Celebrate Michigan Poetry In Lansing

The 5th Annual Michigan Poetry Festival, sponosred by the Poetry Resource Center of Michigan, will be a celebration with poetry readings and workshops, music and film, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 19-21, in the Plaza Hotel, facing the State Capitol in Downtown Lansing. Nationallyknown Michigan poets Steve Chennault, Stuart Dybek, Claire McAllister, Linda Parker, George Tysh, and John Woods will be the featured readers.

In addition to the featured poets, the Festival will present "New Voices," a program of promising Michigan poets reading their work for the first time before a statewide audience, and other open readings will take place on Friday and Saturday. Chris Tysh will conduct a translation workshop, and Attorney Diane Soubly will lead a session on copyright law. The Festival will offer manuscript workshops, a book ale, and films on poets Anne Sexton, William Carlos Williams, Frank O'Hara and Ed Sanders. A complimentary Wine & Cheese Party will follow Friday night's program of readings and music.

The Festival is a unique opportunity for interaction between diverse members of Michigan's poetry community, a chance to hear new work and to meet others who are active in poetry.

The Festival fee for paid members of the Poetry Resource Center is $10. Others may register for $20, which includes a 1981 membership and subscription to the PRC's monthly newsletter and calendar. Senior citizens and students may deduct $5 from these prices. Hotel accommodations can be arranged hrough the PRC at reduced rates. The Michigan Poetry Festival is open to everyone. For a detailed schedule and registration form, contact the Poetry Resource Center of Michigan, Box 1322, Southfield, MI 48075. Registration is also possible on the first day of the Festival, Friday, June 19, from 3-5 p.m.

Contact persons: Henrietta Epstein, PRC President, (313) 577-8290 and Leonard Kniffel, PRC Vice-President, (313) 833-1474 (Detroit Public Library)..

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POETRY

Send your poetry to: Poetry, METRA MAGAZINE, Ferndale Center Bldg, 22750 Woodward, Suite 310, Ferndale, MI 48220. No poems will be returned! Please send in all poetry typed or printed neatly. Make copies of poetry, submissions cannot be returned.

HALF-FILLED BED

I lie here and look at my half-filled bed. Won't anyone come tonite to lay down their head? If just tonite, you'll pretend

we're in love.

Just come and fill me the worn out glove. Just come please, please don't make me plead. I'm only asking relief for my physical need.

I won't try to hold you

I can't hold myself. Just come use me,

Put me back on the shelf.

I sit here and stare.

at my empty gray chair. Won't anyone come and converse with me there? Just come sit, and drink coffee with me. What happens then on is for us to see.

I lie here and look at

my half-filled bed.

If it stays this way I'd rather be dead.

By Karen Ryan

FENCES

We build up fences And follow the fold

Do you know how hard it is to do what we're told?

One person by day

And yet another by night

One to our family But, which one is right? Femme in the office Mr. Macho at the shop Nine-to-five cover-ups When do they stop?

Asking a favor

To take a "suitable" date A "dodge" to the family A game. Don't you hate? Be cool in the bars Attempting to score

To find a warm bedmate Or do you want more? Can't get too serious That's what it's about Besides if I like them What will I find out?

I may hit if off and

Find a person who cares Be happy and loved

Now who wants those wares?

I will wait here,

While you are gone;

Wondering, now and then, About you and hoping You are doing well. Patiently waiting, yet Not interfering in what You believe you have to do. I'll think of running after you. But it is you who is lost And finding you would Not be finding you, You must find yourself. So I will wait here, Patiently and hope that When you discover who You are, you will still Be apart of me. By J.A.K.

You called to say hello And to say that you were fine And you hoped you hadn't hurt me. But you needed time to think. You were going far away To find a direction for your life And hoped I'd, too, be happy Even though we'd be apart. You'll be back in time, you knew, And maybe then we'll talk again. Please take care of our babies And remember your last words. You called to say good-bye. By J.A.K.

My "other" lifes will notice No longer a loner, happy is me All because I found a mate There's a problem you see? The fences I've built Are much higher you see Then the good I can feel If I just let me be.

