The Poetry Alliance of Indy
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Poetry Alliance of Indy is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art of poetry, and promoting poetry appreciation throughout the Indiana area. It is our goal to support, encourage, and nurture the creative spirit of local poets, whether novice or veteran, young or old.
A BRIEF HISTORY:
The Poetry Alliance of Indy was co-founded in May of 1999 by Indianapolis-based poets Jeff Matheus and Ricardo Parra. For the first three months of is existence, the Alliance held its "Open Mic Poetry Jam" at the Three Sisters Cafe in Broad Ripple. In October of that year, the Alliance moved its open mic forum to a new venue, the Nora Branch Library's Community Room (8625 Guilford Ave., Indianapolis, IN) where it remains to this day. The Nora location has proven to be a great venue for poetry readings, free of the excessive backgroud noise and smokey-atmosphere of other area events. For the year 2001, Jeff, Ricardo, and the Poetry Alliance of Indy are planning a full schedule of their usual bi-monthly events at the Nora Library, as well as a few "extra" events at venues to be announced in the near future. The Alliance will also be branching-out more into the Northwest Indiana-area soon, with bookstore-sponsered events in Merrillville, Highland, and other untapped venues. Information on all current and future Poetry Alliance events will be available through this Website,...as well as information regarding book releases from local poets, publishing information, area book signings, and various other poetry/literary events.
OUR NEXT EVENT:
Open Mic Poetry Jam! Tuesday, October 24, 2000, 7:00 PM. At the Nora Branch Library (in the Community Room) 8625 Guilford Avenue, Indianapolis, IN. Hosted by Poetry Alliance of Indy co-founders Jeff Matheus and Ricardo Parra. Come and read your original poetic works, or the works of your favorite poets, in a friendly, positive "open mic" atmosphere...or just come and listen! We meet in a quiet private room that's great for reading and listening. (No screeching cappuccino machines!!!) Simple refreshments will be served.
YOU CAN HELP!:
Do you know of any bookstores, coffeehouses, churches, colleges, or libraries that would like to host a Poetry Alliance event? Please send all pertinent contact information to the e-mail address below.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
You may contact the Poetry Alliance of Indy by e-mail, or post.
If you are a poet and would like to submit any original poetry for publication on this website, please contact us in advance for guidelines.
E-Mail: jeffmatheus@hotmail.com
Post:
The Poetry Alliance of Indy
P.O. Box 78263
Indianapolis, IN
46278
PAINTBOX PUBLICATIONS:
Paintbox Publications is the official publishing press of The Poetry Alliance of Indy. Thus far Paintbox has published two chapbooks of poetry from Poetry Alliance co-founder Jeff Matheus. More releases are planned in the coming years from Jeff, and other local poets. Our currently available titles, and ordering information, are listed below:
PB001: A Pageant of Reflections - The Poems of Jeff Matheus
(Released May 1998) $4.00, postage included
PB002: A Fragile Sactuary - The Poems of Jeff Matheus
(Released September 1999) $5.00, postage included
PB003: A Moment for Dreaming - The Poems of Jeff Matheus
(Coming in 2001) price to be determined
If you would like to join the Paintbox Publications/Poetry Alliance mailing list (to keep informend of all future book releases), or if you would like to order one of the books listed above, please contact us at the address below. When ordering, please make all checks and/or money orders payable to "Jeff Matheus".
Paintbox Publications
P.O Box 78263
Indianapolis, IN
46278.
SOME SELECTED POEMS:
"A SEPARATION" (Part 2 of the long-form poem "Schisms")
by JEFF MATHEUS
(Copyright 1999 by Paintbox Publications)
In a listless meditation,
In a strange unbalanced dream,
Our world turns in never-changing motion.
In a frigid consummation,
In a voiceless, wordless scream,
We scatter now, like stones that trip the ocean.
In a stoic mask of reason,
In a far forsaken sphere,
We raise our flags of selfish indignation.
In a vapid veil of treason,
In a dangerous frontier,
We slumber in a hopeless isolation.
We are separated, man from child,
Divided from within,
We are decimated, self-defiled,
The vestiges of sin.
We are separated, God from heart,
Detached from all we see.
We are segregated, set-apart,
Adrift, but never free.
