A Poets View ~ Series of Perspectives VII

by Ivy Alvarez

Being a writer of poetry is rarely financially rewarding, not to mention maddening and terrible. Compared with other writing media, it does not garner the same excitement as a new film or fiction blockbuster, nor does it have the same cachet.

While many might protest, citing a current resurgence of interest ('What about slams?' they might ask. 'What about all these poet laureates?'), poetry still feels marginalised. So rare does a book of poetry break through to the Best Seller glass ceiling of novels and non-fiction that it's a big deal when it does. It's an aberration, and people must call attention to it.

But there is a good side to being overlooked.

You have freedom to create what you like, with no mind as to what's sexy, or hot, or what the public wants at this very moment. Very few eyes are on you. Anonymity is sometimes delicious. There is less pressure, and even then, it is of a different sort, usually self-generated.

Writing poetry doesn't answer to deadlines, or agents, or fans, or three-picture movie deals. Imagine the sort of poetry that would result if it did.

The compulsion to write poetry, like any creative impulse, is inexplicable and ...well, Sylvia Plath said it best when she wrote:

The blood jet is poetry,
There is no stopping it.

~*~

Ivy Alvarez is the author of two chapbooks, Food for Humans (reprint forthcoming) and catalogue: life as tableware, available from The Private Press [theprivatepress at zoo dot net dot au]. Visit Ivy Is Here for more writing thoughts.

Congratulations Honestly ~ SplashHost of the Month

Please join me and congratulate our Senior SplashHost Honestly, voted as SplashHost of the Month August 2004. She has been with SplashHall from the beginning and has been a most gracious to all who have joined and visited SplashHall Poetry. She has contributed both her time and money to Splash. She has even put up with me ..L0L ..now thats deserving in itself. Congratulations Baby!!

Love ya
Rg

Erotica Poetry ~ Visual Delights

Join SplashHost ~ Honestly, Lady SunShine and many others for a tasteful late night treat of Erotica Poetry, Adult Socializing and Visual Delights. Come experience sensual poems and socializing in a visual adult chat environment.

Saturdays 10:00 PM EST on the AdultSide of VP Chat in the Poets Cafe Erotica. Free Download. Bring a friend and set your passions on fire!

Congratulations MydNight ~ SplashHost of the Month

Please join me and congratulate our Senior SplashHost MydNight, voted as SplashHost of the Month October 2004 by his Splash peers. If you want a friend, Myd is always willing to lend a helping hand. Myd has been a diligent SplashHost both at SplashHall Poetry Boards and at the Poets Cafe in VP Chat. Congratulations Myd!

October's Poetry Picture Challenge Winners

Congratulations goes to Lady Sunshine for her poem "A Blogosphere Zoo". Honorable Mention goes to Petro for his poem "Dangerous DNA". Both from SplashHall Poetry.

A Blogosphere Zoo

.
Here I drown in flames of your eroticism
While you're trapped behind shears of hunger
Between us lays subdued limbs
Longing, aching, to sprout exotic blooms
.
Loneliness shutters both hearts
As we box shadows in our minds
Trying to grab one embrace
As they dance in laughter
.
They claimed their residents
Skipping back and forth
Through cold haunted elders
Teasing, inciting our visions
.
Colors of rage igniting for release
Wanting to free snapdragon kisses
Being stifled by python hugs
Begging for teddy bear snuggles
.
Till this prefabricated freedom expires
We'll be enlighten in a blogosphere
Wrapped in times crystal enchanted doom
That won't let our fleshy spirits roam
.
Our minds will be living in the zoo
Where only madmen rule



© 2004 Lady SunShine

Once every 4 to 6 weeks SplashHall Poetry and cafeRg chooses a picture for the Splash Poetry Picture Challenge.

Top poems for each month receive award banners.. and are published on our syndicated blogs. Here , Splash Poetry Picture Challenge, Rollin Thunder, and
Blog This! ~ Blogosphere Zoo.

Come to Splash Poetry Picture Challenge and try your creative pen. Then post your poem at the SplashHall Poetry Boards Here.

Join Us For An Erotic Evening Of Socializing And Poetry

Come join Honestly and Lady SunShine for an erotic evening of socializing and poetry, in a virtual places chat called VP Chat. The chat is a little different in that real people adorn 2D images called avatars at a webpage also with graphics. SplashHost Honestly and Lady host this event at the Poets Cafe Erotica. Take a look and then image socializing with other like minded chatters and poets moving, even touching about the webpage called a room. The avatars can be your real picture or pictures of models that express your mood.

VP Chat is a small download, completely free of spam, spyware, popups and advertising banners. There is a small monthly charge as low as $1.00, which gets you 10 names that you can share with your family and friends.
Right now there is an offer that allows you enjoy VP Chat 'ABSOLUTELY FREE' for 14 days. No credit card or advance payment is needed. You simply download Vp Chat here. More graphics will be found there as well as easy to follow instructions. The whole process takes less that 10 minutest. Once you sign in there is plently of VP Guides to help you find your way about. Not only can you enjoy the erotic evening at the Poets Cafe Erotica but you can surf virtually anywhere on the internet in an environment that makes you feel you are with your honey and friends. You can even find new friends, and hey maybe that new mate.

To get to the Poets Cafe Erotica tonight you will need to enter the adult side of VP Chat. You will find plently of friendly people to help you with that once you're in. Again, all this - the download, signing in, finding the Poets Cafe Erotica on the Adult Side in less than 10 minutes. The Poets Cafe Erotica and the entire SplashHall webpages aka rooms is always free.

