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. NOW ACCEPTING POETRY FOR CRAM 14
 ChicagoPoetry.com is pleased to announce an open call for poetry for its upcoming publication, Journal of Modern Poetry, the fourteenth volume in its Poetry Cram series, scheduled to be released in the fall of 2012. Journal of Modern Poetry will showcase some of the best poetry from some of the brightest poets living today. Each poet selected for inclusion in Journal of Modern Poetry will receive five contributor's copies of the publication. One poem included in the publication will be selected as "Best Modern Poem" and its author will receive a $200 cash prize as well as a page showcasing the winning poem at ChicagoPoetry.com. In addition, up to six poets selected for inclusion in Journal of Modern Poetry will also be nominated by ChicagoPoetry.com for 2013 Pushcart Prizes.
As you probably know by now, our publication Poetry Cram is a fantastic way for talented poets to get their work into the hands of the people as quickly as possible. This is the way it works: each poet selected for inclusion in the publication chips in a small donation toward the cost of printing the book, and this is what allows us not only to give you five contributor's copies to share, but also to give the remainder of the books away, free, at Chicago area literary events. We know that copies of Journal of Modern Poetry won't sit in a dusty box waiting to be purchased because within days of its release, all copies will be in the hands of the people. Nearly 4,000 copies of Poetry Cram have so far been given away at such distinguished venues as The Harold Washington Library, The Printers Row Book Fair, The Woodland Pattern Bookstore, The Museum of Contemporary Art and The AWP Conference at the Chicago Hilton. This past April, we gave away 300 copies of Cram 13 to people attending the Public Library poetry fest. Because copies of Cram are distributed for free to those who love poetry, Cram has become one of the most read poetry publications coming out of Chicago today. If you want your poetry read by a lot of people, Poetry Cram is the answer.
THE CRAM 14 MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
Unfortunately, it will be impossible to include everyone's poetry. If for any reason your work is not selected for inclusion in Journal of Modern Poetry, you will receive a full refund of your printing cost donation.
THE GUIDELINES
--Journal of Modern Poetry is looking to showcase some of the best poetry written today, whether it is traditional or experimental. All forms, style and subject matter will be accepted as long as it meets our length requirements*. It doesn't matter where you live. All poets will be given equal consideration.
 --*We have to fit your poetry on the Poetry Cram page, so we are currently not accepting long poems. Poems should be 35 lines or less, including spaces between lines, and lines should be no longer than 12 words long.
--By submitting your poetry, you agree to allow ChicagoPoetry.com to publish your work both in hard copy and online. If chosen for publication, you will receive five contributor's copies of Journal of Modern Poetry, to either be picked up at a book release event (details TBA) or to be mailed to you free of charge.
--Please send only original work written by you. Poetry must be primarily in the English language. Previously published work is okay. Copyright reverts back to you after publication.
--Poets may submit up to five poems for consideration, but only one poem per poet will be chosen for publication.
--If at any time it is determined that enough submissions have been received to sustain the publication, ChicagoPoetry.com reserves the right to halt this open call. This means that priority will be given to early submissions, so it's wise not to wait until the last minute to submit.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Journal of Modern Poetry is offering a money back guarantee. All poets whose work is not selected for publication will receive a full refund of their printing cost donation.
To submit, FIRST: CLICK HERE to make your donation of $30 through PayPal. This is a cooperative effort. The donations are pooled together to fund the printing of the book, the cost of postage to deliver contributors' copies as well as the prize money.
NEXT: Before the deadline, send up to five of your best poems to Publisher@ChicagoPoetry.com.
 The best way to submit your poetry is as an attachment in Microsoft Word or Works with all your poetry included in a SINGLE document (not five separate documents). Also include a short cover letter letting me know who you are, and include all your contact information in the cover letter.
DEADLINE for submissions to Journal of Modern Poetry is July 15, 2012 but priority will be given to early submissions.
Journal of Modern Poetry promises to be an exciting new chapter in the Poetry Cram saga. I can't wait to read your submissions.
