I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday.  Due to Snow Storms, Bad internet connections and travel we are experiencing a pause.  All things should resume to a normal pace at or around January 1st.  For not be safe and keep writing wonderful poetry!

The Thursday Think Tank - #29 Stockings

Some are hung with care in hopes of presents. Some are worn because that’s just the way things are. Some seduce and some embellish. Some are wool, some are silk and some are torn. What do you think of when you hear the word stockings?

It is an odd topic but it can also be a fitting one (pun wasn’t intended but it works). Have fun with this week’s prompt. Feel free to use the image that pops in your head or to share the holiday spirit at home on the mantle or at the holiday Christmas party after a tad bit too much Egg Nog. Tell us about those who had to mend ones for use in their youth or how some scantily clad figure used them to lure in the innocent. Maybe you remember the tales of Pippi and her adventures.

Who knows what this prompt will stir in your wonderful and creative minds. Whatever your thoughts may be, we cannot wait to see what poetry you…expose.

We are still here...just a light crew

It was our intent to run as normal through the holidays but due to a demanding schedule for the folks here we now will have to admit to a slight lull in our activities. This is to let you know we will still keep The Thursday Think Tank and Poetry Pantry going through the hlidays.

We will back going strong on the 3rd of January 2011 ready to greet a whole new year of poetry and community for our members. Also dont forget there will only be a few days left for our Anthology submissions. 

No matter the occasion you do or do not celebrate over the next few weeks please know you are in our thoughts here at Poets United and we hope each one of you have a safe and happy holiday!!

Also comment moderation has been turned off for posting should you see anything out of the norm or inappropriate please do not hesittate to send us an email and we will remove it

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! - #22

If you are a Member of Poets United on or before December 2nd don’t forget to submit a poem for consideration in our anthology due out in February.  The deadline is 15 Jan 2010.

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

The Thursday Think Tank - #28 Smell

"The sense of smell can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back pictures as sharp as photographs of scenes that had left the conscious mind." 

 ~Thalassa Cruso, To Everything There is a Season, 1973

We have come upon the time of year where families, cultures and traditions of all kinds from around the world seem to collide in celebration. In the spirit of this season we figured this prompt would be the most fitting without tying us to one culture or theme.

No matter the way you celebrate the end of a year and the coming of a new year there is always something that smells like a memory. Maybe its grandma’s fresh baked apple pie, pine needles, incense or a freshly stoked fire; something will tease your nose with a fond memory.

With this prompt you don’t have to be tied to a holiday or even this time of year or happiness. Maybe when you are standing outside a soft ocean breeze sneaks into your mind and you are back in your youth frolicking on the beach. Possibly the smell of fresh hot McDonalds fries has your mouth watering. Regrettably so, a smell can even cause you to think of sad or unwanted times. Whatever smell pops into your head and onto your keyboard we hope you will share it with us.

We look forward to reading your stinky poems of one sort or another.

Poem of the Week - Roses in the Park 14/Dec/2010

Selected by Eileen T O'Neill

This Poem can be found at:

Robert Cameron Hazelton @ Average Poet

Dedicated to John Lennon on the 25th anniversary of his untimely death.

Roses in the Park


We gathered speechless in the growing dark
remembering the brilliance of his light
and left our rosy sorrow in the park.

As one of four he made a lasting mark
which cruelly found his heart that fateful night;
we listened speechless in the growing dark

and prayed the news report was just a lark,
for who would ever… but no, it was right;
we lost our rosy visions. In that park

so named for berried plains, the truth is stark
that being human should bring great delight,
not speechless mourning in the growing dark;

commemorate the magic of his spark
and offer love to all within your sight.
The scent of rosy tributes in the park

imbue the air with their resigned remark,
imagine his disdain for this sad rite.
We gather speechless in the growing dark,
and leave our rosy visions in the park.

