LOUISIANA STATE POETRY SOCIETY

COME CELEBRATE THE NEW MILLENNIUM WITH US!

Join LSPS! We need Members! Join us today! We need Chapters in Alexandria,Denham Springs, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, New Iberia, Shreveport, Slidell, and wherever else needed in Louisiana! Dues are only $15.00 a year. Only 5 members are needed to form a Chapter.Members receive Strophes, the newsletter of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, plus the Poet's Gazette of LSPS, 4 times a year. Learn the English, Italian and FrancoFete French Sonnets, use of figurative language, Free Verse, Blank Verse, Rondeaus, etc! Poet Laureate competition every two years!

Founded in 1954 by Mary Wall and Ethel Harvey in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Founding State of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies

WORKSHOPS: In Metairie in the Spring and in Baton Rouge in the Fall.

CONTESTS: Spring Contest with 8 categories -- Free for LSPS members
Sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Chapter in April!

The Fall Contest with 12 categories is sponsored by the Baton Rouge Founders Chapter in October.

OFFICERS ARE:

Pat Juelg, President
Charles Egedy, Vice President
Liz Ferguson, 2nd Vice President
Genevieve Didier DeWitt, 3rd Vice President
Carolyn Files, Recording/Cores. Secty.
Mary C. Galvin, Treasurer

The Poet's Gazette Editor- Mary C. Galvin

There are four poetry chapters in Louisiana. To join contact:

The New Orleans Chapter
Mary Galvin, Pres.
2217 Edenborn Ave., Apt #121
Metairie, LA 70001

The Baton Rouge Founders Chapter
Liz Ferguson, Pres.
12487 Parnell Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70815

The Monroe Chapter
Carolyn Files, Pres.
POB 212
Oak Ridge, LA 71264

Pelican Poets Chapter
Genevieve DeWitt, Pres.
POB 77721
Baton Rouge, LA 70879

Send your annual dues of $15.00 to:
Mary C. Galvin, LSPS Treas.
2217 Edenborn Avenue, #121
Metairie, LA 70001

BENEFITS--Learn how to write Triolets, Villanelles, Stanzaic and Syllabic Verse!

A FIELD FOR FANTASY

I'm out of here forever.
I've had it beyond tomorrow
I've had it
Since spring plowing:

Blackbirds turning furrows
For breakfast,
(Can't sing a note)

Weeds growing
Where I dropped seeds,
Bumblebees abuzz, blaming me,
Their home upturned,

The scarecrow not
Even talking to me,
The hoe handle
Broken out of spite,

My sweating body soaked
Through this flimsy dress,
My body aching to lie naked
In the creek...

And now, sitting in shade
Of a thorn tree at edge
Of my day's end,

Van Gogh, cool and clean
In his white suit,
Wants to paint me
For Eternity,

Me, a peasant girl
My father can't even find
A husband for...

By: Robert DeWitt, UPLI
Published in Lucidity--Jan. '03

THEN AND AGAIN

Gray smoke from artillery shells
hangs over the muddy Vire River.
It is July in scenic Normandy.
Out of haze under fresh rain,
out of mists rises
the bank the enemy holds.
Death lives there,
Rolls out a welcome mat
laid down by a rollingg barrage.
Assault boats bump
into grass hummocks,
paddles splash, shudder;
men dive for cover,
men fall like so much clover
beneath the scythe.
The musical dirge of battle:
explosions, fragment whispers,
screams, ricochets, tat-tat-tat,
soundless
for those who will never
hear again,
each field an infantry graveyard
dedicated to the next objective,
St Jean de Daye.
Five hours disappear,
five bodies shredded,
donations for democracy,
two survive.

The next time the flag passes,
the flag is raised,
the national anthem is played,
the pledge of allegiance is given,
...will you remember?

By: Robert DeWitt, UPLI
In chapbook: BATTLE STAINS
Copyright 2002

THE BOUNTY OF PRAYER

Prayer...a frank dialogue
opens a heartfelt mind to God,
not merely a duty,
but a rare beautiful privilege,
henceforth, merits deep-rooted faith,
insures constant hope,
creates doting love,
and overwhelming dedicated service!

By: Genevieve Judice Didier DeWitt
In chapbook--IF GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD
Copyright 2002

A GARDENIA'S TOUCH

A stroll in the courtyard
reveals the gardenia shrub's abloom.
I pluck a beautiful cream-white velvet blossom,

striking against glossy emerald-green leaves
its charming fragrance
tickles my nostrils,

its perfume as thrilling as jasmine
and sweet as orange blossoms, only richer.
I stare at it and sniff again.

A lovely sight to behold,
the perfumer's delight no doubt.
This fabulous flower captures awareness

soon as it burgeons;
even when aging
the perfume remains noticeable.

Just as an enchanted Victorian debutante
received a gardenia from hands of an admirer,
I, too have enjoyed as much

from the shrub next to wrought iron railing
that flaunts sheer beauty
shouting its presence,

planted by loving hands
of my skillful gardener
A Man Of Flowers!

By: Genevieve Judice Didier DeWitt
LSPS Court Of The Laureates
In chapbbook--SPIRIT OF LOVE
Copyright 2000

PENSIVE BARD

A tempting fable from Arabian Nights
Sports "Ali Baba And The Forty Thieves."
What's more! Keats' version of "St. Agnes' Eve's"
Would qualify a poet when he writes.

With form that challenges of poet's rights
If rhyme he must indulge, he then perceives
That all is dust unless by luck achieves
A noted valor like Arthurian Knights.

A ditty with a Scottish highland tune
At mention of faux pas in metered rhyme
Would lighten pace of bard...he will unwind.

And waltz to melody "Au Clair de Lune,"
Or synchonize in rhythm marking time
With footwork blending lines to poet's mind.

By: Genevieve Judice Didier DeWitt
LSPS Court Of The Laureates
In chapbook: TOGETHER WE SING
Copyright 2002

Expressive Poetry Links

See Hometown.literature
See Georgia Poetry Society
Poetry.com

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