Spring 2003 issue

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Next Museletter deadline:
MAY 2

Winter 2002
Fall 2002
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Spring 2002

 Winter 2001
Fall 2001

President's Message
      Here’s hoping the miserable winter weather has given you the chance to sit inside and write some fabulous poems. There’s not a lot more I can say for the season thus far. Cold? Yup. Snow? Scenery? Skiing? Not yet. Perhaps by the time this Museletter gets to you, we’ll be in better shape. The nice thing about writing is that we never need a minimum of any weather condition to go at it. Run that past your favorite hard-core skier some time.
      Mark your calendars for the Spring Conference, April 25-26 at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids. For that matter, get out your checkbook and get your reservation made! Registration forms are here.
      It’s also time to begin looking toward the Fall Conference in Oshkosh. We’ll be in a first-ever joint conference with the Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Association. This will also be the conference in which we elect our new slate of officers. We’ll be electing a new president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary for three-year terms that will begin at the following spring conference (2004). I encourage your nominations for these positions. Our vice-president, Cathryn Cofell, is chair of the nominations committee. We welcome self-nominations,as well as nominations of others (as long as your nominee knows and agrees to the nomination). To make a nomination, contact Cathryn at the address on the home page.
      If you haven’t the time for a three-year hitch—but are interested in other, less
demanding volunteer positions—we’d like to hear from you. We have any number of possibilities. Rather then do the “laundry-list” approach, I invite all interested members to contact our Membership Chair, Karla Huston. Let her know what you’re available/interested in. We need to develop a master list of potential members we can contact as needs arise.
      Have a warm and healthy winter. See y’all in Rapids, when it’s warmer. Till then, write well and stay well.
      I welcome comments and criticisms. My address and e-mail are on the Museletter masthead. My home phone is (920) 825-7651.
Hugs, Peter

Send Museletter contributions to the Editor:
Christine Falk
9556 Upper 205th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 985-5375

thefalks@frontiernet.net

SEND US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS if you haven't already, so we can update the WFoP database. Your address will only be used for communication among members.

Remember
If you move or change your e-mail address, please notify the Museletter editor. Bulk mail is not forwarded so you will not receive your Museletters. E-mail is the only way members are notified of Museletter deadlines.

New member inquiries should be directed to Karla Huston, the credentials chair. Join us!

Welcome
to the following new members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets who have joined since the last Museletter issue.

Carrie Backe Sister Bay
Suzanne Bergen Madison
James Browning Janesville 
Selma Calnan   Topaz, CA 
Maryam Dachniwskyj  Pewaukee
Kathleen Dale  Milwaukee
Marjorie Eckstein Milwaukee
Earle Garber Wisc. Rapids
Sheena Glass Menasha
Judith Hable Bloomer
Susan Hegenbarth Baileys Harbor
G. David Jones Egg Harbor
Kathy Keeney Green Bay
Carol Ortmann Wauwatosa
Roberto Palombi Orfordville
Cathy Singleton Boulder Junction
Edna Thorp Janesville
Tom Torinus Baileys Harbor
Patricia Voellinger Minocqua


First Lady Cancels Literary Symposium
First Lady Laura Bush recently cancelled a February 12th literary symposium, “Poetry and the American Voice,” expressing concerns that the event might be “politicized.” Many have interpreted “politicized” to mean “offered a venue for anti-administration points of view.” With the unofficial nod of the Board I sent the following letter:

Mrs. Laura Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mrs. Bush,
      I was saddened to learn of the cancellation of the “Poetry and the American Voice” symposium February 12. I understand the need to avoid “politicization” of an event devoted to literacy. However, I can’t help but wonder if the cause of literacy—and politics—is not better served by an open and robust debate.
      I hope you will consider rescheduling the seminar at the earliest opportunity. I also hope you will encourage as diverse a range of voices and opinions as our literary community can provide.
      Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of education and literacy.