~ Robert Cameron Hazelton

We are also happy to inform our members here at Poets United that RCH had entered this poem into the Liverpool Poetry Competition where in his category he placed second with this wonderful tribute poem. If you would like to read more about this you can by going to The Beatles Story.  Congratulations Robert on a wonderful achievement

(This poem was selected by Eileen T O'Neill.  She is currently one of our contributors and poets found here at Poets United.  If you would like to learn more about Eileen or read some of her own poetry you can  visit her blog "Words and Thoughts".  Eileen is a poet and writer who has been a wonderful supporter of Poets United since its start.  We would like to thank her for all of her hard work.)

Poetry Blog of the Week - (13 December 2010) - The Square Corner

Selected and written by Larry Patterson

"Recently I bought a self-help book titled Ten Days to Self Esteem. Nine days have passed without any improvement. I guess tomorrow I find out if I've wasted my money." -Blog Entry December 8, 2008. This snippet of text sits comfortably underneath the large letters which spell out The Square Corner, an avid poet and blogger who also happens to be a member of Poets United.

The Square Corner has been blogging since 2008, and uses a simple clean site design to host his poetry. “...Compared to most of you my life probably isn't so interesting, so I blog to pass the time.” Is taken from the blogger’s profile information but does not reflect his poetry. SC offer’s many interesting and insightful works for us to read dealing with a wide variety of topics.

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open - #21

If you are a Member of Poets United on or before December 2nd don’t forget to submit a poem for consideration in our anthology due out in February.  The deadline is 15 Jan 2010.

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Classic Poetry - (The lotos-Eaters - Lord Alfred Tennyson)

The Lotos-Eaters

"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.

Please give a warm vwelcome to our newest members.

We Currently have 157 Members in 40 Poetry Groups

Below you will find a few links to the most recent members who have joined our community here at Poets United. Please give them a warm welcome by stopping by their poetry blogs and reading some of there creative offerings.

Kellie @ Magic in the Backyard

Giovanni Cucullo @ Giovanni Cucullo

Dulce @ Sweeter Poetry

Lady Nyo @ Lady Nyo's Weblog

Luke Prater @ WordSalad

simplymanish @ Mind Thinks

Tommy Herman @ Simply Poetry

Poet History # 13 The Brownings, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert

Written by bkmackenzie

Elizabeth Barrett Browning           Robert Browning

Robert Browning was born on May 7, 1812, in Camberwell, England just a suburb of London. The first born of Robert and Sarah Anna Browning. His father was a clerk at the Bank of England forgoing the fortune of his own father by refusing to work at a sugar plantation which was a farmed by means of slavery. Even on his modest salary he was able to marry, raise a family, and to acquire a library of 6000 volumes. He was an exceedingly well-read and self-educated man. And it though this vast library of books that the young poet would receive his education. Robert was an extremely bright child and an avid reader and took it upon himself to learn Latin, Greek, French and Italian by the time he was fourteen. He attended the University of London in 1828, but left in discontent to pursue his studies by reading at his own pace. His extensive education has led to difficulties for his reader’s; he did not always realize how obscure his references and allusions were.

The Thursday Think Tank - #27 Forgiveness

Forgiveness

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.”

~ Thomas S. Szasz

To forgive is to excuse for fault or an offense.  The word forgiveness can bring out a wide range of emotions in people.  Some find it to be a sign of weakness others an immense show of strength. What have you forgiven lately or think needs to be forgiven? Have you ever held a grudge that was taxing on you? I know I have and in the end, when I let it go, I was somewhat relieved. It seems when we don’t forgive we carry a burden that doesn’t even affect the person that we hold at fault for whatever reason. But wait, what about the unforgivable things in life? Is there such a thing?

The photo above is titled Forgiving The Bent Nail. Now that’s something I don’t know if I can forgive. I envision myself stepping on it and needing a tetanus shot. Use the photo to inspire your writing if you just can’t seem to be inspired by the concept of forgiveness. We look forward to reading your poetry about having the strength to rise above or the courage to hold your ground and not forget.

The Life of a Poet - River Urke

Written by Sherry Blue Sky

Okay, kids, pour a cup of tea and get comfy in your chair, because this is going to be a very interesting read. When I first started lurking in the backgrounds of all of your sites, I was first drawn to Pondering Through Life by the poet named: River Urke. Her site is filled with beautiful images of Mother Earth, and many inspiring quotes, most of them among my favorites. So I knew a kindred soul dwelled therein. I found a beautiful and strong voice in her poetry, and knew I wanted to find out more about this interesting young woman. Read on, you’ll see what I mean!

