Poetry Society of Indiana 39th Annual Fall Rendezvous Poetry Contest 2017 Winners List!

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered the Poetry Society of Indiana's 39th Annual Fall Rendezvous Poetry Contest 2017. Indiana Voice Journal was proud to be a part of this amazing contest, and we look forward to participating next year as well.The anthology, Ink to Paper is available here: Amazon

Issue #19 Special Edition~From the Heart of Cape Town, South Africa: Poets Respond to Visual Artist "Shameeg van Schalkwyk"

Indiana Voice Journal

Issue #19

February 15, 2016

"Deforestation" by Shameeg van Schalkwyk

Welcome to this Special Ekphrastic Edition of Indiana Voice Journal. This issue was inspired by an introduction to self-taught visual artist Shameeg van Schalkwyk through a mutual friend and poet, Don Beukes.

Shameeg is an impressive young artist living in an oppressed, gang-riddled area on the Cape Flats in South Africa. His dream is to study art, and to learn techniques and terminology from a professional mentor or attend art school. In Shameeg's own words, "I want to make people smile when they look at my work, and I want to teach other young people who are interested in art."

I invited a teacher from the area, Jacquelyn Kruger, to share what it's like educating children on the Cape Flats. She generously responded with a personal essay about the challenges and the rewards of teaching, while providing insight into daily life on the Capes.

The poets appearing in this issue were each sent a variety of Shameeg's paintings, given a very short deadline, and an invitation to respond. I'd like to thank each one of them for rising to the challenge and responding in such a powerful way.  Those invited include: David Allen, Elizabeth Brooks, Don Beukes, Scott Thomas Outlar, and Bruce Owens.

My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone participating, reading, and sharing in this issue.

~Janine Pickett, Editor

Introducing Visual Artist Shameeg van Schalkwyk

An Essay by Jacqueline Kruger: "Teaching on the Cape Flats"

Poet David Allen Responds to "Deforestation"

Poet Elizabeth Brooks Responds to "Image Defined"

Poet Don Beukes Responds to "Entangled"

Poet Scott Thomas Outlar Responds To  "Crown of Water" and  "Talking to the Moon"

Poet Bruce Owens Responds To: "Talking To The Moon"

Poet Janine Pickett Responds To: "Distress"

INDIANA VOICE JOURNAL "OUT OF THE SHADOWS" SPECIAL ISSUE #2

NOMADIC EXISTENCE BY HELEN HILL

 

This issue is dedicated to the homeless, the hungry, and the people who feed them...

With Special Thanks to Eric Hill, Helen Hill and Robert Rivera, a team of NYC street photographers who have a passion for bringing social injustice out of the shadows and into the light.

Special Thanks to Allen Forrest for the use of his paintings from the Fairtrade Coffee Series.

~FEATURED CONTENT~

Click the links...  

POETRY

"NIGHTWATCH" A LYRIC POEM WITH MUSIC AND VIDEO BY DB COX

"ONEIRIC ALMS" BY SUDHA SRIVATSAN

"A VOICE TOUCHING, REMNANTS, A SPIRIT NOT YET HOME" BY TOM SHEEHAN 

"ON A CALL WITH DEATH, THE BOY WHO SOLD BALLOONS, THE HOMELESS MAN" BY PRERNA BAKSHI

"POVERTY, IT CAN BE BETTER, CARLTON, CLEANING HOUSE" BY ERIC HILL

HISTORICAL POEM "THE GREAT WHITE CITY" BY LYDIA FENWICK PATTERSON

 (An unpublished poem written by my Great-Great Grandmother in 1921)

