goal is to promote and propagate commonly held, foundational, and wholesome belief systems. In short: this will be a forum and a safe harbor for those who wish to restore the dignity, integrity, and general goodness of being human.

If you are interested, check them out at:

http://theloraxcorrespondent.wordpress.com

On Friday, November 5, writers at all levels of skill and experience, from all across North Carolina and beyond, will gather for the 25th year in a row at the Fall Conference of the North Carolina Writers' Network.

Next Friday, October 29, is the last day you can take advantage of reduced registration fees for the Fall Conference.

Whatever your focus is, wherever you are in your writing career, you will find something for you at the Fall Conference.

Beginning writers can build a solid foundation in workshops dedicated to the craft of writing. Developing and emerging writers can hone their work, or advance their careers in workshops dedicated to the business of writing.

Writers ready for their big break can discuss their work with publishing professionals in the Manuscript Mart or Critique Service.

And all writers can come together to hear the wit and wisdom of best-selling novelist Michael Malone and the power of Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers, to learn more about North Carolina's literary past from author Georgann Eubanks and about its literary future in the Open Mike Readings.

Register online at www.ncwriters.org, or by calling 919-251-9140 or 336-293-8844.

We hope that you will want to be part of one of the largest and most inclusive writers' conferences in the country, especially as we celebrate the Network's
25th year. See you in Charlotte.

Erika Hoffman reading

Erika will be reading from her novel "Secrets, Lies and Grace" at Barnes & Noble, Southpoint, Tuesday, Nov.2, at 7 PM, and at McIntyres, Friday, November 12 at 2:00 PM.

The novel is about bullied teens and about how a brother has to save his sister from a deranged boyfriend. The novel takes place in the Piedmont and the belted cows of Fearrington are mentioned.

Joanie McClean reading

I'll be reading some of my poems at Carrboro's West End Poetry Festival, October 16, at 3:00 in the Century Center. I'm planning to read mostly new stuff, hope lots of you can come. Also, Zelda Lockheart, Piedmont Poet Laureate, is reading at 2:00.


[I was amazed and delighted to see so many friendly faces at my reading in July! It really means a lot to me; thanks so much to all of you who were there.]

Cheers, Joanie

NCWN Fall Conference

This November, the North Carolina Writers’ Network will hold its 25th annual Fall Conference We could not have reached this milestone without you, and we want you to celebrate it with us.

The 2010 Fall Conference will be November 5–7 at the Omni Charlotte Hotel, located in the heart of our state’s largest city. This year’s conference will include more than two dozen workshops, Master Classes, and panel discussions; Manuscript Mart and Critique Service with top agents and editors; a keynote presentation by North Carolina novelist Michael Malone; a literary tour of Uptown Charlotte with Georgann Eubanks, author of the new book Literary Trails of the North Carolina Piedmont; a reading and talk by NC Poet Laureate
Cathy Smith Bowers; faculty readings; exhibits by publishers, literary magazines, and other friends of writers; and new opportunities for you to re-energize yourself and get your writing exposed. We are anticipating one of our best conferences ever.

We will again offer our popular Manuscript Mart, an opportunity for you to discuss your manuscript with an agent or editor who is seeking new writers.
These agents and editors are experienced publishing professionals who can help you find the right niche for your manuscript. They include Daniel Lazar of Writers’ House; Quinlan Lee of Adams Literary; Sally McMillan of Sally
Hill McMillan & Associates; and Kevin Watson of Press 53.

If your work is not quite ready for publication, and you would like a seasoned writer to take a critical look at it, sign up for the Critique Service.

If you want to delve deeper into the craft of fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry, send in your 10-page manuscript and sign up for a Master Class.

The postmark deadline for Manuscript Mart, Critique Service, and Master Classes is October 18, 2010.

Register today at www.ncwriters.org or by calling 336-293-8844. This year you will have the option of one-day-only or no-meals registrations, allowing
writers on a reduced budget to enjoy most of the conference without paying full conference fees.