Exactly Six months ago today, Poets United made its first post. Although the idea for a poetry community was bouncing around my noggin for a bit well before that, I did not actually act on those thoughts until June of this last year. Now look how far we have come. Quite a few of you have been here since the first fledgling days of this wonderful community and many more of you have come along through the first six months to help make Poets United the wonderful and thriving community it is today.

My goal in setting up Poets United was to have a supportive community that was always active and supportive. We have achieved this tenfold more than I could have ever expected. Because of each and every one of our members we are an awesome site that offers so much to our poets, readers and friends all around the world. Some of you have even gone so far as to volunteer your time and writing skills so that our community can continue to remain active and relevant. We have done so much because of our member support. We are now actually working on a printed anthology highlighting many of our member’s own poetry. It’s great to have accomplished all this in only our first six months.

Thank each and every one of you for being a part of Poets United and we can’t wait to see what the next 6 months brings!!

Poem of the Week - Ode To A Wrecking Ball 7/Dec/2010

Selected by Pamela Sayers
This poem can be found at:

Bubba's Place

Ode To A Wrecking Ball


Some people decry letting old places die.
Cringing at the thought when bulldozers are brought
to knock down the walls of decrepit dance halls.

With their voices raised and eyes wet and glazed
they bemoan this ‘great loss’ like it’s Jesus on the cross.
They simply cannot see that all stories are History.

Sentiment for old shelves is us trying to save ourselves
trying not to be forgotten when our children plant new cotton.
New buildings and new dreams replace those old, dry-rotted beams.

These vast empty shells where dust and ghosts dwell
do no good for the living and that’s their misgiving.
Heart-felt, emotional pleas against hard financial realities.

Stuck in once-upon-a-time, aging starlet past her prime
once glorious and new, now forgotten like an old shoe.
Better to remember May and forget November.

Turn-of-the-century wonder will soon be torn asunder
as its Art Deco charm falls without much alarm.
Architecture is divine when the taxes are not mine.

Buildings aren’t meant for the dead, but for those left in their stead
to use as long as they’re needed, ‘til the usefulness is exceeded.
Then best that they be replaced than just left there to go to waste.

~ Eric Adler

The Poet Pantry Is Now Open - #20

If you are a current Member of Poets United don’t forget to submit a poem for consideration in our anthology due out in February.  The deadline is 15 Jan 2010.

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Please welcome the newest members to join Poets United.

We Currently have 150 Members in 38 Poetry Groups

Below you will find a few links to the most recent members who have joined our community here at Poets United. Please give them a warm welcome by stopping by their poetry blogs and reading some of there creative offerings.

Kavita @ How I Write, Is Mine...How You Read, Is Yours

Myrna Rosa @ Daily Spirit

Ellen aka Ella @ Ella's Edge

Fyodor Lewis @ Bright Light - Dark Words

Erin Coughlin Hollowell @ Being Poetry

Madhumakhi @ Makhi's Poetry

Classic Poetry - (The Land of Story-Books - Robert Louis Stevenson)

You may know this author by some of his greatest works Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but some of you may not be familiar with the fact that he was also an accomplished poet.

The Land of Story-Books


At evening when the lamp is lit,
Around the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.

Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.

Do you have a classic poem recommendation you’d like to us to share?

Each Saturday we reach back into the poetry past and share with our members a classic or forgotten poem. We have already posted poems from Poe, Wordsworth, Browning, Dickinson, Blake, Byron and a few others and wish to continue sharing these great poets and their poems with our readers. We like that Poets United is community and member driven so if you have a favorite classic or want to suggest a poem for us to post on upcoming Saturday’s, please link your request in our comments section below or email us at poetsunited@ymail.com.


This can be good for you too! It is extra exposure of your blog and poetry because we are always sure to link the poet and blog who passed the suggestion on to us.

Please make sure to read the poem yourself first and not just suggest any random works. We do want a good read for our members. Also note that any suggestions should be of poems and poets that were published prior to 1923 so as to be in good standing whereas copyright laws are concerned.