CREATIVE NONFICTION/ESSAYS

NONFICTION AND ART: FAIRTRADE NEWS "WOMEN IN COFFEE PROJECT" WITH VISUAL ART BY ALLEN FORREST

ESSAY: "THE CONUNDRUM OF POVERTY" BY RAYMOND GREINER

ESSAY: "WESTERN PULPS AND SIMILAR MAGAZINES OF DEPRESSION HUNGERS" BY TOM SHEEHAN 

FICTION

 "AS THE CROWS FLY" BY NANCY LANE

 "OBTAINING MERCY" BY DB COX

 "WHEEL OF LIFE" BY JAMES LAWLESS

PHOTOGRAPHY

 NEW YORK CITY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BY HELEN HILL
 

NEW YORK CITY "STREET LIFE" PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT RIVERA

NEW YORK CITY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY AND FLASH FICTION "I AM NOBODY" BY ERIC HILL

A POEM WITH MUSIC BY DB COX: NIGHTWATCH

DB Cox is a blues musician/writer from South Carolina. His poems and short stories have been published extensively in the small press, in the US, and abroad.  His first collection of short stories called “Unaccustomed Mercy,” published by Studio Books, is available at the Amazon Kindle Store. To hear the poem set to music scroll to the end.

POEM: "ONEIRIC ALMS" BY SUDHA SRIVATSAN

 
Born and raised in India. Worked in Middle East and London. Daughter, wife and sister, aspiring to be known in the space of poetry as someone who weaves magic into language and combines unique design and strong color to her work of art.  

In this issue: Oneiric Alms
 

3 POEMS BY TOM SHEEHAN: A VOICE TOUCHING, REMNANTS, A SPIRIT NOT YET HOME

Sheehan served with 31^st Infantry, Korea 1951 and graduated from Boston College, 1956. Poetry books include Ah, Devon Unbowed; The Saugus Book; Reflections from Vinegar Hill; and This Rare Earth & Other Flights. Korean Echoes nominated for Distinguished Military Award and The Westering, 2012, nominated  National Book Award, and 26 Pushcart nominations.




A Voice Touching (appeared in The Cenacle, 2011)

Remnants (an earlier version appeared in River Poets Journal, 2009)

A Spirit Not yet Home (an earlier version appeared in my collection, Ah, Devon Unbowed, 1978

 

A Voice Touching

A drunk startles me

from a doorway.

3 POEMS BY PRERNA BAKSHI: ON A CALL WITH DEATH, THE BOY WHO SOLD BALLOONS, THE HOMELESS MAN

Prerna Bakshi is a sociolinguist, research scholar and writer of Indian origin, currently based in Macao.  She has contributed essays and articles to a variety of publications including The Hindu, CounterCurrents, Amar Ujala, and Desh Bandhu to name a few.  Her poetry has been published in peer reviewed journals such as Muse India and is forthcoming in several publications.  

4 POEMS: "POVERTY, IT CAN BE BETTER, CLEANING HOUSE, CARLTON" BY ERIC HILL

Eric Hill, born in Washington DC, was first photographed among the cherry blossoms. This, no doubt, forms the basis for his colorful politics and a life long pursuit of cherry pie. That his Grandfather was a minister, no doubt explains, his intense desire to find another way to God than Religion. His writing comes from his profound need to get this crazy stuff out of his head.

He has published with Black Wire,  Indiana Voice Journal, Rain/Disaster/Party, Ijagun Poetry Journal and Behhutet.

His photography can be found throughout this issue of IVJ.

HISTORICAL POEM: "THE GREAT WHITE CITY" BY LYDIA FENWICK PATTERSON CIRCA 1921

Lydia Fenwick Patterson

Lydia Fenwick Patterson 1872-1944 wrote poetry. Her writings were found in a suitcase in an attic by family members. The pages were fashioned together as scrolls using loose leaf papers and straight pins. I am publishing her poem written in 1921, and never before published until today, because it still rings true. It is relevant. The entangled arms of poverty and oppression do not discriminate, and within that grasp are people from every walk of life. I read this poem and immediately thought of Wall Street while viewing pictures of humanity sleeping on the sidewalks and in the shadows of our great cities.  Lydia was my great-great-great grandmother, and as I transcribe some of her poetry that was destined for the trash bin, the questions arise...How many other startling or important voices of our past have been lost, thrown out with the trash, dismissed as ravings, left undiscovered in attics and basements? What a pleasure to learn my grandmother wrote poetry, and to hear her speak from the grave on a topic I am so passionate about! I left this poem as I found it... In her words, and completely unedited.~Janine Pickett  

