PAD Challenge 2010

Can't believe that I haven't posted in a year! I see the last time was the PAD (Poem A Day) Challenge, and here it is again. Participated in the one last November, but still need to do some editing on those. Writing the poems is the fun part...but if I ever want to see my name on a book cover I am going to have to get going on the hard work.

PAD Challenge 2009

Only 3 days left, 4 more poems (including today!) and the challenge is met!
April is so full of poetry events that it is impossible to take them all in. But I did manage this challenge, and yesterday went to the launch of Claudia Coutu Radmore's Ode to a Rubber Duck.
That took place at the Sasquatch Reading Series in Ottawa. Cake 'n everything!

CEE

Participated in the Poetic Asides Poem-A-Day Challenge in April.

See the nifty badge!

Carol

A poem for Friday

Friday Poem for January





Walking in new snow
time slows, becomes

time approximate
except at

10:30 in Newfoundland

no time to ponder
the shelf life of words

today’s bon mot
is tomorrow’s sad cliché

except on Fridays,
except in January

and at 10:30 in Newfoundland



Carol A Stephen
January 4, 2008

Tah DAH!

It is truly a RED letter day! I have had two poems accepted for publication in a new Ottawa women's literary mag! One in the April issue and the other later in the year. I am over the moon!

cha-cha-cha!!

The Garbage Monologues
The treachery of
excess trash
sends man seeking dumpsters
at midnight
surreptitiously searching out fields
to camouflage the sin of
tossed green garbage bags
under cover of night.
The ordinary man
strains tired muscles
tearing boxes into acceptable sheets
corrugated cardboard
neatly tied with string.
The ordinary man,
worn down by evil smells
that lurk inside dark bins
resorts to freezing
table scraps,
foods of dubious origin
long past their best before dates,
and unsuccessful fridge experiments.
He sorts plastics based on
symbols printed on the
side of tubs and jugs,
crushes metal cans.
He hoards glass jars and bottles for
stacking in blue bins on
garbage day.
At the end of the day, the ordinary man
remains perplexed by
the need for green tags on
garbage bags and
categories of trash
unknown in grandpa’s day.
He whispers prayers
to the patron saint of trashmen
asking "Please let nothing remain
when the trash trucks have passed."

Carol A Stephen
February 27, 2007

Who knew poetry could keep one so busy?

Well, life has been hectic, to say the least, but certainly not here on the Blog.
In addition to reading locally at Page & Turners the last Sunday of each month, I attended a Poetry Slam in Almonte, Ontario, (and participated too!) and next thing I know I am involved in organizing one for Carleton Place!
I have been writing some haiku for Byline, CAA Ottawa's newsletter, and right now am working on an article about that very subject, to appear in the next issue. I also entered the National Capital Writing Contest, so all my fingers, toes and my eyes are crossed!
Soon, July will be upon us (yes, it is true, the hot weather WILL return, I promise!) and with July will come the National Conference of CAA, right in our backyard, as Ottawa hosts this year's event. Visit the CAA website for the details; it sounds like an awesome event!