In a languid aberration,
In a dark, abandoned place,
We plot our steps with arrogant defiance.
In a thoughtless affectation,
In a gray and withered face,
We calculate our treacherous alliance.
In a self-induced delusion,
In a systematic trance,
We march towards our cloud-obscured perspective.
In a blasphemous illusion,
In a random game of chance,
We stack our cards, a meaningless objective.
We are separated, will from mind,
Estranged from all we feel,
We are isolated, ill-inclined,
Resigned to never heal.
We are separated, man from skin,
Segmented from our birth,
We are desecrated, marred within,
The broken sons of Earth.
We are separated, heart from core,
The harbingers of grief.
We are disrelated, born of war,
Athirst, without relief.
We are separated, God from soul,
A cloak of flesh and bone.
We are devestated, never whole,
Together, yet alone.
"THE ART IN SEWING"
by WARRIE L. DENNIS
(Copyright 1996 by the author)
Each garment that crosses the sewing table
Comes from a thought,
A vision
Devoloped deep from within.
The picture then transfers into touchable pieces.
Care travels from the heart,
Through the hands
To each piece making sure
That each stitch is just so.
In the end with the love and care
That is poured over it from start to finish,
The garment
Transforms into a masterpiece,
A vision to behold.
The vision becomes a reality.
"A LADY IN THE RAIN"
by JEFF MATHEUS
(Copyright 1999 by Paintbox Publications)
She Traces all the raindrops that
Are falling on the city street.
Willfully, skillfully.
She faces all the the hollow eyes
Of strangers that she'll never meet.
Murnfully, scournfully.
She buries all her memories
In crinoline and tattered lace.
Dutifully, beautifully.
She carries all her tragedy
In creases on a ravaged face.
Tearfully, fearfully.
...She turns her mind to days behind
With quivering-lipped attention,
As crippling apprehention
Strikes her spirit blind.
...She turns her eyes to family ties
That tumbled from her fingers
A gnawing doubt that lingers.
A vision that belies.
She touches all the raindrops that
Are sprawling on the murky ground.
Willfully, Skillfully.
She clutches at the sidewalks as
the droplets burst without a sound.
Mournfully, scournfully.
She resurrects her faded dreams
In ragged, yellowed photographs.
Dutifully, beautifully.
She recollects a sunken dream
A living, waking epitaph.
Tearfully, fearfully.
...She turns her gaze to wasted days
A burden she must carry,
A fragile sanctuary,
A self-confining maze.
...She turns to view a life askew,
Begun, but never finished,
A worthy heart, diminished.
Ambition overdue.
She traces all the raindrops that
Are falling on the city street.
Willfully, skillfully....
"A VILLIAN LURKING AROUND THE CORNER"
by WARRIE L. DENNIS
(Copyright 1997 by the author)
A mistake, like a villian,
Lurks around the corner,
Waiting to pounce.
It drags me into a dark, gloomy hole
Where an ugly, discoloring
Transformation takes place.
Let a costume now hide
My filthy black marks.
Is there any way to face
the dark creature and
be wiped clean?
Can I look it in the eye?
An eternity seems to pass
While searching for
The magical, mysterious solution.
Unexpectedly, amidst the dark gloom,
A shining soldier comes
Armed with a miracle,
The miracle of forgiveness.
With this, the transformation reverses,
The cleansing takes place.
I need no longer hide,
For out of the gloomy darkness
He pulls me.
Once more I begin anew.
"IN THE CORDIAL GRIP OF APATHY"
by JEFF MATHEUS
(Copyright 1999 by Jeff Matheus)
With undivided clarity
I celebrate my apathy!
So snug am I, engulfed by this
Infernal warmth, internal bliss.
The path of least resistance lies
A promised land befor my eyes.
For, paralyzed in numbing sleep,
(So cavalier in slumber deep),
I feel the arms that nurture me
With glorious complacency,
...The cordial grip of apathy!
With self-indulgent eloquence
I now resolve to ride th fence!
So safe am I, ensnared inside
This callous trap where I reside.
The clamor of the world so near,
I will not face, I will not hear!
With comfort as my second sense
(Security, my recompense!)
I feel a glow surrounding me
With merry mediocrity,
...The cordial grip of apathy!