Registration closes October 29, 2010, at midnight if registering online, at 5:00 p.m. by phone.

The deadline to reserve an Omni Charlotte guest room at the reduced conference rate is October 15. Please call the Omni Charlotte at 1-800-THE-OMNI or visit their website . The promo code for the conference room rate is: North Carolina Writers’ Network.

We look forward to seeing you again!

Songs of the Beloved

Sharon Blessum's book, Songs of the Beloved, is now on sale at McIntyres, Flyleaf, Frank Gallery and the Joyful Jewell.

Sharon will be reading at McIntyres on Friday, September 24 at 2:00.

There is a review of her book at www.sharonblessum.com

2010 NCWN Fall Conference

This November, the North Carolina Writers’ Network will hold its 25th annual Fall Conference We could not have reached this milestone without you, and we want you to celebrate it with us.

The 2010 Fall Conference will be November 5–7 at the Omni Charlotte Hotel, located in the heart of our state’s largest city. This year’s conference will include more than two dozen workshops, Master Classes, and panel discussions; Manuscript Mart and Critique Service with top agents and editors; a keynote presentation by North Carolina novelist Michael Malone; a literary tour of Uptown Charlotte with Georgann Eubanks, author of the new book Literary Trails of the North Carolina Piedmont; a reading and talk by NC Poet Laureate
Cathy Smith Bowers; faculty readings; exhibits by publishers, literary magazines, and other friends of writers; and new opportunities for you to re-energize yourself and get your writing exposed. We are anticipating one of our best conferences ever.

We will again offer our popular Manuscript Mart, an opportunity for you to discuss your manuscript with an agent or editor who is seeking new writers.
These agents and editors are experienced publishing professionals who can help you find the right niche for your manuscript. They include Daniel Lazar of Writers’ House; Quinlan Lee of Adams Literary; Sally McMillan of Sally
Hill McMillan & Associates; and Kevin Watson of Press 53.

If your work is not quite ready for publication, and you would like a seasoned writer to take a critical look at it, sign up for the Critique Service.

If you want to delve deeper into the craft of fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry, send in your 10-page manuscript and sign up for a Master Class.

The postmark deadline for Manuscript Mart, Critique Service, and Master Classes is October 18, 2010.

Register today at www.ncwriters.org or by calling 336-293-8844. This year you will have the option of one-day-only or no-meals registrations, allowing
writers on a reduced budget to enjoy most of the conference without paying full conference fees.

Registration closes October 29, 2010, at midnight if registering online, at 5:00 p.m. by phone.

The deadline to reserve an Omni Charlotte guest room at the low conference
rate is October 15. Please call the Omni Charlotte at 1-800-THE-OMNI or visit
their website . The promo code for the conference room rate is: North Carolina Writers’ Network.

We look forward to seeing you again!

TWO POETRY BOOK CONTESTS

Jacar Press will be reading poetry manuscripts for two contests from August 30 through November 30, 2010.
For full information visit www.jacarpress.com
email jacarpress@gmail.com

Full Length Poetry Book Contest

The entry fee is $15. We will publish 1 winner for every 50 submissions. Finalists will also be considered for publication.
Full length manuscripts must be 48 - 80 pages of poems, not including table of contents, acknowledgment page, or biography.

Winning manuscripts will receive royalties escalating quickly from 10% of all sales, to 33% of all sales, and finally 50% of all sales.

Poetry Chapbook Competition

Entry fee is $10. We will publish 1 winner for every 50 submissions. Finalists will be considered for publication.

Chapbook manuscripts must be between 32 - 40 pages long, including table of contents, an acknowledgment page, and a page for your biography.

Winning Chapbooks will receive royalties that pays them 30% of all sales after the costs of publication are covered.

Jacar Press is a Community Active Press. Part of the publisher's proceeds from the sales of these books will be donated to causes chosen by the winning writers.