As always thank you for making Poets United such an awesome community for poets who blog.

*Don't foget to link any suggestions you make so we can easily find them.

Poet History # 12 Philip Larkin

Written by Jacob Knowles-Smith

Love and Death in Hull – Philip Larkin

Life is first boredom, then fear.

From ‘Dockery and Son’ by Philip Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985)

If ever someone could be said to have lived a writer’s life it would be Philip Larkin. One of the 20th century’s greatest poets, yet who only ever published three mature collections of poetry over a glacially slow three decades, he nevertheless warded off any encroachments upon his independence with almost pathological fervour and was terrified by the prospect of a future filled with marriage and kids (“Children are horrible, aren’t they?”).

The Thursday Think Tank - #25 Weird

Picasso's Three Musicians

On the eve of the marshmallow war the lizards sat and ate toast with Cinderella.

Have you ever read a poem that was just weird, something that may only make sense to the poet themselves, something so strange you just have to read it a couple times over? Have you ever looked at a painting and thought what on earth is that? We are looking for the abstract and odd today. Let loose your pen and follow no rules. Poetry and prose already violate the supposed rules of writing now we want you to take it even further.

Write what weirdness comes to mind first. Take your everyday life and what sits right in front of you and turn it inside out. Play with words and things that do not belong together. Place alligators at tea parties and make oranges green.  Make books edible after you have finished reading them and let fish talk.
 Unleash your inner Picasso, Andy Warhol, Tim Burton or Salvador Dali and give us your strange. This is an exercise in creativity and should be fairly simple. The beauty of this idea is as writers we know it won’t make sense and really don’t care.

This should be a fun adventure and we can’t wait to have you share with us your penned oddities.

Opportunity Knocks - Cape Cod Cultural Center 15 Jan 2011

Poetry is not just for the scholarly, it is for everyone, everywhere. Some of the best poems are written outside of the classroom by those experiencing life firsthand. If you have ever considered submitting your poetry to places beyond the blogosphere, but were unsure, we hope to inspire you to do so by simplifying the process. Sometimes all it takes is an envelope and a stamp. In our “Opportunity Knocks” posts we provide information and links to publications, contests and other opportunities for your poetry to be read and/or published. It is our goal to sift through and filter out the spam and scams out there. What we post here will be our best attempt at helping you find legitimate places to send your work.

For U.S and Canadian Residents



A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem. Gerald Stern will judge. Submit up to three poems totaling no more than five pages with a $15 entry fee by January 15, 2011.

Vote Now for your Favorite Anthology Title

Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions. Rather than flood ourselves with more choices, we have narrowed the field so we can put it to a vote.  Please be aware that there still can be some minor changes of where the Volume or Issue is positioned but we figure this will help us in deciding.  Your opinion matters so please vote.

1. A Poets United Anthology
     Issue # 1
     Concrete & Sugar

2. A Poets United Anthology
     Vol. 1 Issue 1
     Thoughts That Breathe

3. A Mosaic of Thoughts
     A Poets United Anthology
     Vol. 1 Issue 1

4. Our First words
      The Poets United Anthology
       Issue # 1

5. The Poetry Pantry
      Poems from Poets United
      Issue #1

The Voting Period has ended. Thank you.

Poem of the Week - Money, Sometimes & The Great Lesson 30/Nov/2010

These poems can be found at:

It Was Late, And I Was Tired

We offer you a short trifecta this week.

Money

Nothing is
a harder blow
than a hole
burnt in
the shallow pocket
of new blue
jeans.

~ Juice Box

Sometimes

Sometimes,
I write to
forget
all those deep,
heated moments
that only you
want to remember.

Sometimes,
I forget to
write
and all those
that I've forgotten
come rushing back
to steal away
my breath.

~ Juice Box

The Great Lesson

She always said to me
"loss is the great lesson."
I never believed her,
not until the day
I lost her soul
and she lost her way.
The wolves anchored
their tainted claws
and devoured her.
And then I understood
her words.
They echoed in my head:
"loss is the great lesson,
loss is the great lesson."
Then what is life?

I pondered this,
as I stood alone.

