Spring is not the time for Ginger O's although I'm sure that these cookies would make grading papers easier. Instead, it's time for the spring/summer contests!
All poems and flash fiction submitted between now and September 1 will be eligible for Thelma's Prize. Poems and flash fiction from poets based in the Washington, DC area (including Baltimore and Frederick) are eligible for the local prize. Submitted artwork is eligible for Callie's Prize.
I want to encourage you, though, to submit work to these two contests: poems & flash fiction inspired by Latin/Latino/a culture (thank you, Allyson) and poems & flash fiction inspired by jazz musicians born in the 1920s. The works submitted to the Latin/Latino/a culture contest may be in translation or in Spanish with translation. Just be sure that you have the rights to the work whether it is unpublished or previously published. Some of the jazz musicians born in the 1920s include Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, Ahmad Jamal, and Barry Harris. The poems and flash fiction need not be about these musicians. Just listen to their music and write.
Here is some music for both contests. I'll start with some Latin music.
Does Los Lobos count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDsBAM9wb58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU-LeccqS48
Here Lila Downs sings "La Patria Madrina" with Juanes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCd8qo6sjlY
Years ago my husband and I were amazed by Grupo Cimmaron from Colombia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUp9LeZguPM
We also loved Ecos de Borinquen from Puerto Rico:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yKo_R793-s
Now for the jazz....
Let's start with Miles Davis. Here he is playing with Prince (RIP):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UoLkFQlmMI
Or you may prefer earlier Miles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoPL7BExSQU
John Coltrane plays "Blue Train" here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpZHUVjQydI
Chet Baker plays "Almost Blue" (a song by Elvis Costello) here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4PKzz81m5c
I'll finish with some Charlie Parker. This is "Yardbird Suite":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyTUvKWGb1M
I'm looking forward to seeing your work! There will be prizes...and judges, too.
Please send your work to thesongis at gmail dot com .
Thanks Marianne for giving me a heads up.I can't hear most of this music anymore but it sure brings back a lot of pleasure thinking of when I first heard "Yardbird Suite" or " Blue Train." Every poem needs a reader so I can be that for those that can write to the music. Let the contests begin!
ReplyDelete