Category Archives: #poetrycommunity

by Luanne | May 17, 2024 · 2:53 pm

Writing and Grandbaby News

Brand new and familiar poems published today by Editor Sharon Knutson at Storyteller Poetry Review. This journal specializes in narrative poetry–in other words, poetry that tells stories. In this group are new poems about my father and our lake cottage and about driving home from my Chicago grandma’s apartment when I was young.

https://stortellerpoetryreview.blogspot.com/2024/05/storyteller-of-week_17.html

I really hope you enjoy these poems because as a whole they create a little memoir.

In other writing news, Our Wolves moved from the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize Short List to First Runner-up of Chapbooks. Um yay!!!!

This is what the Hoffer judges said about the book:

“Our Wolves, Luanne Castle, Alien Buddha Press – In this bold recasting of the Little Red Riding Hood tale, a traumatic adventure unfolds, and the expectations one has for reality are shattered. An air of mystery pervades each poem, but beneath that mystery, worlds of forced silences exist. Some poems shock. Some poems awe. Some remind readers that the wolves one should fear most are not those roaming the forests.These poems also explore the myths and legends, symbolisms and mysticisms, which comprise the folk tales with which so many are familiar, and breathe new life into these well-worn tales. This retelling forms a narrative for a modern age.”

Additionally, two of my flash stories have been long listed in two different contests. One of them didn’t move beyond and the other hasn’t been announced yet.

And in still further news. I sent a couple stories to a journal yesterday and they came bouncing back, a big fat rejection with the admonition not to send again for another five months. HAHAHAHAHAH.

I have not been able to get over to our blogging community much lately because . . . baby. However, I am working on my songwriting talents as well as new poetry. Here are some samples. The first is a song:

A big tummy is happiness.

And a little tummy is a big tragedy.

And here is a poem:

Those that are really cute

are the ones that toot.

Haha. It won’t be long before he can join me in singing. 3 1/2 months and he’s turning on his tummy and turning on his back already.

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Filed under #bloggingcommunity, #OurWolves, #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Book Award, Book contest, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Writing

Tagged as #HofferAward, #poetrycommunity, book award, Eric Hoffer First Runner-up, Flash Fiction, grandbaby, Storytelling Poetry Review, writing contests

by Luanne | May 7, 2024 · 5:15 am

Imayo for Rikka: #TankaTuesday

Colleen at #TankaTuesday suggested writing a syllabic poem for Part I, The Beginning of Summer, (May 5 – 19) Rikka 立夏. I tried an imayo.

Summer begins brilliant blue; sometimes clouds frame it

but mostly fresh greenery—saguaro seeks bliss

closer to heaven than earth, offering rare

gifts

as palo verdes erupt, showering sunshine

The hole in the saguaro is the entry to an occupied bird nest.

These palo verde blossoms end up all over the ground.

The duck in my pool yesterday.

Thanks to Christal Rice Cooper and Donna Biffar for editing an exciting poetry anthology. Volume 2 of The Power of the Feminine I is now available. Both volumes are jampacked with contemporary poetry that comes from a feminine perspective. The poetry is not written only by women either. I have two historical poems in volume 2 (and one in the first volume): A Lizzie Borden poem and one about European women in 1533. $3 for kindle version!!! My poems start on pages 90 and 309. https://www.amazon.com/Power-Feminine-poems-feminine-perspective-ebook/dp/B0D2WX6TY7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16ESMVENBHW7U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lhKKLBk4OYONnpqAujXo1Ig50Do583AFm6JtVNC8EQ0_TaCv4F8ZAcJhxIsYfJQn.BMHoWPUTekccHF9OsWxgC4z41skHv5Enp5xpswPpXUk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+power+of+the+feminine+i+poetry+anthology&qid=1714920222&sprefix=The+feminine+I+%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Guess who tries to sleep in the baby’s bassinet when he’s not here? Perry, of course. The baby still ignores the cats. For now.

