Photo by Josue Cedeno

Intersections

Truth Thomas

(for Melani N. Douglas, Rachel Eliza Griffiths and Fred Joiner)

At the American Poetry Museum
on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue
Southeast, on a snow plow rumbling
night, art wanders in off the street
to hold its own hand, like a dazed
tornado survivor, and looks around
as if in search of missing kin who
never made it to the storm cellar.
Pictures and poets greet it at the door…

For full poem, click on link below.

Blue Lotus Review

http://www.bluelotusreview.com/truth_thomas.html

Truth Thomas – photo by Melanie Henderson

The People’s Book Prize

http://www.peoplesbookprize.com/book.php?id=573

Review

Truth Thomas’ Bottle of Life makes us face up to the gun barrel pointed at our head on Bodymore’s mean streets, yet an ocean away,poems like “Holy War” make us try to figure who is really the holy one–the dead Palestinian or dead Israeli lost to violence. The literary canon is referenced in this collection, and equated to a cabbie, driving by as if blinded by the color of a black man’s skin. Also, there are love poems to lesbians in this book, being appreciated from head to toe as a real people. Bottle of Life is worth imbibing for it is life blood–so fragile and precious. It is the poetic draught that keeps us running, and Truth Thomas knows that well. –Mike Clark, Little Patuxent Review

flipped eye publishing bookstore

http://www.flippedeye.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=75&osCsid=2d23gmc74rmn5ofho8ff6huaf6

(Cover by Chris Offili) ‘Ten sparkling new talents who demonstrate the richness, energy and confidence of the poetic voice in our multicultural country. It is a joyful and important moment in publishing.’ Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate.

I am proud to be a part of it.  This New anthology supports Black and minority ethnic poets. I have to thank Bernardine Evaristo MBE who had the foresight to initiate an Arts Council report (Free Verse) into why so few Black and Asian poets were getting published in the UK. Published in 2007, Free verse was a report into diversity in poetry publishing, which revealed that less than one per cent of poetry published by major presses in the UK was by Black and Asian poets. As a result Spread the Word initiated a two-year project called The Complete Works, which offered participants an individually assigned poet-mentor as well as a tailored professional and creative development programme. Ten marks the culmination of the project and is a recipient of a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation for autumn 2010. www.spreadtheword.org.uk/freeverse/files/FREE_VERSE.pdf

1. Just had a baby boy.
2. The Ten Anthology is out on Bloodaxe  8.95  ISBN:978-1-852248-79-6  http://www.bloodaxebooks.com/titlepage.asp?isbn=1852248793
3. Here is a link to the Complete Works Documentary. http://www.vimeo.com/15881268
4. My 1-man-show just toured to Oslo with the British Council.
5. My new website should be online this week.
6. All the above has kept me in action.

Congratulations to Nii on his new book  and Lemn on being awarded the MBE. Hope to catch up with the rest of you over Christmas.

lifemarks

Janett Plummer is the author of lifemarks, a poetry pamphlet under our mouthmark series.

HERITAGE OF SECRETS:

The paperback is now out and for the next few weeks  is available direct from the publisher at the discounted price of only four pounds. Just click here –

http://www.flippedeye.net/store/product_info.php?products_id=65

Only a week left for voting on the People’s Book Prize.  I’m currently in second place so just need a few votes to win – please help!  Click here –

http://www.peoplesbookprize.com/book.php?id=90

All you have to do is register with your email then they send you a password and you can vote.  Thanks a million J

LONDON LIMING: where spoken word meets carnival

presenting poetry, fiction, song and a new poetry anthology

6 September 2009 at 5.15pm

KINGS PLACE, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG

Tickets £4.50                        Bookings via www.kingsplace.co.uk

LONDON LIMING mixes poetry, music and audience participation to bring a carnival flavour to London.

Featuring performances by MELLOW BAKU, CHARLIE DARK, JOHN HEGLEY, MICHAEL HOROVITZ and AOIFE MANNIX, plus a taster of a new POETRY Anthology (Poetry Olympics Enlightenment) of poets, fiction writers and wordsmiths, edited by Michael Horovitz, John Hegley, Melanie Abrahams and Adam Horovitz. Hosted by Melanie Abrahams.

LIT UP:  Aoife Mannix and Janie Armour present Different Words For Snow

Creating Live Literature Showcase & Conference

Thursday September 24th 2009 – The Albany, Deptford, London

Click here for more info http://www.litup.org/prog2009b.htm