Submit to Sin Fronteras

Sin Fronteras/Writers Without Borders: SUBMIT 2011

Submission Deadline is June 30, 2011.

Submit 4-5 poems or 1-2 short stories, essays, works of creative non-fiction (no longer than 10 pages), or very short play to Sin Fronteras/Writers Without Borders #16, c/o DAAC, P.O. Box 1721, Las Cruces, NM 88004.  Manuscripts must be typed, with writer's name and address on each work submitted. 

Although we publish primarily Southwestern writers, we do not necessarily prefer or require regional subject matter.  Include a cover letter with very brief (2-3 sentences) biographical and publication information, your email address, and your phone number.  Payment is one copy of the annual journal, which is perfect bound. 

Manuscripts will be recycled, not returned.  A self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard must be included for notification. If you work is accepted, you will be asked to submit your final version electronically via email attachment.

Friday May 20: Sonic Follies

Alas, the long awaited and much anticipated list of performers did not come in a ready to use format. Silly me expecting a flyer, a program or even plain text I could copy and paste. I'm hoping for the best from OCR and not to have to type out the program for another post. 

In the meantime, I can tell you that the line up includes Gerard Bezzeg, Poets and Writers Picnic favorite and host of "Hello in the There!" (New Mexico Eclectic), along with a number of other singer/song writers and poets from slam and traditional spoken word to cowboy and folk, guitarists for all seasons, styles and tastes, and even a fiddler extraordinaire.

Sonic Follies: Music, Poetry & More  a fundraiser for the OFFCenter / iCreate Guitar Program

Friday, May 20th, 5:30 - 8:30 pm Suggested Donation $7 at the door Come join in the fun with many wonderful performers! This unique concert raises funds for OFFCenter and the iCreate Guitar program held free every week at OFFCenter. iCreate is a non-profit organization fostering creativity and the arts in underserved communities. Their volunteer instructors present the guitar workshop on Fridays at OFFCenter where people can attend 12 free sessions, learn 5 songs by heart, perform a recital and earn their very own guitar!  Please help support the continuation of this unique program held at OFFCenter!

PIW Poem of the Week: Of this Bridge

Mehrdad Fallah comes from Northern Iran. He was born in 1960 in Fashoo Poshteh – "a small village  . . . five fingers away from the Caspian", as he writes in his autobiographical poem 'Let's get some fresh air' – somewhere between Langerood and Lahijan in the province of Gilan. He discovered his love of reading and writing poetry in his teens at high school.

In 1976 Fallah went to study in Tehran, where he became acquainted with the many bookshops of the capital and the contemporary Iranian poetry scene....  What most strikes the eye in considering Fallah's career is his search for new writing and new experiments.... He keeps inviting poets of his generation to innovation and experimentation and believes that the creative poet should not enslave himself to the illusion of appealing to a mass audience through poetry. He thinks of mass audience as a media concept and shares the belief of Jorge Louis Borges, the Argentinian poet, that the poet is someone who is imprisoned in an ivory tower, writing a letter to someone else who is also imprisoned in an ivory tower.

Abol Froushan  

© Image: Mehrdad Fallah

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OF THIS BRIDGE

These bridges are no bridge dear
they bow and
          send us from one solitude
to another

Even as time passes and
         we grow closer
the air too becomes a wall over here
in these wet streets
a broken sobbing
                       seeps down the sewers

and I collapse as I arrive
at the intersection of shadows
and my dishevelled voice
does not reach yours

  

©2011, Mehrdad Fallah ©Translation: 2011, Abol Froushan

Poem of the week

If you aren't one already, become a PIW-follower on Twitter and Facebook!

Wed May4: #NMpoetry + free SantaFeTrend mag @ Poetry&Beer

Free copies of the new Trend Magazine of Santa Fe will be available for anyone interested to pick up at Poetry and Beer tonight (final qualifying slam too!) Wed May 4, Blackbird Buvette. This issue includes a feature story about Slam Poetry in Albuquerque with Gina Marselle's great photos of local poets.

Want a copy of Santa Fe Trend but you can't get to Poetry and Beer tonight? Let Bill Nevins know

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from Bill Nevins, reposted from NM Slam group with embellishments. FYI Bill Nevins, also known for Committing Poetry, worked as an Editor/Writer on the just published book First Live Guide to Live Music (and Live Poetry) Venues in New York City. 

photo from Rio Grande Tribune

Storybird - Collaborative storytelling

Because it's a writing activity (the middle part of our name) and looks like fun, 

Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books, play them like games, and send them like greeting cards. They’re curiously fun.

Poetry International Web, May 2011

Go global: PIW is a worldwide internet poetry magazine offering thousands of poems by modern poets from all around the world. May with work by three wonderful poets from the USA: Bob Hicok, Sarah Lindsay and D.A. Powell. Alongside them are poems and recordings on the Iran domain by Mehrdad Fallah, a leading figure of modern Persian poetry. This issue also introduces two more poets who will be reading at our festival in June: Doina Ioanid (Romania) and Amina Saïd (Tunisia).

Read the editorial, poems and translations, and listen to audio recordings of Mehrdad Fallah's poems in the current issue of PIW

Poem of the Week: REPUBLIC, D.A. Powell (USA)

Clip of the Month: ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LIFE, Hassan El Ouazzani (Morocco)

Poetry International Festival, Rotterdam 2011

The 42nd annual Poetry International Festival will take place in Rotterdam this year, June 14-19. This year's theme is Order and Chaos, which will be explored in a number of special programmes focusing on poetry and literature, society and current events. See the full list of guest poets here.

 Poetry International Web is also on Twitter and Facebook