Independent Bookstores

The North Carolina Writers’ Network has long supported local independent bookstores. There are several good reasons why we should support our Indies.

When you shop at an independently owned business, your entire community benefits:

Spend $100 at a local store and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.

Local businesses create jobs for our neighbors.

More of your taxes are reinvested in your community--where they belong.

Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.

Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.

Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.

More independents mean more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community. Now is the time to stand up and join your fellow individuals in the IndieBound mission supporting local businesses and celebrating independents. FOr more information, see www.indiebound.org

Chatham County Book Sellers:

Circle Books: 121 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro, NC 27312
McIntyre's Books:  220 Market St. (Fearrington) Pittsboro, NC 27312
Paperbacks Plus:    208 E Raleigh St, Siler City, NC 27344

Lee County Book Sellers:

Books at a Steal:  106 S Steele St, Sanford, NC 27330
Manna Christian Resource Center: 201 E Main St, Sanford, NC 27332
Micheal's Marvels Comics & Collectibles: 144 S Steele St suite h, Sanford, NC 27330

NETWEST Anthology

The new anthology from NETWEST (North Carolina Writers' Network West) Echoes Across the Blue Ridge has been published.
It is now available for order online at:
www.ncwriters.org or at:
www.doubleeagleenterprises.com

Prime Number Magazine

Press 53 of Winston-Salem announces Prime Number, a new on-line literary magazine. They are soliciting submissions. To see the first issue, and the submission guidelines, go to www.press53.com

2010 Ultra Flash Fiction Contest Winner ~

Some info was left out of the previous posting:


The winning entry is by Rick Bylina.

Don't forget: Open Mic, Monday, August 16 at 6:30 PM.


Addendum 3/4/20: Unfortunately the 'previous posting' has been lost, and so we don't have Bylina's winning entry to post ~

Ultra flash fiction contest

TRUE LOVE 

by Rick Bylina 

Queen Bea watched the king's blood flow and stain the floor. Then, she smiled and gave the blue knife back to Wren who wiped the blade clean. "It can do no more harm," the queen said to her fair maid. "He can't either." The queen squeezed Wren's arm. "Leave with my words and throw the knife in the moat."

Wren sensed the strength of the queen's words and had to think fast. "Yes, my queen." She edged out the false door then fled to the Grand Hall. "Guards," Wren called out. "Men in black slew the king."
A knight's shout rang out. "Close the gates. Hunt these fools down." His voice turned cold. "God save the queen."

As the guards dashed from the hall, a sly grin grew on Wren's face. "They chase ghosts. I'll waste no tears for this weak, faint, and false king." She left to make plans.

Forced on the throne as a child bride to mend two foes, Queen Bea was a young teen when her son was born. That son was now a strong, brave, and true man, who now mourned his loss. The next night Queen Bea told Wren, "My son shall be a great king. And though some may think they know last night's truth, they do not. No one stops this plan."
"All will soon be as it should."
"I have no doubt," said the queen.

While March's cold warmed to May, the queen wept few tears for the dead king, and then wed the love of her loins. Late that night, the blue knife sank in the moat drenched with the queen's blood.

Long June days came. As planned, the new king wed his true love who wore white trimmed with blue and showed a sly grin.

CCCC Open Mic, August 16, 2010

We will be holding the Open Mike in room 109 of Building 2 (same building),so follow the signs!

Monday, August 16, 6:30-9:00 PM

Hope to see you there. Please forward.

Creative Writing Classes at CCCC, Fall, 2010

The Fall schedule for Continuing Ed Creative Writing classes and workshops is online now. Registration began on Wed., Aug. 4. A description of instructors and offerings is listed below:

http://www.cccc.edu/creativewriting

To see the full Fall schedule at CCCC, please visit:

http://www.cccc.edu/ecd/schedule/

To register for these classes please call 919.545.8044 (NOTE: This is a new number).