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Filed under #amwriting, #poetrycommunity, #TankaTuesday, #writingcommunity, Arizona, Flora, Garden, and Landscape, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Syllabic Poetry, Writing, Writing prompt

Tagged as #poetrycommunity, #syllabicpoetry, #TankaTuesday, Arizona summer, imayo, Poetry, poetry anthology, poetry books, saguaro, The Power of the Feminine I

by Luanne | May 4, 2024 · 3:34 pm

Thank you to Dawn Pisturino for Her Review of Poetry Treasures 4

Poetry Book Review: “Poetry Treasures 4”

photo of stream during daytime — Photo by Michael Block on Pexels.com

Short List for Eric Hoffer Grand Prize: Our Wolves

Yes, I’m pretty stoked, I’ll admit that. My wee chapbook Our Wolves is on the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize (grand as in a $5,000 check to the big winner) SHORT LIST alongside the big books.

Yesterday, Kathleen Cassen Mickelson coincidentally interviewed me about Our Wolves. She provides a great idea of what the collection is all about.

CONVERSATION WITH A POET: LUANNE CASTLE

Want to pick up a copy of this pretty lil canis lupus baby? https://www.amazon.com/Our-Wolves-Luanne-Castle/dp/B0BTKNP31D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15JK239FCHVGE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ALQ-Ljk1njzWJQDlkD5jY6QtxZx6XGZg9YtrClN0btrHujuSkCk6ZGPDpCjt4GpS_PdX_Wr_gRu3YIMFPEAO16QqPGc4qdtLCGcHzaqrpSLyFLX3OPXFimGqVyzoT42KHHir_VnXarqE8c9FC-R59nq0yyfMhbeZ94Wa-Ti14oAGWFJ3uuixZ5Wmm1zinR5foBTPp3G6F6kIyCr4becsMF-gsVuPeTurNGtNR1BGd-Q.kPZp-Ktyg-ES3M0mb3PGJX_VGahVWJN-jD_IkXe_rhk&dib_tag=se&keywords=our+wolves+castle&qid=1714682476&sprefix=our+wolves+castl%2Caps%2C890&sr=8-1

Interview about OUR WOLVES on One Minnesota Crone

Kathleen Cassen Mickelson graciously interviewed me about my poetry collection Our Wolves. I hope you enjoy the exchange. If you would like to comment, please do so at One Minnesota Crone to keep Kathleen in the loop! Thanks for reading :).

CONVERSATION WITH A POET: LUANNE CASTLE

trees on a dark forest — Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

Day 1 of WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 4 Book Blog Tour

Welcome to the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature” Book Blog Tour

I’m blessed to have poetry and a few photos in this delightful collection, alongside these other wonderful poets.

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Filed under #amwriting, #bloggingcommunity, #poetrycommunity, Cats and Other Animals, Flora, Garden, and Landscape, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection

Tagged as #amwriting, Poetry, poetry collection

by Luanne | February 14, 2024 · 2:48 pm

UPDATE: Early Spring in Arizona and Writing News (#TankaTuesday)

In this post I forgot to mention a reading that Storyteller Journal had this past weekend. I read one of my poems from Kin Types, a poem I’ve never read aloud before. Here’s a link if you’re interested. My poem is at the 20 minute mark.

The challenge for 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 21 is Early Spring, Part II. I wrote a Butterfly Cinquain because I liked the name and the idea of it for early spring. I have bolded the kigo words, “coming of spring.”

The Weather Has Shifted Toward Spring

Today

I celebrate

the coming of spring days

the sun has turned up its wattage

I smile

without even realizing

so glad for sun-kissed skin

for blossoms tipped

upward

###

The Power of the Feminine I, Volume 1, a poetry anthology edited by Christal Ann Rice Cooper and Donna Biffar is one of the most exciting anthologies I’ve read. The perspective of each poem is from a feminine speaker, and the inspirations come from mythology, history, the female body, and the contemporary world. The breadth of subjects is astonishing, and the poems well-crafted. I am thrilled to have a poem in this book, keeping company with work by many of the finest poets. I expect Volume 2 to be just as exceptional as this one.

My poem is about a healer woman accused of being a witch. I’ll have two more in the second volume. But SERIOUSLY this is a book you want. I am so impressed with all these wonderful poems. It would also make a great gift for anyone interested in women’s voices, women’s history, feminism, etc.

This thick book is only $10.99 on Amazon–or if you prefer a Kindle version, only $3!