Yours in poetry,
CJ Laity
Editor, Poetry Cram Magazine
POETRY CRAM 13: THE CAPP AWARDS
Congratulations go out to the Winners of the 2012 Contemporary American Poetry Prize competition. The cash awards are based on percentages of the entry fees collected during the submission process, making this, the inaugural CAPP contest, one of the largest cash prizes for poetry in the Chicago area.
The Grand Prize Winner receives $524, Silver Prize Winner $131, and Bronze Prize Winner $65.50.
In addition, three poets have been selected to receive Honorable Mentions for their outstanding work, and twenty poets have been selected as Runners Up, whose work ChicagoPoetry.com is proud to showcase in a print edition of Poetry Cram 13 that will be given away free at this year's Chicago Public Library Poetry Fest as well as here, in this, the very first online edition of Poetry Cram.
Please click on the poets' names below in order to read the winning poems, and you can also download your own printable copy of Poetry Cram 13 in pdf format (see instructions below).
All work published at ChicagoPoetry.com is copyrighted. Feel free to link to it but please don't republish without permission.
G r a n d P r I z e W I n n e r
Linda Leedy Schneider
S I l v e r P r I z e W I n n e r
Duane R. Christianson
B r o n z e P r I z e W I n n e r
Chris Reid
H o n o r a b l e M e n t I o n s
Sheila A. Donovan
*
Deborah Nodler Rosen
*
Laurie Blum
R U N N E R S U P
Khadijah Kysia ** Cynthia Pfeiffer Stell ** DeJuan Dunn ** Donna Pecore
Marian Kaplun Shapiro ** John Brooks ** Gail Goepfert ** Liz Paveza
Peg Nichols ** Margaret Dubay Mikus ** George Korolog ** Jasminum McMullen
Pamela Larson ** Patty Dickson Pieczka ** Yoo Chang ** Lynn Veach Sadler
Susanne Donoghue ** Jennifer Santana ** Tinamarie Penn ** Neal Whitman
Download Instructions: In order to download your own print copy of Poetry Cram Volume 13, CLICK HERE to open the pdf file in your browser. Use the disk icon on top of the file to save a copy to your computer so that you can forward it to all your friends. Use the printer icon to print it up (preferably double sided) and then staple it. Wallah!!
Won't work with your old browser? Email me at Publisher@ChicagoPoetry.com and I'll send back a copy.
 Judge. This year's CAPP judge was Charlie Rossiter, host of the audio website PoetryPoetry.com, who is an NEA Fellowship recipient and three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. He is the author of four books of poetry and numerous chapbooks, including The Night We Danced With the Raelettes and All Over America: Road Poems (FootHills Publications, 2009), which is based on 60,000+ miles or road trip experiences throughout U.S. and Canada. He is also the co-author of the book Back Beat, of which Lawrence Ferlinghetti said: "Back Beat beats everything for being beater than the Beats." Rossiter's poetry has also been featured on National Public Radio, the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in New Jersey as well as at the Chicago Blues Festival. He has led poetry workshops all over the country. PoetryAward.org is proud to have Mr. Rossiter serve as the judge for the inaugural Contemporary American Poetry Prize.
Sponsor. PoetryAward.org and the Contemporary American Poetry Prize is sponsored by CJ Laity, twelve year veteran publisher of ChicagoPoetry.com, curator of the Poetry Cram Magazine contest and twenty year host of poetry events and festivals for such distinguished venues as the Chicago Public Library, the Poetry Foundation's Printers Ball and the Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair.
Check back autumn 2012 for details about the 2013 CAPP Contest.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
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THE POETRY CRAM 12 POETS HAVE BEEN SELECTED
ChicagoPoetry.com put out an open call for the weirdest, scariest poetry in the world, and now we are pleased to announce the winners of the Cram 12: A Midnight Summer Nightmare competition. Each selected poet had a poem included in the Poetry Cram Magazine, which was given away FREE at the following events: .
