Clarence Wiser is a poet and short story author from Rock Island, Ill. A funeral of an old friend inspired him to write this poem. Neighbors scorned the deceased's lifestyle when she was young. The title and each stanza are metaphors on the deceased and her mourners.
Sparrow to Homeland
High
Above birthright's
Common chaff,
She soared
Wayward,
Seduced by the whirlwind,
Scorned.
Today,
There's talk of love,
Loincloth pulled from ebon attic
To clothe tongue's sharp cut.
Frocked in dead winter's pall,
She lies naked
As mourners file past
chipping away lingered ice form.
And I,
I long her to reach out,
Take my hand,
And lead me from this hovering chill.
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Collins Residency 2010 limited edition print available for purchase
Online Poetry Journal ~ October 2010
The Collins Poetry Residency is established in honor of the Richard Collins family and their contributions to and encouragement of poets and poetry in the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities and the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The residency supports community-based poetry and a regional poet who resides in the six-county Quad City area (Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Scott, Clinton, Muscatine).
2010 Poet-in-Residence is Salvatore Marici of Port Byron
2010 Poet-in-Residence is Salvatore Marici of Port Byron
Contributors
- Ann Hudson
- Anne Mae Longbons
- Beryl Dov Lew
- Black Hawk Squad
- Clarence Wiser
- David McMillen
- Ellen M. Tsagaris
- Gemma Mathewson
- Joanne Wiklund
- Jodie Toohey
- John Denton
- John McBride
- Katherine M Searle
- Lindsey Wheeler
- Luke Deitrick
- Mark Walmsley
- Mary Beth Kwasek
- Mary Kae Waytenick
- Mike Bayles
- Nancy Ann Schaefer
- Paul Brooke
- Richard Stahl
- Ryan Collins
- Saverio Minervini
- Sheri Grutz
- Steve Biehler
- Trent Matthew England
- Trisha Nelson
- Wayne Sapp
- William Lavarone
Marici Letterpress Broadside Available at MWC
Collins Residency 2010 limited edition print available for purchase
Resident Poet Events
Poet-in-Residence Interview
Sunday, October 10, 1 p.m.
Art Talks with Bruce Carter
WVIK 90.3 FM
Poetry Reading
Thursday, October 14, 7 p.m.
The Independent Scholars’ Evenings
sponsored by The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, LTD
The Moline Club, 2nd Floor
513 16th Street, Moline
High School Poetry Workshop
Thursday, October 21
Black Hawk College Optional Education Program
East Moline
Poetry Reading
River Valley District Library, Port Byron
Friday, October 22, 7 p.m.
Meet MWC’s resident poet, Salvatore Marici, and hear him read from a selection of his published and emerging poetry.
Poetry Workshop: Don’t Sweat the Metaphors
Midwest Writing Center
Saturday, October 23, 1-3 p.m.
This workshop will focus on the elusive and emergent quality of metaphor using active verbs to facilitate movement and imagery. Illustrations will be shared to show how a poet may draw from metaphor without prior intent. The workshop is open to all ages. $10 members/$15 non-members
Community Poetry Reading
Midwest Writing Center
Wednesday, October 27, 7 p.m.
All poets published in the online poetry journal throughout the 2010 Collins Poetry Residency are invited to participate in a public reading of their poems. There is no charge for this event and the public is welcome.
Poetry Workshop: Poetry and Sensory Image
River Valley District Library, Port Byron
Saturday, October 30
10 a.m. to 12 noon
This workshop will focus on the construction of sensory images in poetry that engage a reader’s senses in the poem experience. The workshop is open to high school students and adults.
Sunday, October 10, 1 p.m.
Art Talks with Bruce Carter
WVIK 90.3 FM
Poetry Reading
Thursday, October 14, 7 p.m.
The Independent Scholars’ Evenings
sponsored by The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, LTD
The Moline Club, 2nd Floor
513 16th Street, Moline
High School Poetry Workshop
Thursday, October 21
Black Hawk College Optional Education Program
East Moline
Poetry Reading
River Valley District Library, Port Byron
Friday, October 22, 7 p.m.
Meet MWC’s resident poet, Salvatore Marici, and hear him read from a selection of his published and emerging poetry.
Poetry Workshop: Don’t Sweat the Metaphors
Midwest Writing Center
Saturday, October 23, 1-3 p.m.
