Sunday, October 26, 2008

Peony Moon Poetry Blog


South African poets seem hard to find on the English-speaking poetry boards and in the ezines. Lots of Merkins, Canuks, Pommies, Aussies and the odd EnZedder, but in my ignorance I just don't seem to stumble across many Seth Efricans. Now here's a cool poetry blog emanating from that direction — Peony Moon. It's run by Michelle McGrane, a smart lady who's given me some great ideas. Peony Moon's worth following — I've put the url into the Links list.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Back to Taylor Square


If you blow into this site in quest for the days of The Royal George, you will also love Lynne Komidar's blog Musical Notes -- it's chokka with yarns, memoirs, snippets, photos and goss about that era, and does a particular focus on the Taylor Square scene. If you were there in that era then like me you probably don't remember much -- until you start looking at the names, faces and yarns at Lynne's place. Starting to come to you back now? So -- lurch on out of The Royal George and begin the long but adventurous Odyssey up to Taylor Square... but watch out for The Chimaera along the way. And make sure you don't find yourself Up Shit Creek!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Important Instructions -- Follow EXACTLY!

1.) Ensure that your computer box and screen are aligned exactly correctly taking ALL factors into account (use a standard carpenter's square, GPS, sextant and I Ching to determine the One True Angle)

2.) Check, re-check, and re-check again that step 1.) has been performed correctly and that all calculations are accurate

3.) Vacuum the keyboard, then thoroughly clean it and the screen, mouse and mouse-pad several times with antibacterial wipes (usually 72 passes on each is sufficient to ensure adequate bacterial and psychic sanitation but when in doubt repeat the sequence as many times as it takes)

4.) You may now click on the link to the Obsessive/Compulsive Shit Creek Review

5.) Make sure you read it in EXACTLY correct sequence

6.) IMPORTANT: If interrupted at any point, including the reading process, do not just subsequently resume reading -- BEGIN THE WHOLE OPERATION AGAIN from Step 1.)!

Ewww! Look at that canoe, crawling with microbes! And those paddles! Where are the wipes?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Chimaera wants light

 
For The Chimaera Issue 5, due out in the second half of January 2009, our Feature Theme will be light verse. John Whitworth (Spotlight Poet in this issue) has agreed to guest-edit the feature. The definition of light verse will be broad rather than narrow. We’ll be looking for well-made poems in a lighter style (see the part of the the Spotlight interview touching on light verse). John will select for the feature from submissions received, which should be sent via our online form (preferred) or by email to the usual editorial address (editor@the-chimaera.com) — not, please, directly to John. And please read our submission guidelines first.

Our Spotlight Poet for Issue 5 will be Stephen Edgar, three of whose poems appear in the current issue. If you have special familiarity with Stephen Edgar’s work and would like to contribute to this feature, please contact the editor.

Issue 5 will also include the usual miscellany of verse and prose in various styles and on various themes. We invite Submissions for this General section as well.

All submissions need to be in by December 1st, 2008.