Vistas

Pictures in a candle flame,

Manikins in bows and frills

Lightly dance in flickering steps

Their stately formed quadrilles.

Visions in a solar flare,

Rampant radiated power

Hurricanes of scorching wind

All worlds and lives devour.

Images in calming hues,

Crimson ribbons waft and wend

Train the mind to placid flight

Our darkest fears transcend.

Copyright©  Alan Gilbert 2012.

News of poetry competitions.

Here are some useful sites for those who like to enter competitions
 http://www.pw.org/grants?gclid=CLL6kNSv0LACFUcKfAod2imnZQ
http://www.unitedpress.co.uk/free-poetry-competitions/
http://www.poetrykit.org/comps.htm
http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/competitions/
http://www.forwardpoetry.co.uk/
http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/competitions/

Avalon

I long for you and Avalon

Beloved nirvana born of dreams,

In blessed reverie we'll walk

Her verdant woods

By chattering streams.

Across the lilac scented field

Toward the lake where catkins grow,

And Avalon will be our world

The deepest joy

We'll ever know.

I long to spend the sultry nights

In prurient or soulful need,

Each gentle, sensual caress 

Will voice our

Amatory creed.

There are in life uncertain stars

Whose course is never ours to know,

But we have sworn by Avalon

Our cherished love

Will thrive and grow.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2012.

Tools for poets

Here are some links to useful tools for poets.


Rhyming dictionary.
http://www.rhymezone.com/

General resource site with many useful links
http://www.poetry.org/default.htm

Dictionary and thesaurus.
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/
http://thesaurus.babylon.com/hat

Syllable/word counter.
http://www.wordcalc.com/

Poetry form and structure.
http://www.poetry-online.org/poetry-terms.htm

Free copyrighting service. 
http://myfreecopyright.com/

A free and very good writing application that has served me well.
http://evernote.com/

Poetry websites.

Here are some places to find lots of poetry.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/
http://plazapoetry.com/
http://bygosh.com/poems/index.htm
http://maryourmother.net/Poetry.html
http://www.pw.org/magazine
http://www.strangehorizons.com/

.Publish your work.

Useful links for those who may be thinking of self publishing their work.

http://www.ehow.com/how_107987_self-publish-book.html
http://www.iuniverse.com/
http://www.lulu.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-publishing
http://dogearpublishing.net/the-competition.php


Other self publishing houses are available.
To have your work published in periodicals, magazines etc. This site is a good place to start.
https://duotrope.com/
http://www.poemhunter.com/

Green Willow Haiku.

Weep willowy tears

Spilt innocence in amber,

Gracing bounteous yield.

Copyright© Alan Gilbert 2012.