This workshop will focus on the elusive and emergent quality of metaphor using active verbs to facilitate movement and imagery. Illustrations will be shared to show how a poet may draw from metaphor without prior intent. The workshop is open to all ages. $10 members/$15 non-members
Community Poetry Reading
Midwest Writing Center
Wednesday, October 27, 7 p.m.
All poets published in the online poetry journal throughout the 2010 Collins Poetry Residency are invited to participate in a public reading of their poems. There is no charge for this event and the public is welcome.
Poetry Workshop: Poetry and Sensory Image
River Valley District Library, Port Byron
Saturday, October 30
10 a.m. to 12 noon
This workshop will focus on the construction of sensory images in poetry that engage a reader’s senses in the poem experience. The workshop is open to high school students and adults.
Collins Residency in the News
- Salvatore Marici's poetry reading at River Valley Library
- Poetry Reading Tonight at Bucktown
- Poetry reading Oct. 22 at Port Byron library
- Poet Salvatore Marici on Art Talks
- Poet in residence program in Port Byron
- MWC releases limited edition letterpress broadside Oct. 27
- Independent Scholar's Evening Poetry of Salvatore Marici
Marici Poetry Sampler
MWC Affiliated Poets
- Ann Hudson
- Jennifer Perrine
- Jodie Toohey
- John McBride
- Kathleen Lawless Cox
- Kristin Abraham
- Louise Mathias
- Meghan Brinson
- Off Channel, Vol 2
- Out Loud II
- Out Loud III
- Paul Brooke
- Rachel Contreni Flynn
- Rebecca Wee
- Richard Collins
- Richard Stahl
- Robin Throne
- Ryan Collins
- Salvatore Marici
- Sarah J. Gardner
- Sheri Grutz
- Stephen Frech
- The Atlas Vol 3
- The Atlas, Vol 5
Collins 2009 Poetry Residency
Community-Based Poetry Resources
Journal Archive
-
▼
2010
(35)
-
▼
October
(29)
- Mary Beth Kwasek: Thirteen
- Mary Kae Waytenick: Lucy in the Sky with Elvis
- Luke Deitrick: Breeze
- Richard Stahl: I Want to See the Birth of the Miss...
- Ann Hudson: If You Can Climb Up, You Can Climb Down
- Clarence Wiser: Sparrow to Homeland
- Paul Brooke: Tending a Fungal Garden
- John Denton: untitled
- Stephan Abbott/John Denton/Greg Miller/Mike Miller...
- Saverio Minervini: Butterfly
- Steve Biehler: Basil
- Ryan Collins: Dear Rock Island
- Trent Matthew England: MY KIND OF TOWN!
- William Lavarone: The Stretches Between Stop Sign...
- Lindsey Wheeler: Concrete Slab
- Nancy Ann Schaefer: THE EXAMINATION
- Katherine M. Searle: Street Scene
- Beryl Dov Lew: Lost in Venice
- Wayne Sapp: A Cardinal at the Feeder
- Trisha Nelson: Transformation
- Anne Mae Longbons: The Weather Vane
- Jodie Toohey: Fog on the River on a Cold February...
- David McMillen: at close of summer
- Mark Walmsley: Triage
- Gemma Mathewson: Above Kibber
- John McBride: Is Grant Wood's Iowa True?
- Joanne Wiklund: Spring Stream
- Mike Bayles: Sylvan Island
- Ellen M. Tsagaris: Chippiannock Sanctuary
-
▼
October
(29)
“…Poor man, if you could only see
Beyond my broken, lifeless rhyme
And shallow, imitative thought
To where the poetry resides
Within my very soul.”
Richard Collins
from Greater Joy, Shorter Sorrow, Thankful Prayer (2008)
Beyond my broken, lifeless rhyme
And shallow, imitative thought
To where the poetry resides
Within my very soul.”
Richard Collins
from Greater Joy, Shorter Sorrow, Thankful Prayer (2008)
Submission Guidelines
Online Poetry Journal: Submissions will be accepted throughout the month of October. Submitted poems are asked to be drawn from a place or places encountered that served as inspiration or muse. Submissions should be emailed along with an optional context statement (no more than 2-3 sentences), name, and a brief poet bio to 2010collinspoetry@gmail.com. Submissions must be original and previously unpublished.