NONFICTION AND ART: FAIRTRADE NEWS "WOMEN IN COFFEE PROJECT" VISUAL ART BY ALLEN FORREST

©Allen Forrest

Why Fair Trade?
Fair Trade provides artisans with an opportunity to earn vital income and improve their quality of life by establishing a sustainable market for their handcrafted products. Fair Trade looks to create positive and long-term impact for artisans and farmers while delivering great products to the public. When you choose to purchase Fair Trade products, you are endorsing an economic system that provides opportunities for producers to lift themselves out of poverty. Fair Trade provides assurances to consumers that producers are paid fair prices for their products and labor. In addition, Fair Trade provides a set of requirements that assure consumers that strict standards have been met to protect the environment, build economic sustainability, empower women, and allow opportunities for education, poverty alleviation, and health care. 

Today, more than 1.3 million people - farmers and workers - across more than 70 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.

ESSAY: "THE CONUNDRUM OF POVERTY" BY RAYMOND GREINER

Raymond Greiner's writings include short stories and essays published frequently in various literary journals and magazines:  Branches magazine, La Joie Journal, Literary Yard Journal, Nib Magazine, Canary Literary Journal, Bellesprit Magazine, Freedom Journal, Grace Notes Literary Magazine. His book, a collection of fiction and nonfiction essays titled Hinterland Journal was recently published by Outskirts Press. Raymond lives in a remote area of southern Indiana in a cabin far off a lightly traveled road with his two dogs Orion and Venus. He is a frequent contributor to Indiana Voice Journal.

ESSAY: "WESTERN PULPS AND SIMILAR MAGAZINES OF DEPRESSION HUNGERS" BY TOM SHEEHAN

Sheehan served with 31^st Infantry, Korea 1951 and graduated from Boston College, 1956. Poetry books include Ah, Devon Unbowed; The Saugus Book; Reflections from Vinegar Hill; and This Rare Earth & Other Flights. Korean Echoes nominated for Distinguished Military Award and The Westering, 2012, nominated  National Book Award, and 26 Pushcart nominations.

FICTION: "AS THE CROWS FLY" BY NANCY LANE

 Nancy Lane lives in Portland, Oregon and frequently participates in a women’s writing group, “Tuesday Morning Writers.” Nancy writes short fiction and essays, focusing on good people and positive themes. 

Another story written by Nancy, "Tales Of Meander" appears in the February 2015 issue of IVJ.


 

As the Crows Fly

“Miss, Miss,” I turned to see if somebody was addressing me. An old man waved his hand as he looked my way.

FICTION: "OBTAINING MERCY" BY DB COX

DB Cox is a blues musician/writer from South Carolina. His poems and short stories have been published extensively in the small press, in the US, and abroad.  His first collection of short stories called “Unaccustomed Mercy,” published by Studio Books, is available at the Amazon Kindle Store.

His poetry is also featured in this issue of IVJ.


Obtaining Mercy

Arthur Nagel is an ugly, little man. He stands barely four feet tall, and his head

is much too big for his body. The muscles on the left side of his face are totally

FICTION: "WHEEL OF LIFE" BY JAMES LAWLESS

James Lawless, a north American English teacher, is a former coeditor of an underground college newspaper, a history graduate from a foreign university and a published author. He's currently living near Milan Italy.

 

Wheel of Life 

 
     It’s early morning. We’re in bed. The room is dark and the house is cold. My wife begins to stir beneath the flannel sheets. “Please don’t take your body heater away,” I say while burying my sleepy head in the pillow.