Sincerely,

Peter Sherrill, president
Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets

Meet Your Officers:
Frank Konieska, South Regional VP
      At the 2002 Fall Conference of the WFOP I was appointed Regional Vice President of the ‘South-Eastern-Racine-Kenosha’ area of Wisconsin. I am replacing Dorothy Schwenker who has taken over the responsibilities of the Calendar.
      I have been a member of the WFOP for about 10 years but I tend to be a recluse so I don’t recognize a lot of the names of the people of our area. Some of the ones I do recognize are members of the ‘Author’s Echo’ writer’s group sponsored by the Burlington Area Art’s Council. If any of you are close enough, or are in the area, we meet at 7:00 p.m. every first and third Tuesday in the basement of the Associated Bank in Burlington. All forms of writing are welcome, just as all levelsof expertise. If you’re really good, we’ll showcase you some night. (Just the honor, not much money involved, as we don’t charge for membership).
      We are a fairly spread out group, with members from Kenosha to Janesville, Albany, WI to below the Illinois border. If there is any more information I can send to you, please let me know. If you have any events that may be of interest to the poets in our area please let me know and I’ll notify all I can in the time allowed. Until I hear from you, I am sincerely and poetically yours,

Frank Konieska
3633 Honey Creek Road
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 534-6236

 Ellen Kort’s Work
Showcased in Door County
The Wallace Poetry group of Door
County applied for and received a
Peninsula Arts Association/Wisconsin Arts Board matching grant of $600 for a mural at the library in Sister Bay. An
excerpt from Ellen Kort’s poem, “The
Library,” has been painted on a wall by artist Roberta Champeau. Kort, Wisconsin Poet Laureate, will be reading from her works at a public program celebrating the project on Saturday, May 10th at 2:00 p.m. Poets from the Wallace Group will be participating. The grant proposal was written by Barbara Larsen with assistance from Nancy Rafal and Loraine Brink. Other members of the
group are: Peg Bresnahan, Hanne
Gault, June Nirschl, and Judy Roy.
WFOP members who might be in the area are invited to the program.

What's Happening in Your Region?
Central-Fox Valley Region
Chris Stratton had a poem in a past issue of Free Verse. Cathy Cofell did the inaugural poetry reading at Polly’s bar in Appleton, very well received by the patrons there.

submitted by Mike Koehler, Central-Fox Valley Regional VP

Jo Alderson judged the second annual poetry contest for seniors sponsored by the Mature Times publication of northeastern Wisconsin. She had a poem accepted by FreeVerse and was accepted for the 2003 Who’s Who in America—because of her writing. Todd Williams had a poem entitled “Table Flowers” published in December 2002 issue of The Valley Scene. Todd reports that this is his first published work. Congratulations, Todd!

