Carry a Poem - cake!

A quick (non-publication) post - 

I'd mentioned previously about the awesome Carry a Poem campaign currently running in Edinburgh this February.  My lovely friend Peggy at the Scottish Poetry Library kindly saved me a copy of the FREE Carry a Poem book being given away (as I was away in Los Angeles when the campaign started).  In thanks, I made her (&co. at the SPL) a red velvet chocolate POETRY cake!:

The photo is Peggy's, posted to the SPL's blog, Our Sweet Old Etcetera - where you can read more about the Carry a Poem campaign.  The line on the cake is from Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market', a food-filled but creepy poem to say the least.  It's my favorite recipe, & I hear they liked it alright.  Always happy to bake for friends! <3

The Carry a Poem campaign is still on, so check the website for events, and don't forget to tell them how YOU carry your poem!  

I am really looking forward to THIS event, on the last day of the campaign.  Should be the Epic Scottish Poetry Event of the season. 

newleaf 26: Things You Told Me and On the day the streetlights went out

 

Stellar news!  Got my contributor copies of newleaf 26 in the post today!  It is lovely!  

newleaf is a perfect-bound magazine, about 60 pages.  I've already posted a bit about newleaf #26 here, so click back to find out about submission guidelines and to read from past issues.  They publish (at least!) twice a year and run out of the University of Bremen. 

I was pleased to note a few familiar names on the Contents page: my colleagues Nick Holdstock and Russell Jones both have pieces included.  Likewise, there are tons of great poems and short stories by many others I can't wait to read!    

 

My poems Things you Told me and On the day the streetlights went out are included in this issue.  I've been eager to get the latter published (it's one of my favorites) and am so stoked to have it in newleaf. 

My favorite touch though in this issue has to be the flip-book style art in the corner of each page!  When you flip it, the rain falls!:

Do check out newleaf when you have a chance.  The magazine is just €2; information on how to get it is here.

Carry a Poem!: Aiko's story

A non-poem but poetry-related publication here!

Carry a Poem is this year's UNESCO City of Literature reading campaign.  They've teamed up with the Scottish Poetry Library, and starting February 1st, they'll be giving away thousands of free books & poetry pocketcards, and there’ll be a month of poetry events.

A while ago, they asked people how we carry our poems & they are sharing what we've said on their Poem Stories page.

My submission is here: for Emily Dickinson's 341 'After great pain a formal feeling comes'.  I really love this poem.

And I think this campaign will be such a good way to get people thinking about poetry, carrying it in their heads and in their pockets(!); it's great to see people using things like iPods or the internet to 'carry' their poems with them everyday.

You can follow the campaign on Twitter: @CarryAPoem

Submit your own Carry-a-poem story or: "...send us a picture of you carrying your poem – on your T-shirt, as a tattoo, stuck to your fridge. Email it to carryapoem@cityofliterature.com."

Check out photos of the lovely Carry-a-Poem posters, books, and supplies: Carry A Poem Flickr page

Or visit their website for information on more fun events!

Can't wait to see the books just as soon as I am back in Edinburgh!! Somebody save me a copy!

Check out the AWESOME Carry A Poem campaign trailer: