Promised Lee
Headlamp burnt out
on all fours
dragging damp bones
over sharp stones
the wind a violent
warden with an
addiction to chaos
she whips & slaps
branches & vines
surrendering at her pulls
For weeks now
dragging these dreams
in open wounds
blood glistening under
the glare of an
anxious sun
prayers draped
like shrouds sent
to the startled moon
whose tides disconnect
the body from the land
Where are you, promised lee?
the side away from
these relentless
blows of change?
surely shelter is
abundant somewhere?
Oh lee, show yourself!
my mortal vessel
dilapidates toward
the heavens & fear
has chained my soul
to its fangs
A shanty or a sheet
such sweet sanctuary
I will accept with grace
& wait there – curled
into the space between
before & after
delirious but hopeful
Thank you to Mark B for teaching me three new words this week, one of which is ‘lee’. A lee is ‘the sheltered side of something, the side away from the wind’. As soon as I read its meaning, I knew a poem would come to me. One word, sometimes that’s all it takes to make a poem! So, thanks Mark!
NPM – LIZ WORTH, POET
I’ve been a huge fan of Liz Worth’s writing for some time now, so wasn’t I tickled excited when I read that her poetry collection ‘The Truth is Told Better This Way’ (Book*hug, 2017) is long-listed for this year’s ReLit award (the ReLit award took a bit of a hiatus but is up and running again!). Worth is also a fine tarot reader and teacher, and has published several books on how to tarot. To find out more about Liz, please visit her website: www.lizworth.com
Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Prize
The deadline for the Drummond Poetry Prize is April 30th.
Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Contest
NEW DEADLINE FOR RECEIVED SUBMISSIONS: Friday, April 30, 2021
Cash prize total $1,600
Download rules as PDF at www.springpulsepoetryfestival.com.
Residency: All entrants must be Canadian residents or landed immigrants.
Poems: Poems must be titled, previously unpublished, and typed in black ink one per page on 8.5 x 11-inch white bond paper. Poems are not to exceed 50 lines in length, including the title. Space between title and any paragraph is counted as one line. So please count these lines carefully. Do not put your name on the pages your poems are typed on. There is a blind judging contest, and the Judge will not know your name.
Entry Identification: The cover page containing your name, address, telephone number, email address and Poem Title(s), an e-transfer for $10.00 per poem submitted.
The NEW FINAL RECEIVED SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE is Friday, April 30, 2021.
HENCEFORTH WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING ONLINE SUBMISSIONS WITH E-TRANSFER PAYMENT TO mybrydges@yahoo.ca
By entering the contest, you are giving first Canadian rights for publication in the anthology of winning poems. You are free to market your poem(s) in other places but inform them if it has appeared in this anthology. First ($300), Second ($200), and Third ($100) place winners. Eight prizes of $75 each will be awarded for the honourable mention category. Eight prizes of $50 will be given for the Judge’s choice.
The decision of the Judge is final. All those chosen by the Judge to be included in the anthology will receive a certificate and a complimentary copy of the anthology. The Judge may break up a line if it is too long to fit the anthology chapbook format.
Send contest email queries to David Brydges, the administrator at mybrydges@yahoo.ca.
ONE WEEK AWAY!
We are officially one week away from the Thimbles virtual book launch! Have you registered for the Zoom link? Have you purchased your copy of ‘Thimbles’?!
Please visit my virtual tour webpage with all the details for zoom links, events and more!
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 