East-Milwaukee Region
Elaine Cavanaugh received an honorable mention in poetry from the Wisconsin Press Women Contest. Her winning entry will be published in the contest yearbook this spring. Copies of the yearbook will be distributed to libraries throughout the state. The Poetry People will be reading their poems at the University of Wisconsin—Waukesha for the program called “Visions and Expressions” on March 26, 2003 from 7 to 8 p.m. The WFOP members who are a part of The Poetry People are Paula Anderson, Betty Priebe, Katy Phillips, Clark Bowerman, John Peterson, and Barbara Bache-Wiig. The Poetry People also will read at the Harry Schwartz Bookshop in Brookfield, WI to celebrate National Poetry Month on April 2, 2003 at 7 to 8 p.m., and at The Waukesha Public Library on April 9, 2003 at 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. (there will be refreshments!). Proposing on the Brooklyn Bridge, Poems About Marriage, edited by Ginny Lowe Connors, was recently published by Poetworks, an imprint of Grayson Books, West Hartford, CT. One hundred contemporary poets contributed to this anthology about marriage. WFOP poets represented are: CJ Muchhala and Shoshauna Shy. The book is available through amazon.com and in your independent bookstore. Charles Ries had a few poems accepted for publication in California Quarterly, Rockford Review, Zen Baby Monkey Kettle, Poesy Magazine, Starry Night Review, Wordriot, Staplegun Press, Clark Street Review, Muse Art Guild, Nerve Cowboy, Dufus and Free Verse. He published his second chapbook in January (see Publications). The Wasteland Poets, Dale Ritterbusch, Liz Hammond and Anjie Martin, have been hosting monthly Friday night open mic poetry readings at Kozmic Koffee, 340 W. Main in Waukesha since last October. February’s reading will include a contest for the best “Un-Love Poem” and is open to the public. Future open mics will include other types ofwriting as well. The Wasteland Poets also will be reading in April with Tom Montag at the Waukesha Public Library for National Poetry Month.
Mid-Central Region
Laurie Pech-Daley’s poem, “Sarah, Age 12, Practices Beethoven on the Summer Solstice Eve” received an honorable mention in ByLine’s open theme contest. The Marshfield Area Poetry Society will be sponsoring a reading by Jesse Lee Kercheval of Madison on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre, located on the lower level of the Helen Connor Laird Fine Arts Building, UW—Marshfield/Wood County. The reading is free and open to the public. This program is made possible by a grant from the Laird Endowment Fund for the Arts. Marshfield poets are pleased with the start-up success of their Final Friday Poetry, Prose and Anything Goes Open Mic nights that are held on the last Friday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Simply from the Hearth in Marshfield, 126 S. Central Avenue. The first evening was a great success with several readers and a large audience. On the debut open mike night in January, Doug Seubert, Kris Rued-Clark, and Linda Aschbrenner were interviewed by a local television station. All are welcome to read at this monthly open mic evening. The Poetry Trail at the UW—Marshfield/Wood County Arboretum will feature poems with a focus on the family this spring. The poems were selected by Kris Rued-Clark . The Marshfield Area Poetry Society and the Office of Continuing Education coordinate the changing displays along the trail. Edith Nash and Kris Rued-Clark recently had book reviews published in Free Verse.
  • Northeast Region
    New member David Jones along with Rolf Olson, Peter Sherrill, and Roger Kuhns were four of seven people participating in “Men Not Working”, a benefit concert presented on February 1st at the Third Avenue Playhouse in Sturgeon Bay. Peter was featured reader at The Bridge in Egg Harbor on January 18th. David and Roger read from their chapbook, On the Edge at The Bridge on February 15th and earlier appeared at Conkey’s in Appleton. David taught an eight session class, “Presenting Your Poetry”, at The Clearing-in-Winter during January and February. Free Verse accepted three of Sue DeKelver’s poems for publication. One of Sue’s works was accepted by the Door Peninsula Voice, one by Big Muddy (SE Missouri State University) and three by Poem (University of Alabama, Huntsville). Sue was the featured reader at the Montello Public Library on February 3rd. She will be the featured reader at the Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, on March 26th. Mary Jo (Joey) Wojtusik’s first book of prose and poetry, Simply North: A
    Collection from the Heart    , recently was published. Joey’s poem, “St. Michael’s Eve” appeared in the January issue of Free Verse. Free Verse also accepted three poems of Barbara Larsen's. The November/
    December issue contained two works byMichael Farmer and two by Nancy Rafal. Porcupine's January issue contains a short story, “Sugarplum”, by Kathryn Gahl. Michael Farmer and Nancy Rafal traveled to Madison on December 9th. Nancy read with the Madison area poets whose work is published in the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: 2003. Michael and Nancy also read on January 25th during the first hour of the Woodland Pattern Poetry Marathon in Milwaukee. Over 100 people read between 1 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. A number of Door County poets were present at Billy Collins’ reading at Lawrence University on February 19th. At press time one van was scheduled to take Michael Farmer, Nancy Rafal, June Nirschl, Judy Roy, Hanne Gault, and Barbara Larsen. Sue DeKelver, David Jones, and Roger Kuhns also planned to attend.

  • submitted by Nancy Rafal, Northeast Regional Vice-President

    Margaret Magle’s poem, “Winter” was accepted for publication in the spring anthology of the International Library of Poetry at Poetry.com. Her short story, “Burying Mr. Whiskers” was published in the October 2002 issue of Door Voice. The publication was part of the prize for winning the Friends of the Library short story contest held last May.

