A Message from Bill

Spring has sprung, as the saying goes and the warmer weather comes a a long sigh of relief for those who have been trapped inside during this period of isolation.

But as the suns rays offer us some warm hope, we must still be aware of the dangers that still encompass the earth.

I know we have been bombarded with nothing else but the news of C-19 and we all realized that the dangers are still there. The warmer weather and sunshine are not going to eliminate this thing. It is up to all of us, as a global community to eradicate this thing. We must all do our part and practise the simple things, like washing our hands and social distancing and staying in our homes, unless otherwise necessary.

But at the same time we must step back from this constant barrage and look at the world a different way. Look at it through the eyes of a Poet.

There is still beauty and goodness that surrounds us and now, more than ever before in our lives, we must strive to find that beauty and goodness and express it through our words. Turn off the news and turn on the world again. Look at it in a light that you have never looked at it before. Find that inspiration in the simple things and share that inspiration with others.

We all need an escape, especially now. We all need that special place that we can go to, if only for a few moments, so that we can reflect on what is still good and beautiful in the world.

This C-19 pandemic has put us all in jail cells of one kind or another. Lets open those door for a few moments and walk away from all the negative and find some positive again.

With that in mind, I am offering up my 2nd Founder's Challenge, 'Escape'.

I am asking every Pubber to take a moment, go to that special place and share it with us.

I have placed no limits or restrictions for this challenge.

I would also like to take this time, once again to thank my dear friend and the heart and soul of the Poets Pub, MystresMyna.

The last month or so has been very trying and stressful for me and my family as we, like so many others, deal with the reality, the fears and the uncertainty of the C-19 virus.

My mind, my focus and my personal drive have been maxed out and I find myself exhausted both mentally and physically. My ability to deal with day to day has been decreased to a point where I often find myself staring at a computer screen.

I have found some peace in writing a new novel. It is not a coherent story but it has been my escape.

Without Myna and her sidekicks MysteriousDryad and Sona, the Pub would indeed be in sad shape. I cannot express my thanks. The words escape me.

But I will say Thank You, from the bottom of my heart. Without you, Myna, there would be no Poets Pub.

One day, hopefully, I will find my own escape and bring back the man I used to be, so that once again, I can be a functioning member of the Pub.

Fable Or History
By Victor Marie Hugo

Possessed of royal appetite, and feeling rather thin,
A monkey one day dressed himself in a tiger's skin
The tiger had been nasty; the monkey was atrocious,
Wearing on his back the right to be ferocious.
He set himself to gnashing teeth and let loose with this cry:
Conqueror of the jungle, the night's dark king am I!
As a bandit of the forest, in the bushes he lurked,
And snatched away and murdered and other horrors worked.
Laid waste the forest, slit the throats of those passing through,
And with the skin that covered him did all it used to do.
He lived within a cave, knee-deep in butchery,
And all who saw the skin believed the tiger was he.
He would cry out, would bring forth a truly terrible roar:
Behold within my cave the bones of victims before.
Before me all draw back and shudder, everyone doth flee,
All tremble - I am tiger! Look! and worship me!
The animals were all awe-struck and fled with great alarm,
A lion-tamer came and grabbed him with his arm,
And ripped off the tiger's skin like a flimsy piece of tissue,
Laid bare this "conqueror" and said, "You're just a monkey, you!"

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Random Poetry Prompt

Write a found poetry poem using an instruction booklet or textbook page.

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APRIL CONTEST –

I am not sure how to tell you all this, so I am just going to say it... Y'ALL ARE AWESOME!!! This month's entries have been nothing short of amazing!!  Thank you ever so much, for not only rising to the challenges set forth but knocking them out of the ballpark!!

Both prompts for the month of April are still open for submissions, you are allowed two poems for each prompt. This month's theme is history!! We will be accepting April submissions until April 30th at midnight, MST.  Please check out this month's contest book for full details.

MAY CONTEST AND CELEBRATION –

May is going to be a big month for the Pub; we will be celebrating our 5th Anniversary!!!! Woot Woot!!  As such we will not only have our regular monthly contest we will also be sharing with you a special  5th Anniversary Collection!!

POEM-A-WEEK –

As an encouragement to all of our members that have joined in on the Poem-a-Week challenge I would like to invite all our Pub members to stop by and check out our Poem-A-Week challenge book, read some of the poems and leave a comment for those participating.

To participate in the challenge, all you need to do is create a book on your own profile or use one of your existing books, then let us know what book it is and start writing.  You can also send in your poems to include in our collection here.  Please PM us if you take on the challenge so we can add your name to the participants list and send you a link for the participant sticker.

2020 Poem-a-Week Participants

Poems & Writings inspired by Webster's Dictionary by aMusedAndPoetic

Sillage by -Nynaeve

Weekly Whimsy by Anneshiningstar

Poem A Week - 2020 by most_bay

Concours by Schwethz

The Quantum Journal by MichaelTyger

Poetry Beans by undoubtedlymine

Pieces of Me by ShaunAllan

Pastel Paean by ImperfectPsychotic04

Narrow Feelings by SoulFarAway

Beautifully Mysterious by MysteriousDyrad

Genteel Reveries of an Outrié Poetess by MystresMyna

Rhyming Feelings by EmLover123

THAT SCHEME IN OUR MINDS by user42439792 (Mina)

That Orange Energy by gemkawiraa

Void of Morsels by AbhayDavid

Ragtag Poetry by NAGAdventures

Please stop by and check out their books, show them some Poets Pub love!