NEW YORK CITY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BY HELEN HILL

"It's all about the Beauty of Light...I still prefer working with the Imperfections of Film." ~Helen Hill

Helen Hill is a street photographer living in NYC. Her work is featured below, and can be seen in the following publications: 

Feb 2012: Group Exhibition Huesca Spain featuring 111 Photographers from around the World visually Interpreting the Literary texts of Ramon J Sender’s book ‘Memorias Biestas’ to mark his 111th anniversary of his birth.

Aug 2012: Featured in Erik Kim’s Street Photography Blog / Ms Helen Hill: Mise -en-scene

 Jan 2013:  Featured in ‘Leica Myself’ Book

March 2014:  Featured in ‘Buffalo Almanack’ Magazine

NEW YORK CITY "STREET LIFE" PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT RIVERA

Robert Rivera lives in the Bronx, writes poetry, and captures life on the streets as it happens.

"When I was young I held a gun and thought: I can point and shoot to kill. But then I held a camera, and thought: Hell yeah! I can point and shoot to thrill. My mother birthed and raised me where hip hop was born. I finished high school and it pays well. Then I went to college and "i" pay well. ....Hahaha. 
When it comes to shooting, I aim to wow myself before I wow anyone else. I enjoy shooting different themes. People have different tastes and to vary in subjects keeps me open minded and creative" Photographs were taken with an iPod5. ~Robert Rivera

You can see more of his work at the following link:  https://instagram.com/boogieblam/

NEW YORK CITY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY AND FLASH FICTION "I AM NOBODY" BY ERIC HILL

Eric Hill, born in Washington DC, was first photographed among the cherry blossoms. This, no doubt, forms the basis for his colorful politics and a life long pursuit of cherry pie. That his Grandfather was a minister, no doubt explains, his intense desire to find another way to God than Religion. His writing comes from his profound need to get this crazy stuff out of his head.

He has published with Black Wire,  Indiana Voice Journal, Rain/Disaster/Party, Ijagun Poetry Journal and Behhutet.

Eric is also a street photographer in New York City.  Featured here are some of his photographs.


To see more of Eric's work:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/erichill418/

INDIANA VOICE JOURNAL SPECIAL POETRY ISSUE

Wiki Commons PD Derivative by IVJ

 

 "THE HEART OF THE POET"

OCTOBER 18, 2014

 This "surprise" issue of Indiana Voice Journal was born through a sense of wonder, astonishment, prayer, and the powerful reality of "something more..."

The poems in this issue carry light.

 ~Janine Pickett, Founding Editor, IVJ

                  

                                                                  

FEATURED AUTHORS... 

in alphabetical order

~links to quick content~ 

 

  HOWARD DEBS

 DARREN DEMAREE

 NEIL ELLMAN 

JOHN GREY

  BELINDA HUBERT

 

LOWELL JAEGER

  WILLIAM KECKLER

  CRAIG KURTZ

  DAMON FERRELL MARBUT

 HEATHER ROSE

 TOM SHEEHAN

 AM SPENCE


~Or Scroll To Browse~

POETRY BY HOWARD DEBS

 Howard Richard Debs received a University of Colorado Poetry Prize at age 19; after spending the past 50 years in the field of communications with recognitions including a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Educational Press Association of America, he has recently resumed his literary pursuits, and his latest work appears or is forthcoming in The Germ, Calliope, Big River Poetry Review, Jewish Currents, Poetica Magazine, Misfitmagazine, Eclectica Magazine, Star 82 Review, The Review Review, China Grove, Belle Reve Literary Journal, Verse-Virtual, Dialogual, Sediments Literary-Arts Journal, and Piecemeal Review. His background in photography goes back many years, both creative and technical, having been involved in management with the notable Wollensak Optical Company and his photography will be found in select publications. Chicago born and bred, he now lives in sunny South Florida with his wife of 49 years, where they spend considerable time spoiling their 4 grandchildren..

http://communicatorsandcommunications.com/