    Northwest Region
    Chequamegon Bay Word Affiliate is meeting every Thursday at the Black Cat Coffeehouse in Ashland at 7:10 p.m. Open mic readings are held every other Tuesday evening at the Black Cat. For more information contact Eric Sharpe at journal@baysat.net. Black Cat will also host a Poets for Peace reading on Friday, February 28th at 7:00 p.m., sponsored by Chequamegon Bay Word Affiliate and WFOP. Jan Chronister had three poems accepted for the Dust & Fire anthology published annually in March by Bemidji State University. Jan also has a poem in the upcoming You’re Invited anthology to be published by Outrider Press.

    submitted by Jan Chronister, Northwest Regional VP

    Diana Randolph had a poem published in the Spring 2003 issue of The Discerning Poet. She also had an acceptance from Poetry Motel.

    South-Central Region
    ATTENTION SOUTH CENTRAL WFOP MEMBERS: I would like to do a better job of keeping you informed about developments, asking for your opinion, etc. Since our chapter is so large and my time so limited, the only practicable way for me to do this is by e-mail. If you have an e-mail address and did not previously give it to WFOP, please send it to me at kdminer@facstaff.wisc.edu. I will make up a group list. I solemnly promise to send ONLY WFOP-related material, and to use a “bcc” method of sending so that individual addresses do not show. Thank you.

    Peg Sherry’s poem “Second Chance” won second prize in Category 2 of the Arizona State Poetry Society’s 35th annual poetry contest. The contest has 14 categories. Category 2, which had 140 submissions, is sponsored by Jane Spain, a longtime teacher in the Tucson public schools, in memory of her sister, Lena Spalding Jones. Peg’s poem, along with other 1st, 2nd and 3rd-prize winners, was later published in Sandcutters, the quarterly publication of the ASPS. Jeannie Bergmann is still on a roll. She has had several poems published online at www.asininepoetry.com (under the nom de plume of Easter Cathay). Better yet (drum roll please)—her manuscript Sauce Robert has won Pavement Saw Press’s chapbook contest! She was also one of six finalists in another chapbook contest, this one at Spire Press. Guess this means she’ll be wanting space at the book tables at our next Conference. On December 9th (a long time ago but too late for the deadline for the last Museletter!) poets gathered at Canterbury Booksellers in Madison for the annual Calendar reading. WFOP members participating were Dave Scheler, Brent Christianson, Joan Zeier, Judith Strasser, Robin Chapman, Fran Rall, Kathy Gruenewald, CX Dillhunt, Kristin Zanetti, Josie Zell, Marge Pettit, Wendy Vardaman, Lenore Coberly, Jeri McCormick, Kathy Miner, Richard Roe, Peg Sherry, Alice D’Alessio, Yvonne Yahnke, Barbara Houghton, Lynn Patrick Smith and Nancy Rafal. At press time for this issue, the annual “Festival of Poets” readings are taking place on Sunday afternoons at Canterbury. WFOP readers so far have been Alice D’Alessio, Jeannie Bergmann, Fran Newhouse, Yvonne Yahnke, Nydia Rojas, John Lehman, Judy Washbush, Susan Elbe, Paul Thompson, Kathy Miner, Jeri McCormick, Gay Davidson-Zielske and Lynn Patrick Smith. Watch this space for the follow-up listing.

    Many Madison-area poets, WFOP and otherwise, came together at Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse on February 12th for an evening of the poetry of protest. Dubbed “MadPoets Revolt!”, the event was part of the nationwide reaction to the cancellation of First Lady Laura Bush’s planned poetry symposium at the White House, yanked due to the growing antiwar sentiment being expressed by the invited poets. At Mother Fool’s, increasingly “revolting” poets read for nearly three hours to a packed house. And speaking of poet pride... several PROUD TO BE A POET buttons (left over from WFOP’s 50th anniversary celebration) were spotted at the February 1st “Pre-emptive Peace Day” rally and march in Madison.

    Submitted by Kathy Dodd Miner, South-Central Regional VP

    In December Margaret Benbow was informed by the Wisconsin Arts Board that she won an $8,000 Artist Fellowship for 2003.

