MATCHBOOK POEMS | ISSUE 1

Matchbook Poems is delighted to present its first 7-matchbook issue. MP aims to spark poetry in unconventional circles, bringing poetry to the people, where the people are, in real, simple and meaningful ways. If you would like to support, purchase or submit work, query A. K. Allin at mimiallin@gmail.com Thanks for your support. Now go light up the night!

MATCHBOOK POETS

• A. K. ALLIN wants to handle art.

• A. E. BECKENDORF likes making peanut butter.

• ELAINE EQUI loves coffee, oracles, mountains.

• GARTH GRAEPER leaves poems in parks.

• MERCEDES LAWRY is a chaos gardener.

• DAVID PEMBERTON loves horror movies.

• JEFF TOLBERT paints penguins. (Cover artist)

Matchbook Poems

Grab a matchbook. Flip it over. Now imagine poetry there on the cover.

Matchbook Poems is looking for a few sparks of poetry to launch its first 7-matchbook issue. MP aims to spark poetry in unconventional circles, to bring poetry to the people, where the people are, in real, simple and meaningful ways. Please submit 5 complete (albeit tiny) poems, 1 to 4 lines each (haiku acceptable, but not necessarily encouraged). Better to send 5 clinchers (1 to 4 lines) from your longer work. Lines we’ll want to read and reread.. and reread. “UooH, that’s good!” We like verse that explores color and sound, poetry that conveys mood. 7 “sparks” will be selected for the inaugural issue. The complete set will be presented as a wrapped issue. Please read below for specific line length information.

Payment: We regret not being able to offer payment at present – but consider the hand-to-hand exposure a matchbook can offer. Selected authors will receive a copy of the edition in which their work appears.

Format

Snail mail: Send up to 5 poems or groups of poetic lines (each group consisting of 1-4 lines). Mail your submission, all poems/works together on one printed page. Include your name, mailing address, e-mail and a 1-line bio. If your bio is short enough, it will appear on the issue wrapper. Tell us who you are in 5 words. We’d prefer something about you over a list of publications. Published or unpublished work. Copyright reverts to artist. Response time, three months. We ask that, because of size restrictions, each line (of each short poem) also be short. Kernels. Sparks. At a font size of 10, each line can only accommodate 25 characters (that includes letters and spaces). Thank you.

Submission deadline: 15 August 2006

How to send

For response, please include a self-addressed, stamped POSTCARD (US$0.24) along with your poetry submission and 5-word bio to:

A. K. Allin

Matchbook Poems

403 Roy St #26

Seattle, WA 98109

Submissions will not be returned. To receive a copy of our first edition by mail, include $4 with your submission along with a send-to address. Checks payable to the responsible editor, A. K. Allin.