The Creative Writing Program at CCCC offers continuing education credits for courses in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and creative inspiration.
All classes meet on the Pittsboro campus.
Class and workshop participants will write creatively, read their work aloud, study other writers, and above all engage in a dialogue about writing.
Beginning and experienced writers are welcome. Writers of all levels will find motivation, energy, and creative insights in these classes.

CCCC Open Mike, April 16, 2010

Share your writing with us! The CCCC Continuing Ed
Creative Writing Program will host Open Mike Night
on Monday, August 16 from 6:30pm to 9:00 pm in the
Community Room, Building 2, at the Pittsboro Campus.

Poetry, fiction, memoir - all genres welcome. The
first 12 people to sign up at the door guaranteed
to read. Timed limit of 8 minutes per person.
Open to the public.

Erika Hoffman in sasee.com

Erika Hoffman has a new story just published in sasee.com. Check out "Put yourself in their place." A provocative story.

Joanie McClean at McIntyres Books

Joanie McClean, one of our members, will be reading her poetry at McIntyres Books on Sunday, July 25 at 2:00. Come out and give Joanie your support.

This reading is part of the North Carolina Poetry Society presentations.

Pittsboro Writers' Morning Out, July 8, 2010

Our next meeting will be Thursday, July 8, 11:00 AM at Virlie's grill, 58 Hillsboro Street in Pittsboro

At this meeting we want to continue our discussion about author's rights.

Opportunity for young, foreign-born writers

2011 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature. The Foundation will award
a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize to a young (not over 38 years of age),
foreign-born writer who has made notable contributions to the field at an
early stage in his/her career. In addition, four finalists will each be
awarded $5,000. Short fiction writers, short creative nonfiction writers,
poets, and novelists are all eligible to apply. No application fee or prior
publishing record is required.

The Vilcek Foundation was established in 2000 to honor the contributions of
foreign-born scientists and artists living and working in the United States.
The Foundation's Creative Promise awards program, inaugurated in 2009,
expands on that mission by focusing attention on the extraordinary drive,
talent and ingenuity new generations of immigrants bring to our culture,
arts, and sciences.

More information is available from the Vilcek Foundation website at www.vilcek.org.

NC Literary MAgazines Part 3

Southern Cultures
John Shelton Reed, Editor
UNC-Chapel Hill, 411 Hamilton Hall, CB #9127
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
www.unc.edu/depts/csas/southern_cultures
A nonprofit print quarterly published by UNC Press.
Includes a lively blend of Southern high culture, dolf culture and pop culture.

Southern Exposure
Chris Kromm, Editor
PO Box 531, Durham, NC 27702
www.southernstudies.org
Media culture from a Southern point of view.

The SUN Magazine
Sy Safransky, Editor
107 N. Roberson Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
www.thesunmagazine.org
Established in 1974 to celebrate the good writing and shared intimacies in essays, interviews, fiction poetry & photogaphs.

Tar River Poetry
Luke Whisnant, Editor
East Carolina University, Dept of English
Greenville, NC 27858
TarRiverPoetry@gmail.com
Produces a biannual collection of poetry by emerging and established writers.

Third Lung Review
Tim Peeler, Editor
1665 Crafton Road, Hickory, NC 28602
tpeeler@cvcc.edu
Publishes poetry.

NC Literary Journals

Below is a list of literary journals published in North Carolina: 

Appalachian Journal

Asheville Poetry Review

Cave Wall

Cold Mountain Review

Ecotone

The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature

The Greensboro Review

Main Street Rag Poetry Journal

North Carolina Literary Review

Redheaded Stepchild

Southern Cultures

Southern Exposure

The Sun Magazine

Tar River Poetry

Wild Goose Poetry Review

NC Literary Magazines Part 1

Asheville Poetry Review
Keith Flynn, Editor
PO Box 7086, Asheville, NC 28802
www.ashevillepoetryreview.com/submissions
Deadlines: January 15 and July 15
Submit 3-6 poems of any style, with SASE and bio information.

