POEM: FREE TO GOOD HOME

Happy Poetry Friday! Kelly Polark has Round Up.

So what's up in my poetic life?

I'm sorry to say I've been a bit of a slacker in the submission department. In the past month I think I've only submitted to two journals and one contest. MUST DO BETTER.

I did, however, speak earlier this week to middle schoolers at Red Mountain Writing Project about writing poetry. And this weekend I am on the faculty at Southern Christian Writers Conference, where one of my sessions is also on the topic.

AND (this is big): I registered for Colrain Poetry Manuscript Conference, where I will meet real live poetry editors from such esteemed presses as Graywolf and work super-hard to improve my current manuscript.

What's it called, you ask?

Well. I should say right away that I am completely enamored of this title. So if you don't like it, don't tell me. Yet.

FINISHING SCHOOL FOR HOPELESS ROMANTICS

And for Poetry Friday, here is an excerpt from a poem that appears in the collection and is titled "True Things Learned from Cats:"

"Remember: the bag cannot
hold. Everything looks grey
in the dark. Warmth is more
lasting than softness.

And nine lives
will never be enough."

- Irene Latham

Cat art found here.