Alexander the Greatest!

Saturday Writers is a most supportive writers’ group. I’ve been honored over the years that they’ve chosen some of my writing for prizes in their well-organized contests. Most recently, my Istanbul reminiscence “Alexander the Greatest” was honored in their ethnic food contest. Here’s a quote:

A vertical spit rotated next to this ladder of intense heat.  On the spit was a roll of compressed lamb slices called derna. The roll, nearly three feet long and at least eight inches in diameter, gleamed decadently with juice as it rotated. The chef carved slices off the roll for each dish of iskender ordered. The slices, thick and numerous, were arranged on each plate atop a bed of pita bread and cherry tomatoes. The meat on its bed was covered with a large dollop of yoghurt, high fat yoghurt. Then, to the everlasting horror of my arteries, the waiter poured ladles of melted goats milk butter over all. Faced with enough cholesterol to sink the Titanic

A Win and almost!

I just received this award certificate in the mail and wanted to share it. Caesura is likely the best poem I wrote in 2021. Besides, a win is a win! Also, as usual, I entered the Monterey Herald’s annual 101 word competition and received an honorable mention. That post is below.

Rue de L’Abrevoir

Purple Sunset — Philippe

Saturday Writers conducts a twice yearly ekphrastic writing contest using art works by Missouri artists. Two of my poems were chosen for inclusion in the October 20th event at the St Peters Cultural Arts Centre. I’m most pleased and honored! I can’t share the poems — Rue de L’Abrevoir and Caveat — but I can offer one of the paintings they accompany and a teaser:

“She knows the shadows of a certain place

Where every minute is an hour . . .”

A Saturday Writers Prize for Redwoods!

Photo by Jon Walton

Saturday Writers is a most supportive writers’ group. I’ve been honored over the years that they’ve chosen some of my writing for prizes in their well-organized contests. Most recently, the poem below won a 2nd place prize. It may even be published in a future anthology. I thank all the folks who administer these competitions. It’s never an easy task.

Redwoods

Thick robes of bark wrap round you,

Cover you in auburn 

Velvet folds.

You are ancient sages

Recording eons,

Living still. 

Oak leaves bound to life since spring

Sail down a golden sunlight wave

Through forest shadows —

Never to know silent years,

Or snows.

One Poet’s Process

Saturday Writers columnist Diane How published a brief interview with me conducted after my poem “Caesura” won the winter contest. Here’s what she had to say:

“April’s contest also included a first-place poetry winner. Robert Walton won with his twelve-line poem, Caesura. This brief verse journeys from burgundy October memories to hopeful emerald May eyes. I was surprised when Robert said he doesn’t write poetry. What???? 

Then he explained, “I never write poetry. Poetry writes me. An image or a thought seizes me unbidden and leads to the beginnings of a poem. That’s not to say that craft doesn’t enter in while I’m trying to find the poem’s truest shape.” Now that is poetic. 

His journey of explanation regarding where the inspiration came from is a story in itself. “One of the inspiring things about parenthood is that it never ends. Eldest son Jeremy was winding up his research project for the Max Planck Institute last autumn. He needed to move his stuff out of both his office and a pied -a-terre flat in 

Goettingen, Germany. Everything (a lot, believe me! Jeremy collects vinyl!) had to go from there to his family home in Zagreb, Croatia. He drafted me to help with packing and moving. In between the packing and toting sessions, he had professional responsibilities to fulfill. Pop had to stay out of the way and amuse himself. I often did so in the garden behind Max Planck’s HQ, a lovely, wooded place, good for reading while listening to the fountain and its brook. Ah, the fountain!” 

Robert’s simple advice to other writers is brief and powerful much like his poem. “Keep your eyes wide open — always!” 

And there you have it, folks. Keep your eyes open and your pen or laptop ready. Inspiration surrounds us. Now it’s your turn to write a winning entry and I can’t wait to read it!” 

Thanks very much, Diane!

A Poem Honored by Saturday Writers

I belong to a very active, very supportive writers’ group called Saturday Writers. They just awarded a poem of mine first place in their spring contest. I am most pleased and honored!

February, March and April Poetry Contest ​
Themes: Mountains, Bodies of Water & Prairies 

First Place: Robert Walton for Caesura
Second Place: Susan Gore Zahra for Kansas Snapshots
Third Place: Billie Holladay Skelley for Mountain Lovers
Honorable Mention:Cathleen Callahan for Letter from the Frontier Prairie
Honorable Mention:Carol Roberson for The Church on the Hill 
Honorable Mention:Donna Mork Reed for Solitary Bird​

Here’s the poem:

Caesura

Burgundy leaves,

Swaying in October breezes

Escaped from coming winter,

Dip toward a brook

Soon to be ice,

Its chimes and murmurs

Not yet muted —

A conversation 

To be resumed

When bursting buds

Open emerald eyes

In May.

Caesura

A Prize for Crescent Moon

My poem Crescent Moon was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Saturday Writers winter poetry contest. I look forward to its eventual publication sometime next year!

“Saturday Writers  February, March and April Poetry Contest Winners:

First Place: Cathleen Callahan for Ripples

Second Place: Cathleen Callahan for High Place

Third Place: Cathleen Callahan for Echoic Spheres

Honorable Mention: Jeanne Felfe for The Gulf

Honorable Mention: Kenneth Lee for The Hatchling

Honorable Mention: Robert Walton for Crescent Moon

Congratulations!”

Heather Hartmann

2021 Contest Chair

Saturday Writers