    South Region
    West Central Region
    The delayed onset of winter has brought two weeks of below-zero temperatures to the West Central Region and we are sad to report the death of our well-loved fellow poet, Marian Morris-Zepp. Marian, who was an active member of our group for the last ten years, died of cancer January 11th. Her funeral, January 18th, in Chippewa Falls was well attended by family, friends and members of the Fellowship of Poets. Her wisdom, rock-solid goodness, sense of wonder in the beauty of the world, and upbeat personality will be sadly missed. Nadine St. Louis said it best in her poem to Marian, “Obligato of a Poet’s Life” when she is described as “this shining singer of changing seasons,/ exuberant gardens, marching bands,/ the woman who has lived herself/ so quietly in the world.” In other news Candace Hennekens’ poem, “Night Communion” has been accepted by Linda Aschbrenner for Free Verse. Sandra Lindow’s poem “Nursery Ghosts” has been accepted for the spring issue of Raven Electrick. It may be seen at www.ravenelectrick.com. Her poem, “The Gingerbread Woman Remembers” has been accepted for an upcoming issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction and Fact. Peg Lauber is once again spending the winter in New Orleans where she is getting inspiration for more poems in her New Orleans Suite. In March, Sandra Lindow will be attending the International Conference on Fantastic in the Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She will be reading her poetry and facilitating a group reading of other speculative poets.

    Submitted by Sandra Lindow, West-Central Regional VP

    Bill Wiese and James Lee to Present at Spring Conference
         Bill Wiese is a playful and passionate poet and magazine writer who specializes in poetry performance. He presently works as a substitute K-12 teacher, mentor of children and young adults, and homeless shelter director. Workshops and performances weave stories, folk music, traditional Native American flute, original and classic poetry into a way of living rather than an art form. He has been in the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar and other publications. We are looking at the future of poetry in Wisconsin. Bill will let us experience how he brings poetry to young people.
         James Lee, self-described bohemian poet from Madison’s east side, appears in numerous publications and performs regularly on the radio. Lee experiments with combining improvised poetry with music. He recorded a CD titled Highway 14 with a group of musicians called “The Malt Lickers” and he organized a group of jazz/funk musicians called “Subterranean Real Estate” that puts on live shows incorporating improvisational poetry and extemporaneous music.

    In Memoriam Harriet Murphy
    1921-2002

         WFOP members will be saddened to hear of the death of Harriet Murphy of Sister Bay. Harriet was an inspiration to Door County poets and an active participant in three critique groups since moving to the area in 1998. A memorial service was held at The Meadows of Scandia in Sister Bay on January 2nd. Sue De Kelver assisted Barbara Larsen in sharing some of Harriet’s poems. Harriet had just completed the selection of works for her second book, Window Seat. “Mystery” is one of the poems in that book. Every Small Delight, her first book, was published in 2000. A celebration of Harriet’s life with readings from her book was held on February 15th at The Bridge Coffeehouse in Egg Harbor. Barbara Larsen, David Jones, Judy Roy, Nancy Rafal, June Nirschl, Hanne Gault, and others participated.

    Mystery

    Why is it that song makes me glad
    dares me dance in cool star shine?
    When I know that life is harsh and sad
    and death will claim us all in time.

    Ancestor gift within me dwells
    and I live and love in spite of fears.
    Mystery gene inside my cells
    bids me “Rejoice!” in this vale of tears.

    In Memoriam Marian Morris-Zepp
    1927-2003

         Marian Morris was born May 15, 1927 in Richmond, VA. She graduated from George Washington University in Washington D.C. and worked as a social worker in New Mexico. Later she was granted a master’s degree from UW-Milwaukee. She met Charles Zepp during her graduate work and eventually moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where she married him on August 5, 1978. After working over 25 years as a social worker, she retired and decided to devote some of her time to improving her writing. She joined the Fellowship of Poets in February of 1992 and thereafter began publishing her poetry in such places as the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar and The Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Poetry Quilt Broadside. She was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and actively supported the local arts community through readings and other activities. Her energy, optimism, and sense of humor were admired by all who knew her. Her poetry reflects her deep love for her husband, Charlie, as well as their shared passions for nature, gardening and boating on Lake Wissota. She died January 11, 2003 after a courageous five-year battle against cancer. She was seventy-five years young.

