Collaborative Poetry Across Borders
It's no secret we are living in a challenging time. But during challenges, we rise to the occasion. Poetic Bridges is a new project from Local Gems Press aiming to show international solidarity through poetry and creativity across borders. The project aims to put together several collaborative collections of verse by poets from America and other countries.
Collaborative Poems
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How To Participate
Each poet will be paired with another poet from the alternative country. Everyone will be writing 2 verses of a poem.
Step 1:
Write the first verse of a poem, up to 6 lines and enter it in the form below along with all the other requested information.
Step 2:
You will get an email with the first verse of a poem from your partner poet.
Write the second stanza of their poem, also up to 6 lines--they will do the same with your poem.
Step 3:
After step 2, we should have 2 completed collaborative poems, and we all get to enjoy the results.
Each poet will be paired with another poet from the alternative country. Everyone will be writing 2 verses of a poem.
Step 1:
Write the first verse of a poem, up to 6 lines and enter it in the form below along with all the other requested information.
Step 2:
You will get an email with the first verse of a poem from your partner poet.
Write the second stanza of their poem, also up to 6 lines--they will do the same with your poem.
Step 3:
After step 2, we should have 2 completed collaborative poems, and we all get to enjoy the results.
Please Fill Out The Form On The Right
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Poetic Bridges Progress
Leading up to the completed anthology, we will be posting some examples of the completed collaborations below! We've had some great work come in, and we are expecting a lot more!
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The sun engulfs us in a night with no end,
Spring beauty wasted. No lambs slaughtered, nor a shepherd in sight. Blood trickles like a compass, I guess that’s why they call it a crown. And yet the flowers are still blooming the birds are still flying, and singing the animals are still going about their business life goes on and like a pheonix from the ashes we will be reborn. ~ Ushiku Crisafulli Manchester, UK. & James P. Wagner (Ishwa) , NY, USA |
In the depth of distance
I've become familiar once again with myself one who I, in some ways had lost touch with, now remembering, the things I would do if there weren't so many things, I had to do... If you can remember your triumphs one may channel the energy of what was to inform what is. What will you be... when you remember? ~ James P. Wagner (Ishwa) , NY, USA & Ushiku Crisafulli Manchester, UK. |
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When the rains came the streets were flooded
There were no customers at all. Sam laid a path across the square Tables and chairs from her cafe. Her neighbour could now reach the doctor. Children could get to school. The baker stayed open. The waters came and went But her actions were remembered More visitors to her cafe Neighbors stopping in to return a stray chair that went missing in the flood Indulging in some extra pastries with their cuppa Building their bridge with her as the foundation ~ Rose Cullen, UK & Marc Rosen, USA |
Silent city streets
Every road devoid of life Stay the hell at home Toilet paper gone Food gone from grocery shelves Food banks emptied too Locked down in fear The door dead bolted This could be the end Or a chance to re-begin? No man an island Reach out - Help ~ Marc Rosen, USA & Rosie Cullen, UK |
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Provocative genres in conspired agendas...
The taste of old mix tapes lingering along the lips of all lovers, synched up... kiss by kiss... Thinking: we can do this... Like Sparks of the heart that one cant miss reminders of feet moving at the school hall hop catches of glances as we crossed the floor caught under moonbeams of a disco light as we danced under falling starlight - Damien Bettinger, USA & Brian F Kirkham, UK |
Like an old classroom photo
a collection of palm trees gather together by the sands overlooking a blue sea overhead tropical birds fly now looking for a place to nest a fish on a bike, climbing up towards the sky gets swung from a kite, back into the seafoam tides at home, all across the ocean, with ease and no line left besides, choppy waves, become sloppy bodies, made of stone, catching a rise. ~ Brian F. Kirkman, UK & Damien Bettinger, USA |
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The whole world has a broken heart,
a pain we all must bear, and so we reach across the seas to ease our shared despair; to bring, through words, some comfort as we say to all, “Take care.” And you must bear your brokenness, And I must bear mine, too: Your brokenness, to you, unique, And mine, too. Truth I speak: Shared empathy, sweet and rare: Healing wrought, on wings of prayer. ~ Sharon Anderson, USA & Dorinda MacDowell , UK |
And was it only yesterday,
outdoors, I saw the children play, the sun so bright, the sky so clear, no sign of dark and crippling fear? How tenuous, this thing called life, how fleeting is our joy. How quickly does disaster strike, and fearfulness deploy. ~ Dorinda MacDowell , UK & Sharon Anderson, USA |