[Stardust]

Dear Readers -

Just a note to let you know that I was surprised to receive a letter from Jean Mellichamp Milliken, Editor of The Lyric, telling me my poem "Franconia" had been chosen for the quarterly prize (Summer 2004 issue). I want to add that, without the gracious encouragement I received from Rhina Espaillat and Richard Wilbur, I might never have decided to submit my formal poetry to journals and magazines for possible publication.

Sincerely,
Catherine Chandler
Canada (formerly of PA)

[RCrawford]

Congratulations, Catherine!

I remember that poem well.

--Robert Crawford

[Amy Small-McKinney]

Catherine, I would love to see the poem. Congrats. It is amazing what that kind of support can do for a poet. Amy

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Catherine

Many congratulations. I would similarly like to read the poem if you are able to post it here. Thanks.

All the best

Chris

[Marion Shore]

Catherine,

Congrats! I'd also love to see the poem.

Marion

[Robt_Ward]

Wtg Catherine.

Has anyone seen this issue? According to a mail I got from someone, I have a poem in it, but I'm not aware of this. Maybe there's another R. Ward out there?

(robt)

[Steven Schroeder]

Originally posted by Robt_Ward:
Has anyone seen this issue? According to a mail I got from someone, I have a poem in it, but I'm not aware of this. Maybe there's another R. Ward out there?
(robt)

Are you Robert R. Ward who lives in Washington and edits Bellowing Ark? Cuz if not, there's another.



------------------
Steve Schroeder

[Stardust]

Dear Amy, Chris, Marion - the poem, as you requested.

FRANCONIA

He lived here but a short time, long ago,
in this white farmhouse on a grassy slope,
where he held out a rather wistful hope
of harvesting what might be wiled to grow.
Instead, the fresh New Hampshire mountain breeze
brought woods and wildflowers to the farmhouse door
where he surrendered to the Muse, no more
a farmer than the birds and deer and trees.
Today, behind a barn beside the home,
on paths where benches punctuate his love,
I try to follow in the footsteps of
the plowman who would rather write a poem.
This terra firma served some decent yields;
his cornucopia, from other fields.

Best regards,
Catherine Chandler

P.S. My pronunciation of "wildflowers" is in two, not three, syllables; and "poem" in one.

[Marion Shore]

Catherine,
It's lovely. Thanks.
Marion

[Susan McLean]

Congratulations, Catherine, it is a fine poem, and it is always encouraging to get a prize so unexpectedly. I got a prize from The Lyric too, and at the time I hadn't even noticed that prizes were given (it was the first poem the journal had accepted from me). Keep up the good work.

Susan