    Wisconsin Press Women Announce Contest Winners
    Wisconsin Press Women have selected the winners in their 2002 “Expressions/Impressions” literary and visual arts contest. WFOP members that won are:
    First Place:
               Peg Sherry, Madison, essay
               Sandra Lindow, Eau Claire, poetry
    Second Place:
               Cary Fellman, Milwaukee, poetry
               Cathy Conger, Wisconsin Rapids, photography
    Third Place:
               Judith Barisonzi, Fond du Lac, poetry
               Diana Randolph, Drummond, fiction
    Honorable Mention:
               Cathryn Cofell, Appleton, poetry
               Mary Jo Stich, Denmark, poetry
               Elaine Cavanaugh, Hartland, poetry
               Linda Aschbrenner, Marshfield, photography
               Bobbie Krinsky, Madison, photography

    Wisconsin Press Women received more than 70 entries in its contest. Members served as judges. Winning entries will be published in a yearbook this spring. This book will be distributed to libraries throughout the state. Wisconsin Press Women is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women.

    Breaking Up

    Well, it’s hard to sort out whatever ‘breaking up’ can cover. There’s icebreaking ships; how my fingers don’t work as well anymore (not to mention my eyes and ears) and then there is the breakup of the great American middle class, blue and white collar alike. Take icebreakers—you have a huge ship with a very round bottom, which throws itself up onto the frozen ice and by its heavily weighted prow cracks the ice shelf in front of it and the little, separate pieces float away to dissolve.And, then, there’s my aging body. Short of breath, forgetting things in huge bunches, not really operational without my glasses and needing magnifying glasses in addition, scattered all around the house for phone books, recipes on boxes, etc., etc. Being grateful I can still walk and dance well, but wondering how long my knees will hold out. Knowing I could have a massive stroke at any point makes life look like a giant crap shoot. I just keep firmly on the path, grateful for good genes and exercise classes. I guess a stroke would act like an icebreaker, sending fragments out in all directions. And, Heaven knows, I certainly have a really round
    bottom. Lastly, we have globalization. Don’t know about it’s bottom, but like an icebreaker, it’s heavily loaded toward breaking up economic systems. The time seems past when my parents, working with their hands, could end up with three small houses, all bought with sweat, good management and careful planning. They both worked (not either with two jobs) and were educated, so that helped. Their two children (careful planning and luck) also learned to work and what in life was worthwhile and worth waiting for. None of us were ever in debt, partially because of luck, of course, but mostly being prudent. People like this formed a new middle class, envied and copied all over the world. A school of hard knocks, but it was possible for most people to get somewhere. The New Deal established Federal Banking reforms and Social Security, a new form of old age retirement, very radical for the times. All these ideas were fiercely fought by people of wealth and by systems which relied upon cheap labor and discriminatory laws. And it seems to me that the big money boys are bringing in their ice breakers to crack what was a solid middle class which has help for job security, health and safe working conditions. The pieces of this system are floating away in all directions. They won’t melt, like floating ice. They have people clinging to them who also won’t melt. But they can sure drown. This is Fran Rall for Mind’s Eye Radio looking for the lifeboats. Mind’s Eye airs on WORT in Madison.

    by Fran Rall

    The Windover Center Announces Literary Events
    On Wednesday, March 19th, Tom Clark, storyteller, will be featured at The Windover Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac as part of the Café au Lit series. Tom has done story performances
    around the country and is a popular part of programs in schools and festivals throughout the state. These will be stories for the adult who still loves to listen to a spellbinding tale told by a good storyteller. Performance begins at 7 p.m.

    In celebration of Poetry month, the Windhover is featuring David Graham, a poet of national acclaim, Wednesday, April 16th at 7 p.m. David is a professor of English at Ripon, a highly respected poet known throughout the country as well as accessible and entertaining. No one will want to miss this poetry reading. David is the author of six books of poetry; the latest book, David Graham: Greatest Hits, was published in 2001. Of his poetry, Alice Fulton says, “I seldom see language move with such grace; there are sentences one wants to reread for the sinuous music of their construction…”

    $2 admission for all the above events, with admission free to all students. For more information, e-mail WFOP member Mary Wehner at marywehner@yahoo.com or call the Windhover Center for the Arts at (920) 921-5410 or their website at www.windhovercenter.com.