IF I MISSED ANYONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST!

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Poem-a-Week Prompt

Week Sixteen Prompt –
Write a poem from the point of view (personification) of a prehistoric animal.

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SOCIAL MEDIA –

POETS PUB -

We encourage everyone to like/follow us, it will help you to stay in the loop.

Poets Pub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poets_pub/

Poets Pub Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Poets-Pub

Poets Pub Twitter: https://twitter.com/pub_poets

STORYTELLERS-SALOON –

Storytellers-saloon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Storytellers-Saloon-1106601872685988/

Storytellers-saloon Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/storytellerssaloon/

storytellers-saloon

MAY CHALLENGE –

The May content is open and eagerly awaiting your submissions.  This month's prompt is, "On the Campaign Trail". You have the last two weeks of April and the entire month of May to get your stories in!

You would have to head over to the contest book to get the full details of this month's challenge.

We haven't received any entries yet so grab your pens and get writing! Let's get those stories in Pubbers!!

If you know anyone who would be interested in this challenge, then send them on over to the Saloon.

Every month there will be a new contest posted along with a couple words to use in your story. The stories will completely vary in genres. Check out the contest book for more details!

Come on by and support your fellow Pubbers by reading, voting, and commenting, and then consider joining in as well!!

Lyttlejoe's Busted Gulch Volume 13:

Petra, Brandy and Bruce were able to save Buck. Though, they had to travel far to reach where he was. The gang learned that Reagan was out for revenge. Reagan's men heard the commotion and sprung into action. But Buck, Bruce, Brandy and Petra were faster. Reagan was on the other side of the building, waiting for them to come out.

Lyttlejoe's Busted Gulch Volume 14:

With that being the second to last chapter, last being a sum up, Busted Gulch volume 13 has now come to a close! Busted Gulch vol 14 is open and running in full swing! Add it to your library to never miss the action in this small town!

If you want to find out what happens next, head over to the Saloon and check it out for yourself! New chapters are posted daily, so don't forget to add it to your reading list!

flash-fiction-forum

For the month of April, we are all gonna play the fool. We are asking everyone to send in your fav funny little story, poem, anecdote, sayings, jokes .... anything at all, that will give a laugh, a chuckle, or even a smile.

April is April's Foolishness month at the FFF and with respect to what is happening in the world, we feel we could all use a laugh. So, pop over to the FFF and become part of the April Foolishness.

You can send in something new every day. Come on Pubbers. Pop over to your sister/brother/undisclosed site and share a laugh with everyone.

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Random Poetry Prompt

Write a poem about a person in your family's history.

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Found Poetry Pt 3- By Gadralneure

In the previous two articles on Found Poetry, I mentioned the methods with which the found poem is created. I'd like this week to give some literary context to the found poem.

Found poetry has been included in the works of many well-known poets. In his major work Cantos, Ezra Pound included many found pieces from documents, letters, and other sources. T.S. Eliot used found phrases in The Wasteland.

Other types of Found Poetry can also be seen. The writer William Burroughs, championed a form of found poetry called Cut-Out poetry, where phrases would be cut out of newspaper text and reassembled as poetry. Another version of this type of poetry is called Black-Out poetry, where text, generally in the newspaper, is blacked out and the remaining text is an artistic piece revealing found poems.

Found poetry in one form or another has been around for centuries. It is a valid reshaping of language that can have a profound impact on the reader. It is an experiment in creativity, an excellent way to stimulate the poetic self.

This week's example of a found poem is extracted from a lengthy account of the execution of Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn. It distills the drama and poignancy of the act into a short and moving poem.

The Execution of Anne Boleyn
Found poem (excerpts from G. Burnet,The History of the Reformation, 1679)

Brought to the scaffold,
she made a short speech,
the last scene of this fatal tragedy.
She was come to die,
she would accuse none,
prayed for a gentle Prince,
a good and gentle sovereign Lord.

And so she took her leave,
her head cut off
by the Hangman of Calais,
expert at beheading.
Her eyes and lips,
observed to move,
her body thrown
into a common chest of Elme
and buried in the chappel.

Speak honourably of her,
she of all King Henries Wives
gained most from his esteem
and then outlived his love.

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Double Mega Poetry Challenge

For this week's challenge we want to help all of you promote your own books. 

In the comments below leave a link to one (1) of your books that you would like to promote. 

Then be sure to come back later in the week and check out each other's books.

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AWWWWWW darn it!!! It looks like we have come to the end of another Chatter.  Good thing is, we will meet back here next week!! I hope everyone has a super-duper week ahead.  Remember to keep those pens and keyboards flying!!

Cheers from your Mystres of Chatter
MystresMyna

P.S. Extra Chatter Bit

For any parents out there with kids here is a fun poetry exercise for them: