Crusoe in England Presentation on The Gypsy Art Show

I answered Belinda Subraman who asked her Facebook friends and readers of her blog to suggest and present the most important poem in their eyes and life. Last year I picked up Prévert's Grasse Matinée which I translated into English myself - doing my best not to erase any of the dark and modern beauty of this poem. It refered to my early years at school when I had once to learn this poem and recite it in front of the other children.

This year, I chose Elizabeth Bishop's Crusoe in England, not only because I am currently reading work about or from the islands but because this poet and her works emoted me a lot when I studied her at University. The full presentation is here with the poem by Ms Bishop.

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mgv2_69: Fifty Stars & A Maple Leaf Submission Guidelines

mgv2_69:  Fifty Stars and A Maple Leaf | 01_12 Issue

Fifty Stars and Maple Leaf – the USA and Canada –  is the story of two twin countries – antonymous sisters, or muses – who share the same part of the globe, on the same continent, three oceans, several languages, many cultures brought to them from the inside but mostly from the outside.

The bonds with France (and the rest of Europe) are historically settled.
Not only because of Quebec and Louisiana but because French people settled in both these countries and still do. The British colonial history against which France helped the Americans of course is in every minds. Should I mention Jacques Cartier who claimed Canada in the early 16th century? In 1735 Michel Guillaume Jean de Crèvecœur was born in Caen, Normandy (does that ring a bell?) and settled in New York, taking American citizenship after the defeat of the French army. Michel George Henri Ruhlmann (does that ring a bell too?) born in 1936 in Rouen – Caen's antagonist Norman city – is a chef – a maestro – in the kitchen, and worked some time in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. Many others like them have left their imprint on those lands.

Yet, it is not necessarily with these bonds with France the issue will be built upon. I just want to leave them open for the possible French speaking contributors.
If we keep in mind the border, the antagonisms in policy, diplomacy, social life, customs... maybe these could be inspiring too.

You can tell us about the beauty of the landscapes or the horror of  the war, write about the sun setting on the Pacific or make us dive into the depths of bloody urban legends, invite us for a long-drink in a hotel in Miami or guide us through the streets of Toronto, manage to make us like snow and ice storms or freeze us to death with social realism.

I have never set foot in any of these countries and yet share words and thoughts everyday with American and Canadian people. Though I have scrutinized their geography, history, literature, and common language of course, I want to learn more from genuine Americans and Canadians. You know what? I am sure I am not the only one eager to read your work.

Submissions guidelines:
Open October 1-31
Fiction and poetry but any genre is welcome really – remember we had a script and an interview last time.
You may send your work along with a condensed biography at mgversion2datura [at] gmail [dot] com in the body of an email or attached. Send between 3-5 poems and 1-2 stories (for other genres please query first).
This is not all for you dear, though.
On acceptance, and only then, you will be asked to provide iconographic work as well: the photograph of your favourite place, a painting you made yourself (and is worth showing), a blinking star, a dry maple leaf... something of your own you want to see published along with your written work.
I remind you that no contribution is paid for as far as the journal is free for anyone to read on line. I also remind you that I don't mind previously published material but, please, do provide a publishing background and make sure you still own the rights.

That said, tickle the muses and have fun! I am waiting for your work.

Hervé Leroy - Histoires vraies en Nord-Pas-de-Calais - Papillon Rouge 2011

Hervé leroy nous annonce la sortie de son livre Histoires vraies en Nord - Pas-de-Calais publié au Papillon Rouge éditeur.

Dans ce livre: Lamartine à Bergues, l'opération Dynamo à Dunkerque, Maria fille de Fourmies, l’Internationale de Pierre Degeyter à Lille, Kipling à la recherche du corps de son fils à Loos-en-Gohelle, les amoureux de la Côte d’Opale, Vidocq plonge dans la Scarpe, Robespierre et le paratonnerre, les rescapés de Courrières, Augustin Lesage, la Dame aux Loups, Pinart ou l’Indiana Jones de Marquise, la bande à Pollet, Zacharias au Losc, Mariette un Boulonnais en Egypte, le vol de l’Oiseau Blanc, Blondin l’homme qui touchait les nuages… 25 histoires vraies à découvrir ou à redécouvrir.


L'ouvrage est disponible à la Fnac, au Furet, dans toutes les bonnes librairies... Ou référencé sur le net Amazone, Decitre, Alapage, Libfly, ou auprès de l'éditeur Papillon Rouge etc