Rock Your Rhymes! Mark Your Calendars For Our 1st Inaugural Poetry & Spoken Word Conference

SIT IN WHERE YOU FIT IN!

Whether you "spit" Spoken Word or are creatively inclined to write in rhymes, Poets United invites you to join us for an exciting event, in celebration of National Poetry Month.

According to the National Arts Endowment, poetry is more popular than ever before, with readership practically doubling in recent years.
It cites that “Poetry readers in the United states has nearly doubled from 6.7% in 2012 to nearly 12% in 2017.”
With this growing trend comes the opportunity for poets to share our passion and personal stories with new, broader audiences and experience greater levels of interest, appreciation and engagement.

Slated for April, 2020

ROCK YOUR RHYMES! WILL INCLUDE: 

• FEATURED POETS, SPEAKERS & SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS
• WORKSHOPS TO HELP YOU "PIMP" YOUR POETRY AND EARN EXTRA CASH
• PUBLISHING RESOURCES
• NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
• REFRESHMENTS
• SWAG BAGS FOR ATTENDEES 
• VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES
• OPEN MIC 

More details (and a specific date) will be announced shortly.

We hope to see you soon!

Happy Holiday Season!

From our door to yours, wishing you a blessed and bountiful holiday season.
We thank you for your past contributions and support.


We look forward to sharing more poetry, workshops, book signings, blog posts, quality literature, book reviews and fun events in 2020!

Joyfully,

POETS UNITED TO ADVANCE THE ARTS

Image credit: Pixabay.com

Poem of the Month* By Evelyn Cogdell

Above and Beyond

Set your sights on high, You’ve got to go for the goal
Focus on the next level, Put your best foot forward
You’ve got to go above and beyond
Nothing was ever accomplished by sitting on your assets
Nor by resting on your laurels
You will never be handed a silver platter, Or earn a gold medal
Until you go above and beyond
Find your niche in life, Find your true calling
Reach for it with all your heart, Pour all your energy into it
Make them stand up and take notice
You’ve got to go above and beyond
What you thought you couldn’t achieve
Never let it be said, He didn’t go for it
Or she didn’t make it
Allow yourself the freedom to soar to new heights
Go above and beyond the average
Never settle for mediocrity
‘Cause once you do, you’ll never live it down
Don’t let them ridicule you, instead make them proud
Let them see how awesome you really can be
Go above and beyond what is normal
Be all the Creator intended
And, never let it be said
You didn’t try


BIO:

Evelyn Cogdell is a poet, educational consultant and cookbook author residing in Chicago.

Driving Cars* A Book Review by Deborah Taylor

Driving Cars: Poems about Getting Here, There and Everywhere, in Automobiles

(A Highland Park Poetry Publication) 2019 – 66 pages

Edited by Jennifer Dotson and Mary Beth Bretzlauf

Review by Deborah Taylor

Driving Cars…is a delightful and dynamic collection of poems by a diverse, talented group of poets. It is a truly compelling and engaging read. From the 3-line haiku to the much longer pieces, there is a plethora of poems for everyone to appreciate and enjoy.

The themes are symbolic of mobility; freedom; short and long journeys; shared via or associated with automobiles. Poems depict many twists and turns and the highs and lows people experience as they navigate the highways, byways, and crossroads of life. The book contains four sections: Tune Ups; Foreign or Domestic; Road Trip; and Memory Lane. It was fun leisurely reading a section at a time and savoring each, before proceeding to the next one.

I was most fascinated with the cover, before ever opening the book. Special compliments to John Adorjan, photographer, for his exquisite images of fabulous cars that graced the front and back cover of the book. His photographic artistry (including beautiful scenic backdrops) is show stopping in its own right. While the poems portray experiences with automobiles and actual road trips, they ultimately represent real human stories, precious memories, true passions, cultural patterns, navigational challenges, and the sentimental journeys in people’s lives.

Driving Cars…is a poetic treasure that successfully captures the beauty and excitement of automobile enthusiasts and others; as they collectively journey down long and winding roads of life together.

Poets include: Emma Alexandra, Herb Berman, Mary Beth Bretzlauf, William Carey, Tricia
Marcella Cimera, Gail Denham, Charlotte Digregorio, Jennifer Dotson, Michael Escoubas,
Mike Freveletti, Kathleen Gregg, Kate Hutchinson, Annie Jenkin, Tricia Knoll, Chuck Kramer,
Candace Kubinec, Kerry Ann Leaf, Lennart Lundh, Radomir Vojtech Luza, Bonnie J. Manion,
Dave Marcus, Joan McNerny, Mikki Mendolsohn, Khalid Mukhtar, Lakshmy M. Nair, Jen “Pen”
Richards, Marjorie Rissman, Donna L. Ritter, Barbara Robinette, Joris Soeding, Jacqueline
Stearns, Maggie Stewart, Merle Tovian, Sylvia Riojas Vaughn, Curt Vevang, Lynn White,
Neurine Wiggin, Michael M. Wright, R. M. Yager, and Mantz York.
To learn more about Highland Park Poetry visit:
http://www.highlandparkpoetry.org/

Reviewer's Bio:
Deborah Taylor is a former Chicago librarian, teacher and avid reader.
Taylor is a member of Poets United to Advance the Arts.

Highland Park Highlights!

 

Despite traveling for over an hour in rain seemingly of biblical proportions, the evening was wonderful!
When we finally arrived after a few unexpected detours, Poets United was greeted with a very warm reception from cool poets of varying backgrounds, styles of expressions and experiences.
The decor was lovely and the desserts were a delight!
Even the Cafe staff made us feel very welcome.
Each poet read 3-4 poems and there was an open mic that followed.

We also received copies of some great poetry books as complimentary gifts.
A special thanks to all those who came out and made the event a success.
These photos capture the essence of the evening.

 

 

 

Poets United to Perform in Highland Park

We hope you'll join us as we present "Fall Back to Poetry"...an event that features Poets United, along with stimulating conversation, good food and good vibes!
There will also be an Open-Mic to top off the evening, where fellow poets can share their creative expressions. 

DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

 

OCTOBER 26, 2019

7:00 P.M.

THAT LITTLE FRENCH GUY CAFE

1791 ST. JOHN'S AVENUE

HIGHLAND PARK, IL

DONATION $5.00 (INCLUDES PASTRY)

Poetry Review- A Tiny Drop* By Madeline Morgan

A Tiny Drop is a collection of positive, spiritual, inspirational pieces written by Chicago-based poet, Madeline Morgan.

Her work is insightful, timely and thought-provoking. Even folks who are not avid poetry fans would find a selection or two that would "speak" to them personally, as the book addresses many universal themes.

Between the pages you'll find poems that will make you laugh, nod, reflect and even say amen!
Morgan describes herself as a "poet, word nerd, speaker and author."

Also to her credit is her ability to "perform" her work with equal passion and engagement; as I have had the pleasure of seeing her recite at several open mic forums over the years.

My favorite poems in the book are "A Tiny Drop" and "If Money is Your Problem you Have no Problem."

This book is definitely worth a read! I give it **** 4 stars out of 5.
To learn more about Madeline and her works, visit her site at:

http://divinerhymes.blogspot.com/