Berks Bards Welcomes One-Minute Poem Submissions in 2021!

Record a video of yourself reading an original One-Minute Poem for broadcast through Berks Bards during the month of April on Berks Community Television (BCTV) in celebration of National Poetry Month.

There are only 22 slots available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submissions must be received no later than Wednesday March 10, 2021.

We invite those who would like to participate to reach out as early as possible and ahead of this deadline, with noted interest.

To help defray the costs of this project, Berks Bards requests a $10 donation per video.

Make checks payable to Berks Bards, or use PayPal via TinyURL.com/BerksBards (this can be through a PayPal account or just by credit card using PayPal as the payment processor). *Please include a special note in PayPal that this is for a One-Minute Poem submission.

Please make arrangements with Marilyn Klimcho at klimcho@msn.com to reserve your slot now for either a Zoom session with BCTV, an in-studio taping at BCTV, or for submission directions for a home-produced video. In the email subject, write, ''2021 One-Minute Poems submission interest."

Videos must be MP4 or MOV file types; a fully silent, well-lit room with a camera or smartphone close to the poet at the time of recording will offer the best results for preferred audio and visual quality.

Besides broadcasting and streaming live on the internet, BCTV archives these recordings on YouTube and offers an inexpensive DVD of everyone's submission.

*

Here are some examples from 2020.

Join Marissa Michel on Zoom—Thursday, February 4th, 2021, at 6 pm EST.

 

 

Join Marissa Michel on Zoom!


When: Thursday, February 4th, 2021, at 6 pm EST


Where: TinyURL.com/VirtualBard to reach us on Zoom


If required, please enter the Meeting ID 759 062 6042


And below is a sample poem from our featured poet:

 

The Perfection of Language

I sometimes confuse my grandmother's voice
With the ferocity of oceans
With the dignity of lions
With the rumble of race car engines
The way her tongue coils like a snake
Sometimes a copperhead, ready to strike
And unleash creole like rapid fire
Sometimes a boa
Creeping in the shadows
Willing to choke the air out of you just
By being in her presence
Her vocal cords must be made of steel
The way they embrace the thunder when she fills the house with sound
It is only at night
When the wind rustles the trees
When the crickets chirp in the low grass
She is quiet
She tells me she envies the smoothness of my speech
How I never trip over my words
Or get twisted in my sentences
I yearn to tell her how I envy her speech
How I wish her words did not claw and scratch and resist finding a home
behind the bars of my teeth
She mutters english words under her breath
Listens to the American TV until dawn
Carves away the sharpness in her tongue
Chisels the powerful snakes into imperfect flowers and
Labours over the perfection
Of language

 

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RETURN OF OUR POETRY OPEN MIC!

Also, we are thrilled to be bringing back our open mic, after this reading, similar but slightly differently to past in-person readings we hosted for years.

If you would like to participate in our limited open mic following the presentation by our February 2021 featured poet, please send an email to Patti Ross, Berks Bards' current host, at par.media1@gmail.com, no later than Friday, January 29, 2021, with "Berks Bards open mic" in the subject line.

Studio B: Call for Visual & Writing Entries— My Favorite Things: Beauties Are Joys Forever.

Call for Entries: Studio B in Boyertown, Berks County, Pennsylvania, is seeking poetry, prose, and art in any medium for a themed exhibit and book release entitled “My Favorite Things: Beauties Are Joys Forever.”

My Favorite Things: Whether your favorite things are “raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm woolen mittens” or, like me, the freedom I feel unleashing the “contraptions” that we impose on ourselves or the sound of my sump pump during a flash flood, we all have people, places or things that bring us relief, joy, serenity. Let us focus on those beauties in our lives to strengthen our resilience and resolve as we survive the challenges life offers.

Writers:

Tell your story(s)—in poetry or prose—recalling a trying moment(s) that turned into one of pleasure inspired by something you love or find beautiful. Please submit 1-2 pieces of poetry or prose for Studio B’s 8th book of poetry and prose: by Monday, March 1, 2021 (This date may change at gallery director’s discretion.) Please send Word docx to janeEstahl@comcast.net. Include a 2-3 sentence bio along with your submissions. A book release will be held at the opening of the art exhibit (in-person and/or virtual TBD). Date: TBD. Visit www.studiobbb.org or Studio B Art Gallery on Facebook for updates and further details.

Artists:

Show us what you love or find beautiful! To be considered for inclusion in our 8th book of poetry and prose, submit an image by Monday, March 1, 2021. In-take of 2 pieces of art for the exhibit at Studio B is planned for Tuesday, June 8, 2021, with an OPENING (in-person and/or virtual TBD). The exhibit is planned through September 12, 2021. (Studio B, 39A E Philadelphia Avenue, Boyertown, PA.) Visit www.studiobbb.org or Studio B Art Gallery on Facebook for updates and further details. (Details may change at gallery director’s discretion.)

Standards and Media: Entries must be original and never before exhibited at Studio B. Artwork must be framed, wires, and ready to hang. Gallery-wrapped canvas is accepted as a frame. No staples or tape showing. Studio B reserves the right to reject any work without question.

Sales and Terms: All items exhibited must be offered for sale. Registration fee: $35 for up to 2 entries for nonmembers; $25 for Studio B members; commission to Studio B of 35% of sales (added 5% for credit card sales). Studio B reserves the right to refuse inappropriate content, but all submissions are generally accepted into the exhibit. Entry fee is waived for artists whose work has been chosen for the book. If an entry sells, you will be contacted by e-mail and a check will follow after the close of the show. All artwork is left at the artist’s risk. Studio B and its associates are not responsible for theft or damage to artwork. Awards will be announced at the opening @6:30 p.m. Contact Susan Biebuyck with questions or to submit images of artwork for the book: 484-332-2757, suebie@ptd.net.

— Jane Stahl, Community Relations Director of Studio B
(For any initial writing submission questions, please email Jane.)

Edit: Studio B now has this information on its website as well on its Calls to Artist & Writers page.