By Joel

I LOVE YOU

I know I love you.

I don't know which one of us Those words scare the most. Pain is loving a objecting object.

By M.S.

THEY

THEY tell me I'm sick THEY shove me away THEY are my "brothers" Like me they are gay THEY want me for sex THEY need to be free THEY too fear the future Why do they laugh at me?

THEY scoff at my love THEY search for the same THEY condemn my feelings Why slander my name? THEY work for their fortunes THEY frequent one place THEY won't carry placards Yet they spit in my face. THEY take away my lovers THEY destroy my mate THEY punish my pride But they I cannot hate THEY are the mis-guided THEY have not "come-out" THEY 'support the very reasons That I'm all about

THEY move me to pity THEY bring on my fear THEY reinforce the idea Our destruction is near

THEY listen don't hear THEY talk don't speak THEY lust not love Oh God, are they weak

THEY really are the THEY that they fear THEY sometimes listen This time I hope they hear. By Joel

ODE TO J.A.K.

Yes, this is an Ode to J.A.K.

Whose poetry has often made my day. Many a time I read J's words

And it was as if my feelings were heard By this someone I don't even know

Who pulled out of my soul what I couldn't show I'm sure there are others who feel as I do So on everyone's behalf, J.A.K., I thank you

By Lucle Mathieu

EVER AFTER

Look behind my stone grey eyes Peer into my soul

But don't be so surprised

When you find that it's cold

You find that I intrigue you

With my wicked, twisted mind

My favorite colors, black and blue So don't step out of line

The leather pants, the vest, the shirt Fit my body just like a glove The whip you see is gonna hurt Which you will soon learn to love You cower down at my feet And beg to be let go Oh no, no no, oh no my sweet Cause you're part of this show

The screams you hear will be your own As they mix with my laughter

And the pain you feel down to your bones Will linger ever after

By Lucie Mathieu

SPECIAL LADY

Never written a poem about women before, never found one worthy of my words. But now I find things I must say, things that must be heard.

Somehow let you know how I feel for you friendship,

respect,

Yes, even love.

I'm not sure that you knew.

I want to make you feel the way I know that no man can.

Love you with my mind, my heart, my lips, my hands.

Your eyes reflect a lonely, lovely pain

I wish that I could fill.

Share your dreams, your hopes, your fears, but I know I never will. And yet I hope you find the love your longing for, these are things I had to say that couldn't be ignored. by Karen Ryan

THE PROBLEM

I don't think I'll call you tonight.

I think I'll take on another activity and Lose myself in busy-ness.

You're beginning to mean too much to me. And I still don't know how to handle that.

I don't know how to lose you.

That's part of the problem.

I don't know how to win either. That's the other part.

By Michael

What is it about you Morgan

That makes me want to bite your ear

Is it the way you nuzzle me Or the nasty way you sneer? You're such a klutzy little bitch We've got to keep you penned And though you often need a bath You're still a sweet old friend

by Lucie Mathieu

SET ME FREE

Death will be my birth

my home will be

the earth

my mother is the ground

from whence my dust was found I'll no longer see the sky

or have to wonder why

for peace will come

to me

when death does set me free

by Karen Ryan

LET ME BE

Let me be

A person who Loves another As I do

Let me be A spirit free Roaming a place

Just to be

Let me be

Human without guilt Facing a life

I have built

Let me be

With someone dear Sharing a life Without a fear

Let me be

Your family members. Nuturing the love My past remembers

Let me be

A unit whole

Developing a life With a mutual soul

Let me be Able to walk Arm-in-arm when You won't gawk

Let me be

Gentle and kind

Loving ahead, not Looking behind.

Let me be

Capable to caress Another like me Who wears a dress

Let me be

All that I plan Caring for someone Who is also a man

Let me be

What I feel inside Someone of beauty With nothing to hide

Let me be

What I discover A feeling, warm and Compassionate lover

Let me be

Together and one Having the right To walk in the sun

Let me be

As I always pray "God, give me strength

to be free and gay."

By Joel