I n t r o d u c t i o n  t o   

S P E A K I N G  U P in Poetry & Prose

Poetry and prose must speak honestly and be true to intent to give credibility to inner voices and philosophies, observations of nature and the cosmos, feelings of passion and compassion, compulsion to protest or dissent, desire to pay homage or criticize perceived societal wrongs: all primary themes reflected within this unique book.

SPEAKING UP in Poetry & Prose is designed to plant seeds or express points-of-view in order to evoke thought and exploration about deeper meanings within the subject matter. The author hopes this will lead to healthy discussions about important issues, ideas and observations in any forum: in classrooms and groups, and among families and friends.

Great modern poets crafted messages more clearly than the old masters, at least for me. Many are so well known they are recognized by first name: Walt, Robert, Edgar, Maya, Sylvia, T.S., Langston, Carl Emily - who is your favorite?  I admire but do not emulate them, for this book reflects only my personal inner voice, my format, my style, be it traditional, non-traditional or experimental.  And yes, haiku too.

NEWS NOTE: If you are a published or aspiring poet, sign up for our free newsletter.  We will be accepting opinion or philosophical pieces on issues and topics of the day, and will be conducting juried poetry competitions with cash prizes and low entry fees.  Contact us for more information at prathergroup@aol.com.