National Poetry Month: 30 Days of The 5-2 (2014)

April is National Poetry Month, and today is Day 29 in the "30 Days of The 5-2" blog tour. Check out the list of the tour to visit other posts celebrating The 5-2. The Editor of The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly is Gerald So, who was interviewed recently by Matt Forrest Esenwine at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. 

All April revenue from 5-2 and Lineup poetry anthology books and merchandise is donated to the nonprofit Academy of American Poets, supporting poets at all stages of their careers and fostering the appreciation of contemporary poetry.

I'd like to suggest a poem by Linda Lerner, entitled, "Fear As Loud As A Mugging," that appeared on The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly on April 14, 2014.  For a real treat, listen to Linda recite her poem as you read along.

The National Center for Victims of Crime offers "Help for Crime Victims."

From The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly, Linda Lerner's bio:

LINDA LERNER's Takes Guts & Years Sometimes was published by NYQ books, 2011. She previously published thirteen collections of poetry. Forthcoming: a chapbook of poems inspired by nursery rhymes illustrated by Donna Kerness (Lummox Press). Yes, the Ducks Were Real will by published by NYQ books in 2015.

Follow The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly on Twitter @PoemsOnCrime.

To submit to The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly or find out more about guest opportunities, visit here.

One of Ray Bradbury's "12 Pieces of Advice for Young Writers," which he calls "writing hygiene," includes: "...create a course of bedtime reading, that includes: one short story, one poem, and one essay...". WritingClasses.com offers a "Poetry Writing Resource List." Be sure to check out Poets & Writers' "Tools for Writers."

Ever wonder what the Poet Laureate of the U.S. does? Stop by the Library of Congress site to find out!

Thanks to Gerald So for inviting me to participate in #30OfThe52.

Follow me on Twitter @katcop13. 

National Poetry Month: "30 Days of the 5-2" Blog Tour

I'm happy to be celebrating National Poetry Month by participating in the “30 Days of the 5-2″ Blog Tour.

Editor Gerald So publishes an original poem in text and audio/video every Monday at “The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly."  Submissions of poems (crime-related, or the poet’s reaction to what he or she sees as crime), 60 lines or fewer per poem (any form or style) are open year-round. The 5-2 seeks original, unpublished work only. Read the complete submission guidelines for further information. Follow Crime Poetry Weekly on Twitter @poemsoncrime.

If you would like to help promote The 5-2 Blog Tour this month, use the hashtag #30OfThe52.

During the month of April 2013, sales proceeds of poetry publications by The 5-2 will be donated to the non-profit American Academy of Poets to support poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry. Sales proceeds from The 5-2 Shop at CafePress.com will also be donated this month.

I would like to feature a poem by Christine Aletti, called "Sylvia Plath: Gaslight Left On," which was published on The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly on February 11, 2013 -- the 50th anniversary of the tragic suicide of 30-year-old Plath. She was the youngest person to receive a Pulitzer Prize posthumously; it was awarded in 1982 for her Collected Poems.

Sylvia Plath, via Biography.com

SYLVIA PLATH: GASLIGHT LEFT ON

I waited by the phone for you to call

the coals from burning, burning off the bed.

I suppose I never knew you at all. 

When clouds' rims reddened, rope began to fall

& overanalyzed lies swayed and pled.

I waited by the phone for you to call.

Itch my anger, the skin's started to crawl;

Crack the coating, the olive oil's bled.

I suppose I never knew you at all.

In the street, villagers started a small

affair, stomping and singing, but instead,

I waited by the phone for you to call.

There’s no enamel left here to enthrall;

Stroke heaven’s match on its gelatin head.

I suppose I never knew you at all 

This little note was just what I could scrawl:

I’m sorry. I didn't mean what I said.

I waited by the phone for you to call.

I suppose I never knew you at all.

***

Come follow me on Twitter @katcop13

The "5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly" Blog Tour

National Poetry Month is drawing to a close, and it's been such a wonderful opportunity during the "30 Days of the 5-2" blog tour to celebrate the poetry that is published at "5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly" presented by Poetic Justice Press (@PJPress on Twitter). I'd like to thank Editor Gerald So for allowing me to participate in this fabulous tour!


The poem I'd like to profile is called, "Twelve Apologies" by Ray Succre. For an extra bonus, click below to listen to Ray reading this entertaining piece of confessional poetry. 

TWELVE APOLOGIES 

Mr. Arnolds, my neighbor five years ago: It was me. I'm the one who ran over your cat. I didn't even see it. I'm sorry that I suggested your daughter may have done it. I'm sorry.

Jan Arnolds: See above. I'm sorry.

Grandma J.: The coat you bought me last year? The one I always say I've just taken off whenever you call? I drunkenly lit it on fire five months ago. I'm sorry.

Amad, my old friend: Remember when I threw that monstrous party and you passed out, and by morning, some measly person had stolen your cigarettes and poured soup on your crotch? They gave me some of the cigarettes not to say anything, and the soup was my idea. I'm sorry.

My ex, Andrea: When I lost my job because of corporate cutbacks? That was a lie. I told my boss that if she talked to me that way again, I'd piss on her head. She fired me. I'm sorry.

Bookstore On the Bay: It was me. I stole all those books. I figured out how to remove the magnetic strips, and would do so while chatting up your clerk. I did this daily. He thought we were pals. I read all of the books I stole, at least. One a day for almost an entire summer. I'm sorry.

Little Lisa: We only went out for a single day in the third grade, and we broke-up because I wouldn't give you my pen. Listen, I told everybody we did it. I'm sorry.

Laurel, a waitress in Olympia, Washington: That guy who stole my wallet off the counter while I was in the restroom, which made me unable to pay for my coffee that one time? I didn't own a wallet. I'm sorry.

Safeway of America, Inc.:  I was the one who stole Eraserhead. I gave you the wrong phone number which truly was an accident because I'd just moved into a new place with a new number, but you didn't check my I.D. and when I was about to sign the little rental agreement, I noticed the phone number I'd given had pulled up the first name "Esther", so, quickly and unfortunately for Esther and your company, I signed it "Antonio Banderas" and never returned the video. I'm sorry to you and I'm sorry to Esther and I'm sorry to Mr. Banderas, as well.

To a certain couple: Red fruits don't cause Alzheimer's disease. I made it up. You can start eating strawberries again. I'm sorry.

To Aaron from sixth grade: Though it’s been twenty years, I've still got your Nintendo game, Bionic Commando.  I convinced you I had given it back and that you had lost it, but I just hadn't beaten the game yet. I moved to the other side of the country with it. I'm sorry.

To Kat, a neighbor in a high-rise apartment building I once resided in: Sixteen years ago, I needed to make a local call and my phone service had just been disconnected. You had offered to let my use your phone for local calls. I knocked but you weren't home. Later, I found the telephone service grid on the second floor, so I spliced into your line with my room's phone, thinking that it wouldn't really matter as long as I switched it back when I was done. When I picked up to make my important call, you were home and you were ordering something on it. The salesclerk couldn't figure out what ordering number your item was supposed to have, so you had to explain to him (and though you didn't know it, to me) that it was the jelly-apparatus on some page 36 . The Rhino II, I think it was called. I didn't mean to overhear it. I hope everything worked out and I'm sure blue was a wonderful color. I'm sorry.

I think that confessional poetry might be fun to experiment with; how about you?