    Poetry Workshop
  • In May, Robin Chapman and Judith Strasser will teach a poetry writing workshop for the creation of new work, “Whose Woods These Are: The Poetry of Place,” May 25-31, 2003 at The Clearing in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Contact Robin Chapman at 205 N. Blackhawk Avenue, Madison, WI 53705 for more information, e-mail The Clearing at clearing@theclearing.org or view their website, www.theclearing.org.
    Membership List Gets Additional Protection
    The Board recently approved a policy to help protect our membership list from distribution to “unauthorized users”—e-mail spammers and mailing-list companies. Fellowship members are entitled to receive a list of members at cost. The cost of the list is $2.00 which covers the postage. If a member would like to receive the list via e-mail, the cost is free. E-mailed lists will be sent as a .PDF which
    requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Acrobat Reader is available as a free download from www.adobe.com. In order to receive the list, they must now sign this agreement and submit it with each request.

    Calendar Poem Nominated for Pushcart Prize
    Congratulations to Connie Sanderson! We recently received notice from Pushcart Press that Connie’s Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: 2003 poem, “Day Break” has been nominated for a 2003 Pushcart Prize. This honor is quite a feather in Connie’s cap. The Calendar was edited by Dorothy Schwenkner and Julie Cousin.

    60 Calendars Left!
    Lou Roach has reported that there currently are sixty 2003 Calendars available for purchase. If you are interested in purchasing a copy or copies, the price is $3.00 each. Postage remains at $1.75 for one copy, $2.75 for 2-3 copies, $3.75 for 4-5 copies and $4.75 for 6-10 copies. Email Lou at lcard@chorus.net, write to her at 311 Meadow Lane, Poynette, WI 53955-9349, or call her at (608) 635-7997 if you are interested.

    2004 Calendar Editors Say Thanks
    It’s the last day for accepting poems and the editors have logged in and counted 1014 poems from 437 Wisconsin poets. Our reaction is amazement, appreciation— and anxiety. How can we sift and winnow
    this rich trove? So many good poems are here in these baskets, by WFOP members and nonmembers, by poets who have been represented many times in the calendar and brand new poets. They’ve all been read at least once, and over the next month will be read and reread. We hope to have our decisions made by April, with notification soon thereafter. Our only regret is that there are not more days in the year so we
    could add more poems. Thank you all. We are reading the poems “blind” by covering up names and assigning numbers. This way we can be unbiased and judge purely the poem. We’ll try to maintain the high quality you’ve come to expect.

    Alice D’Alessio & Jackie Langetieg

    Museletter Advertising Rates
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    if interested in purchasing advertisements.

    Triad Deadline Change
    One-Time Occurrence!

    The Triad Contest deadline has been moved to July 1, 2003. Typically the deadline is in August but due to the joint WFOP/WRWA conference which will be held in September instead of the normal October date, the deadline was changed. This is a one-time occurrence.

    Winners will be announced at the joint Fall conference.
    Museletter Poetry Page

    Truths We Don’t Discuss - Secrets We Don’t Mention

    IN THE SILENCE

    My mother hushed me,
    “Never ask your father about the war.”
    Though silence settled over this subject
    once in awhile he’d tell us tales
    of his travels as a Marine
    of the aurora borealis
    waving, crackling over Iceland
    Of the exotic Solomon Islands,
    Guadalcanal in the Coral Sea
    Of the jungles of Okinawa
    where he rested on a massive log
    and leaped off
    when it began to creep away
    with its tremendous reptilian legs
    But I knew of his unspoken terror
    as he flicked the television channel
    fleeing from war movies
    He must have forgotten
    the unspoken stories
    when he now writes to me,
    “They should be bombed
    every day for a year!”
    He must not have seen
    the magazine photo of the young girl
    held by the veiled woman
    the child with frightened, dark eyes
    those eyes, the same deep brown
    as those of his grandchildren

               —Diana Randolph, Drummond

     

    SACRED SECRETS

    Keep one hand
    in the pocket of your soul.
    Some things
    cannot be taken
    and should never be given.