~ Juice Box

We need your creativity.

We are still looking for a name for our anthology.  We know you are a creative bunch. Please suggest a few names or let us know your thoughts on the ones below.  We would like to have a name in place by the 10^th of December.  Leave any thoughts or suggestions in the comments section your help is greatly appreciated.

Current Suggestions

The Kaleidoscope Review

Kaleidoscope Collective

The Poetry Conglomerate

The Weeping and the Laughter

The Essence of Chaos

Concrete and Sugar

Thoughts That Breathe

Poetry Blog of the Week - (29 November 2010) Quiet Poetry

Selected and written by Robert Lloyd

Recently I was out on my daily stroll through our wonderful poetry community and I stumbled across an enchanting little blog called Quite Poetry. I found it was aptly named because it seemed just that. The words were captivating and simple and the photos found accompanying them where just as charming. I really enjoyed the calm that seemed to float from the screen straight into my imagination.

Now Accepting Submissions For Our Anthology

Poets United will now begin accepting submissions for our first ever anthology. The last day to submit a poem for consideration will be 15 January 2011.

We intend to include as many submissions as possible while still producing a quality book. The book itself will be sold by Lulu (an independent print to order press) with no profit to Poets United.  We will keep it as cheap as possible for our members. 

We have yet to name the anthology but should have one in the next couple of weeks.

Please read below for further information and standards.

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open - Week #19

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Welcome to our latest Members and Information on our upcoming printed anthology

As some of you may know we are working toward a printed anthology for our members. We are currently in the design phase and there are some great discussions occurring in our forums about the anthology. If you want to learn more about it or wish to help us out, stop on by the forums anytime and leave us your thoughts. We are currently looking for artists to submit something to possibly use as the cover of the book. We are also looking for a name for our anthology so please feel free to suggest some names at the forum. Once the choices have been narrowed down, our members will have a final decision by voting for their favorite. Your opinion is valued and needed so stop on by today.

And don't forget to say hello to our newest members.

We Currently have 144 Members in 36 Poetry Groups

Below you will find a few links to the most recent members who have joined our community here at Poets United. Please give them a warm welcome by stopping by their poetry blogs and reading some of there creative offerings.

Eric Alder @ Bubba's Place & Haiku Koo Koo

PoeticArtist @ Making Something Out Of Nothing

Jordan @ Six Metamorphoses

Karen @ Keeping Secrets

deepika @ Words Do Matter

starwatcher521 @ Cemetery of Forgotten poems

Classic Poetry - (The Maniac's Song & The Star - Ann Taylor)

I can practically guarantee that over 90 percent of the folks reading this post today are very familiar with Ann Taylor’s poetry. You may just not realize it yet.

The Maniac's Song

Bring me a garland, bring me a wreath;
Bring me a flower from the dank stream side;
Bring me a herb smelling sweetly of death,
Wet with the drowsy tide.
Haste to the pool with the green-weed breast,
Where the dark wave crawls through the sedge;
Where the bittern of the wilderness builds her nest,
In the flags of its oozy edge;

Poet History #11 - Maya Angelou

Written by Sherry Blue Sky

Maya Angelou – Renaissance Woman

With a bearing that can only described as regal, Maya Angelou is a woman often referred to as a global renaissance woman. One of her quotes states, “I believe that each of us comes from the Creator, trailing wisps of glory,” and in her dignified bearing she reflects this personal truth.

Born in 1928 in Missouri, she has made a name for herself as a poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, actress, producer/director and civil rights activist. She is well known for having written and delivered the inaugural address for President Bill Clinton’s Presidential inauguration, entitled On the Pulse of the Morning.

The Thursday Think Tank - #26 Thankfulness

It is chiefly through poetry that we enjoy our communion with superior minds…in the best poems, poets talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into our. God be thanked for poems.

~( Modified) William Ellery Channing

This week’s prompt is obvious, easy, and well worth the repetition. If you frequent prompt sites you may be just submitting one written for another which is perfectly fine.

What are you thankful for? What in your life makes your heart warm and worth your poetic words. This is a broad topic with no limitations so please shout to the top of…your paper and share with us what makes you give thanks.