The Lothlorien Poetry Journal has published a new volume. Five of my poems are in there, along with lots of poetry by other poets.

If you’re reading this today, February 14, Happy Valentine’s Day. Currently, my Valentine is my grandson, who is the cutest baby the world has ever known.

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Filed under #poetrycommunity, #TankaTuesday, #writingcommunity, Arizona, Poetry, Syllabic Poetry, Writing

Tagged as #TankaTuesday, butterfly cinquain, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Poetry, poetry anthology, poetry community, syllabic poetry, The Power of the Feminine I, women's voices in poetry

by Luanne | January 31, 2024 · 12:21 pm

Two Arizona Bussokuseki: #TankaTuesday

The challenge for 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 19, 1/30/24, Part II: Deep Cold is to write a bussokuseki poem which is similar to a tanka, but has an extra line at the end: 5-7-5-7-7-7. My kigos are “ground hog day” and “depth of winter” and I used one in each of two bussokuseki. Spring really seemed to have sprung on my walk today, but of course we are supposed to get a rainstorm and cold tomorrow night.

in depth of winter

the sun comes out and warms us

the sweet acacias

blossom, perfuming the air,

birds chirp and trill their anthems

tomorrow chill will set in

***

Friday ground hog day

will determine spring’s advent

fair days came for us

with the birth of our grandson

who will celebrate one week

of life on that holiday

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Tagged as #poetrycommunity, #TankaTuesday, Arizona winter, bussokuseki, grandson, kigo, Poetry, syllabic poetry

by Luanne | January 26, 2024 · 7:08 pm

Baby Haiku: #TankaTuesday

24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 18, 1/23/24, Part I, Deep Cold (January 20 – February 2) Daikan 大寒

For this week’s haiku I used “bleached grasses” for a kigo.

the bleached grasses

wave in a joyful welcome

to my new grandson

Now you can tell me how adorable he is :)!!!!

UPDATE: I have switched out the baby’s photo with this one of me holding him because I don’t want his photo floating all over the internet. So hopefully it will go away from any searches soon.

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Tagged as #poetrycommunity, #TankaTuesday, Grandma, grandson, Haiku, kigo, new baby, Poetry, syllabic poetry

by Luanne | January 16, 2024 · 4:13 pm

Sonoran Blossoms Haibun: #TankaTuesday

In the 24-season syllabic poetry challenge for #TankaTuesday we have Poet’s Choice, as it’s the third week of the Early Cold season. My kigos are “Amaryllis” and “cold light,” which can be found in the haiku portion of the following haibun.

***

Sonoran Blossoms

The two gardening seasons in the Sonoran desert are warm and cool. We plant flowers in the spring, which can be from February though May, for summer blooming. In the fall, we plant cool season flowers, which last until May. Our months of choice are generally October and May. My yard is one acre with a wash running through it. On one side of the wash the land is slightly higher than the other, and because cold air sinks, some winters the lower side may experience a slight freeze that lasts until mid-morning, while the other side rarely freezes. The flowers may freeze to death occasionally, if they are not covered by frost cloths. However, many winters we get no freeze at all. Because of the mild weather, we can plant blossoming indoor-outdoor plants outside after they lose their flowers.

amaryllis blooms

fade under winter’s cold light

time to plant outdoors

Sometimes people get creative with protecting plants when the temperature hovers uncomfortably close to freezing in the early morning hours. This person uses Santa hats usually, but this year after New Year’s they replaced them with multi-colored beanies!

Recently, I participated in an Ugly Art Club event and in Care December from Everything Art. I’ve mentioned them both before. This is the Care December journal I finished. Each spread is an exploration in emotions and self-care, rather than being an attempt to create art. So there is a lot of hidden meaning behind each one. And, yes, the idea for me was to create another GRUNGY journal, as they are my favorites. The theme this year was the color blue in all its meanings.

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Filed under #amwriting, #bloggingcommunity, #poetrycommunity, #TankaTuesday, Arizona, Poetry, Syllabic Poetry, Writing

Tagged as #poetrycommunity, #TankaTuesday, art journal, Care December, haibun, Haiku, junk journal, kigo, Poetry, syllabic poetry