               —Camille Wade Maurice, Wausaukee

     

    ***/march/

    it is winter still
    the choices we had made in good faith
    have returned to mock us
    our roots tangled and dead in the frozen earth
    we stand apart
    waiting for the first spring
    storm

               —Cathy Singleton, Boulder Junction

     

    SILENT BONES

    The snow buries childhood secrets;
    they lie mute in winter’s grip.
    Locked in ice, the quiet earth offers rest.
    Under this frozen landscape,
    they are as silent as bones
    asleep inside a voiceless memory.
    The earth holds these dark layers
    until the burning sun exposes ashes
    still too hot to own.

               —Susan Kileen, Whitewater

     

    SECRETS OF A WEREWOLF’S WIFE

    She watches the calendar carefully and
    for any traces of blood under his finger
    nails. She has learned not to question
    where he goes at night, the tears in his
    clothes nor why the bedroom window can
    never be locked closed. But, she too has
    secrets. In bed when she pulls her arm out
    from under his waist, it is a large, lifeless
    snake. Her thoughts at dawn are geese
    honking south. And sometimes, when she
    knows they are hunting for him with guns,
    she becomes the moon.

               —John Lehman, Cambridge

    PEA SOUP

    Lately, I have begun to eat peas—
    sugar snaps, peas with pearl onions, petits pois
    in salads, creamed new potatoes and peas.
    I have picked peas from gardens, unzipped them
    and thumbed out the small spheres.
    But my first night in Paris I gagged
    over the hotel’s version of split pea soup.
    It brought back the acrid odor of peas blackened
    to the bottom of a pan. Father cursing Mother.
    They had been drinking in the backyard.
    Six-year-old sister and I fled the foul fumes,
    walked and cried around the block. They called us back
    to a stench that lasted thirty more years.

               —Connie Sanderson, Eastman

     

    BIRTHRIGHT

    She gazes at opaque shadows of passersby,
    dim silhouettes in the dappled glass of a mall window,
    clashing like history in a collage of silent movie clips:
    solemn marchers on foggy mornings
    outside her childhood home,
    flickering TV images in black and white—
    black and white children on school steps
    squeezing tight their mothers’ hands
    like the small boy beside her,
    reaching high above his head,
    clasping her little finger.
    Last night while she read to him
    his tiny fingers poked the back of her hand
    to see the pink fade and return,
    reminding her of her dream
    of a colorblind future:
    she will sit with him on the couch
    to explain how their hands first met,
    douse the words that daily scorch his brain,
    color the blanks in the history books...
    He lets go of her finger.
    She turns from the hazy reflection
    too late to stop him toddle from her side
    and grasp another woman’s hand—
    a hand as dark as his own.

               —Bill McConnell, Verona

     

    WHAT WENT WRONG

    Was my grandfather drinking
    And my grandmother nagging him
    And letting her kids know
    She’d leave him if she could
    And my other grandma
    Weeping that no one would help her
    And my other grandpa
    Traveling as much as he could
    And your granddad dying
    In the flu epidemic
    Leaving your mom
    Half-orphaned at twelve
    And your other grandparents
    Like my first; your dad
    Raised to be good and sober
    Who never spoke; my dad
    Who walked out one day
    On all of us, my mom
    Who never said a word about it.
    Your mom, who never shut up.
    How you learned not to listen.
    How I learned not to talk.

               —Robin Chapman, Madison
                   Previously published in Beloit Poetry Journal

    Theme for Summer issue:
    Revelations on the Road—
    What the Postcard Didn’t Say
    Poems by Our Membership
    Please indicate when submitting to Shoshauna if you wish your work to appear here as well as in the print version of the Museletter – separate permission is needed to publish online. Past contributors are welcome to notify the webmaster at     demiurge@fibitz.com in order to have their poems posted on this site.

    Shoshauna Shy, Editor
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    Madison, WI 53703
    (please include SASE)

    or e-mail: sschey@facstaff.wisc.edu
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