Damka
Again this month
there is not much to report. It is a proper hot Mediterranean
summer, but here in the mountains the nights are cool and
sleeping comfortable. The regular Tuesday-end-of-the-month
poetry meeting of the Haifa Voices group was put off because of
the 11 June workshop.
The Chapbook for the
11 June Workshop has just been received from the printer and is
available for sale. It is 38 pages with illustrations and an
attractive colour cover. Cost is US$7.- which includes postage.
See Address below for Helen Bar-Lev.
I refer readers to our new
website which is
Johnmichael's four-year dream fulfilled. We are offering
chapbook publishing services, contests, publication of poems and
short stories not previously published, publishing of artwork on
our website and more.
Below I remind you again about submitting for the Voices
Israel Annual Anthology, Volume 35, and also the Reuben
Rose contest.
Ten months ago we adopted two kittens rescued from garbage bins.
About ten days ago one was killed by a car: Damka, which means
Checkers - I wrote this poem afterwards:
Have a good summer, all, Helen
Damka
?.8.2007 –
10.7.2008
Just yesterday you
sat,
crazy little cat,
exploring your paw
in the most awkward manner,
lying on your back,
leg over head,
rough little eleven-month old tongue
nudging a burr from your toes
Amusing,
infuriating, daring,
black and white undersized creature
rescued from a garbage bin
ten short months ago,
so enthusiastic with living,
you always leapt
before you thought
So this morning
when I opened the bedroom curtains,
I was almost not shocked
to look down on the street
and see you, unmistakable
in your tuxedo pajamas,
sprawled on the road,
in the same position you were last night
cleaning your paw,
rigid now in that comical pose,
as if you wanted us
to remember you that way
Damka the imp
Damka, I’m sorry
Submissions for
Voices Israel Anthology Volume 35 are accepted until 7th
October, 2008. Please send up to four poems of no more than 40
lines each. We prefer your submission to be by email in a single
Word or RTF file— one poem per page with your name, address and
email on the upper right corner of each page. Include a list of
your poems on a separate cover page with your name, address
telephone number and email address and a short bio not to exceed
seven lines. Judging is anonymous and the poems will be
forwarded to the editorial board without names. No revisions of
poems will be accepted after submission!
There is no fee for
submitting poems for the Anthology only, however, a contribution
of NIS 30-/US$15 will entitle you to a copy of the Anthology
once it comes out, whether you are published or not and includes
shipping fees. If you decide to wait until the Anthology is
published and then order a copy, the price is NIS 40-/US $20.
Prizes for the
Reuben Rose Competition have been raised. First prize is US$500,
second prize is US$200, third prize, US$100-. You may submit an
unlimited number of poems to the Reuben Rose Competition at a
fee of US$5 / NIS15 each. This applies to members of Voices
Israel and non-members alike. Deadline is also 7 October 2008.
Emails for the
Anthology only should be addressed to Helen Bar-Lev, hbarlev@netvision.net.il
If you have no access whatsoever to email please submit one copy
of each poem plus your cover page by regular mail following the
above guidelines, to:
Helen Bar-Lev
P.O. Box 21
Metulla 10292
ISRAEL
Submissions to the
Reuben Rose Competition only should be sent to John Dicks,
Voices Israel, P.O. Box 236 , Kiriat Ata 28101 ISRAEL . Please
submit by regular mail in duplicate. One copy should not have
any identifying information, the other copy must have contact
information included. A cover letter giving the names of the
poems submitted and your full contact information must accompany
the submission. Fees for submitting to the Reuben Rose
Competition must accompany the poems sent to John Dicks.
New this year
This year you may
submit the same poems to both the International Reuben Rose
Poetry Competition and the Annual Anthology. Since you may
submit any number of poems to the Poetry competition, on your
cover page, mark clearly which (maximum of four) poems you are
submitting to both the Anthology and the Reuben Rose. This means
that even if you do not win a prize or a mention in the Reuben
Rose Competition you will have a chance of having these poems
published in the Anthology.
Submissions to both
the Anthology and the Reuben Rose must be submitted both to John
Dicks and to Helen Bar-Lev. Prize winners and Honorable Mentions
are entitled to one free copy of the Anthology.
Joining Voices
Israel at NIS100 or US$35– per year will entitle you to a copy
of the Anthology at no extra charge, the monthly newsletters,
participation in our monthly meetings in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and
Haifa, participation in workshops. We welcome poets from abroad,
and many are Voices members.
All payments for
membership to Voices Israel Group of Poets in English and for
the Anthology should go to Mel Millman, our treasurer, 15
Shachar St., Jerusalem 96263, ISRAEL.
Helen Bar-Lev,
Artist, Poet
Editor-in-Chief,
Voices Israel Anthology
Senior Editor,
www.cyclamensandswords.com
www.helenbarlev.com