So what are waiting for? Come join Honestly and Lady Sunshine, myself and many other friendly people for a fun, erotic evening of socializing and poetry.

Non-Commercial Poetry Competitions

Hi Ya'll

I would like to to talk to you a little about non-commercial poetry competitions, yes?

At SplashHall we endeavor to create a non-commercial eclectic environment for poets and artist a like. From just plain jiving to showcases your work. From gentle creative workshopping to non-commercial national competitions.

Why competitons?

We, at SplashHall, have created four competitions, each with an unique approach, two that are just for Splashers and two that are global. By participating you enhance your own style, learn new styles, and expand your creative approach to writing. The word 'creative' is key here, we all may have different reasons for writing, painting or photographing, but it is our inborn nature to be creative. Like a caged tiger our creative yearns to be released though the different forms of art.

So it is, through competition that one can achieve satisfying results and pleasure of our creative. Albert Einstein said, "our imagination (creative) is above all the most important aspect of life."

The Non-Commercial Competition Arena

As i mentioned we have four creative competitions to help expand our writing or art. they are:

Poet in the Spotlight ~ a casual, fun competiton of creative and participation. The more you participate at Splash the better your chances, while entering a poem to show poetic ability. Judged by SplashHost and our Poetry Director.

CafeRg's Splash Picture Poetry Challenge ~ About every four to six weeks we put up a new picture at CafeRg's Splash Challenge, this month's picture is a Gothic Collage, where you write and enter a poem about the picture. Judged by a SplashMembers Open Poll.

InterBoard Poetry Community Competition ~ Here you compete against poets around the world, while learning different styles and techniques. Poems are judged by seasoned poets who are usaully various publishers and editors. A good opportunity to see what publishers and editors are looking for. Go here to see Anthony Robinson, this terms IBPC judge

Net Poetry and Art Competition ~ here your poem is judged on several aspects like, creativity, craftsmanship, voice and form. Again we have seasoned poets and facilitators as judges. The NPAC also has a category for new poets (so no reason to be shy) and art and photography. Go here to see NPAC judges.

All competitions are non-commercial and are managed by poets for poets. Absolutley no spam. Your privacy is always protected. They have been created for your enjoyment, fellowship and recognition among ourselves. The poet. The artist.

Our Poetry Director "Witt", accomplished and published poet, as well is an accredited teacher in our education system, had this to say when i asked her, "why compete?" Witt explains, "..just as the boxer trains by his roadwork, jumping rope, and working the speed bag so does the poet. The poet shadowboxes with words and builds up the stamina by revising and revising over and over. His speed bag is the fast challenge that makes his mind work quickly. A monthly contest is where the roadwork pays off. The more the poet enters contests the better are his chances of winning." Read more of Witt's article on competition at Rollin Thunder or at our newest open posting blog BlogOsphere ZoO

So come on over to SplashHall Poetry today and take part in our creative building competitions today, see for yourself the many benefits. Of course there is a lot more to do at Splash and we will be happy to see you. If nothing more come on over and cheer us on. Your support is always appreciated.

On behalf of 'Your Family at Splash',

Creatively yours,
CafeRg

Visual Delights

An online magazine i get, called How Magazine featured Revol Magazine.

Its a nice visual trip into the eclectic. How described it this way, "A bicoastal brother-and-sister team head up this great on-screen magazine, which features work from artists, designers and writers from all over. The third issue was just released, and submissions are being taken for No. 4. (Our favorite article: "Embarrassingly Gay Things I Did Before the Age of Ten.") Check it out.

CafeRg's Splash Poetry Picture Challenge Winner ~ August 2004

First Place, "Tacit Words", August 2004 went to WordWeaver for his poem "Doomed Adoration". Honorable Mention went to Petro for his poem "A Potential Sanguinary Scene". Both from SplashHall Poetry.

Doomed Adoration

Hanging curtains across each window
even though they were not an exact fit.
From the inside I reveal vulnerability
while outside eyes viewed normality.

Scratching at the window your eyelids
kept prying and marching blindly over
my trampled exposed inhibitions.
I listen to the roar of my heartbeat.

Consumed, I sat apathetic at the window
over the belches of my shyness and
struck a match to my reservations.
The smell of kerosene is invigorating.
The blazing inferno has my aroma.

© 2004 WordWeaver

Once every 4 to 6 weeks SplashHall Poetry and cafeRg chooses a picture for the Splash Poetry Picture Challenge. September's Challenge picture "BlogOsphere Zoo" was chosen from cafeRg's new blog Blog This! ~ Blogosphere Zoo, an open to everyone to post in several off topics including poetry.

Come to Splash Poetry Picture Challenge and try your creative pen.

Creative Help Wanted

Join our team of creative, energitic, dedicated SplashHost. SplashHall Poetry is a 3 year old online grass roots poetry community and we continue to grow daily.

We pride ourselves with our down home, your family at Splash ambience. We are a free community and intend to stay that way. Our main goal is to support the art of poetry and have fun doing it.

If you have a good knowledge of poetry, able to critique and review other poets work and help them grow, we would like to talk with you.

You will join in a wide variety of creative poetic activities. You will work at your own pace both as an individual and a team player. You will also be eligible for most of our awards and competitions. Presently all work is on a volunteer basis.

Currently we are looking to expand our staff at both our poetry boards SplashHall Poetry and at our fast growing poetry blog Rollin Thunder.

Please email me at cafeRg@themountainsplash.com, with your qualifications.

All inquiries will be responded to.