Blindside Publishing
Jon Hodges, Editor
jon@blindside.net
161 Linbrook Dr, Winston-Salem, NC 27106
www.blindside.net/about.html
Publishes 4 issues per year

Carolina Quarterly
Tessa Joseph, Editor
cquarter@unc.edu
UNC-Chapel Hill, Greenlaw Hall, CB#3520
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
www.unc.edu/depts/cqonline
Poetry, fiction & photography. 3 issues a year

Cold Mountain Review
Betty Miller Conway, Editor
coldmountain@appstate.edu
English Dept., Box 32052, Boone, NC 28608
www.coldmountain.appstate.edu
Publishes creative work and interviews with poets
from across the nation and overseas.

Crucible
Terrence L. Grimes, Editor
tgrimes@barton.edu
Barton College, Wilson, NC 27893
www.barton.edu/SchoolofArts&Sciences/English/Crucible.htm
Published since 1964 to further literary and artistic creative expression.
Conducts annual poetry and fiction contests.

The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature
Valerie MacEwan, Editor
deadmule.poetry@gmail.com
Online literary magazine is only accepting poetry.
Submissions to: www.deadmule.com

The Greensboro Review
Jim Clark, Editor
UNC-Greensboro, English Dept, MFA Writing Program
Greensboro, NC 27412
www.greensbororeview.org
Established in 1966 to publish a biannual collection of poetry and
fiction by writers nationwide.

Fresh Literary Magazine
J. C. Walkup, Editor
jcwalkup@bellsouth.net
PO Box 107, Canton, NC 28716
Fresh publishes fiction, poetry and nonfiction.

Poem: Resistant Cultivar

Mary Barnard is the winner of our poetry contest. Here is her poem

Resistant Cultivar

Sheboygan was known as the City of Elms,
avenues flanked by graceful trunks
with upper branches that grew
to meet triumphantly in the middle.
Leaves with doubly serrate margins
filtered harsh summer rays into
lush and abundant green light.
We played hopscotch under that canopy.

Starlings roosted in the highest branches.
At dusk their gossipy chatter spread from
neighborhood to neighborhood
and little old ladies who retire early
to their upstairs bedrooms objected.

Under order of the mayor,
policemen roadblocked the streets
with their cars, got out,
pointed muzzles upward,
and blasted away at the offenders
who fell like mini-torpedoes,
landing with the inevitable Plop. Plop-Plop.

My brother, and other boys with butch haircuts,
scurried like beetles to grab the tiny carcasses,
their legs curled, wings tucked, necks lolling,
and put them in cardboard boxes
whisked away in the trunk of the squad car.
The boys kept count of their retrievals
- dozens and dozens -
And the police let them keep the shell casings,
crammed into their pockets – a mighty bulge.

What does a leaf 40 or 50 feet in the air
know of gunfire? A few years later,
when all the elms were felled by DED,
or Dutch Elm disease, the triumphant
spread gone, the sun’s rays at full strength
on the hot hot August sidewalk,
I knew nothing of vectors and fungus
and a tree’s vascular system.

I thought the trees had been shot to death.

By:  Mary Barnard

5/17/10

Redheaded Stepchild Poetry Event

"Redheaded Stepchild," a very unique (they only publish poems that have been rejected elsewhere) and outstanding poetry journal published in Raleigh is coming to Hickory for a special Poetry Hickory event featuring poets from their recent issues. Each poet will read a poem from the journal and a couple of others as well. The reading will be held Saturday, May 22, from 1:00 to 2:30 at Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse in downtown Hickory.

For information, call
Scott Owens at 828-234-4266 or email him at
asowens1@yahoo.com. To get a preview, visit "Redheaded
Stepchild" online at http://www.redheadedmag.com/poetry/.