--On Friday, July 29, at The Printers Ball at Columbia College, hundreds of copies of Cram 12 were given away, free.
--And then, on Friday, August 5, from 7 to 9 PM at the official Cram 12 release reading at Café Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave, where Cram 12 poets read their work and everyone got a free copy of the new issue.
Selected poets who were unable to attend the events received two copies of Cram 12 by mail, free of charge.
ANNOUNCING THE POEMS / POETS SELECTED FOR CRAM 12
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ANIMAL
by C. John Graham
Santa Fe, NM
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Driving Home
by Angelika Teuber
Raleigh, NC 27613
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A Fright
by Casey Derengowski
San Marcos, CA
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The Real Fear
by Colleen McManus Hein
Riverwoods, IL
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A Whimsical Guide, Just for You
by Cynthia Pfeiffer Stell
Oak Lawn, Illinois
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From Page to Stage and Back Again
(or following the yellow brick alley)
by Donna Pecore
Chicago, IL
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NIGHT TERRORS: A CONSTANT SEASON IN HELL
by Doree Lee McNulty
Chicago, IL
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Sophrosyne (Temperance)
by Itala Langmar
Kenilworth, IL
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Straw Patrol
by Jeanette A. Jordan
Chicago, IL
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Menace
by Jo Stewart
Chicago, IL
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Mannequin
by JoyAnne O'Donnell
Emmitsburg, Maryland
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White Board Clown
(Forgiving the Surreal)
by Laura L. Koenig
Lombard, IL
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The Basis of the Universe
by Laurie Blum
Chicago, IL
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BEING DEAD = BEING DEAD
by Marian Kaplun Shapiro
Lexington, MA
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Tipping the green velvet
by Marianne Schaefer
Chicago, IL
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Dreams...
by Marita DeMarinis
Chicago, IL
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Duck, Duck, Goose
by Mary Langer Thompson
Apple Valley, CA
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Small Universe
by Norman Nanstiel
Des Plaines, IL
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INDUSTRIAL SHE
by Pam Larson
Arlington Heights, IL
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Undressed
by Pamela Borovich
Valparaiso, IN
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"Case 3900" a.k.a. "My Rod’s a Written Spear to Fear"
by Reggie Legend
Elgin, IL
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The chunk of skull in the belly
by Richard Ilnicki
Tarpon Springs, FL
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In the Age of Poisons
by Rob Baker
Arlington Heights, IL
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Among Internal Organs
by Robin Goldberg
River Forest, IL
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Ayaba Nukua
by Sandra Posadas
Chicago, IL
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DIARRHEA AND DEPRESSION
(HELP IS JUST ONE AD AWAY!)
by Sheila A. Donovan,
Chicago, IL
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Phantasmagoraphobia
by Terri M. O’Hara
Santa Monica, California
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Grim Reapers Guild
by Timothy Schnoor
Chicago, IL
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How to Fool Your Friends
by Ginger Rubinstein
Lombard, IL
Congratulations, Poetry Cram 12 Poets!!
Yours In Poetry, CJ Laity, Editor
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CRAM 11 WAS THE BIGGEST CRAM YET
Recently ChicagoPoetry.com put out the call for "poetry about poetry" for its 11th volume of Poetry Cram Magazine. The response was enormous, making Cram 11 the biggest and best yet.
Congratulations go out to the forty-five poets selected for inclusion in Cram 11=Poetry² that was released on Saturday, April 30, from 10 AM until 4 PM at the National Poetry Month Poetry Festival at Harold Washington Library, where Poetry Cram 11 was given away FREE in the main lobby to everyone who wanted one. And then, later that same evening, more copies of Cram 11 were be given away FREE at the official release party and reading at Café Ballou, where poets from Cram 11 read their work. Both events were free and open to the public.
CLICK HERE FOR SOME PHOTOS FROM THE EVENTS
THE POETS AND POEMS SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN CRAM VOLUME 11
ChicagoPoetry.com Press is proud to announce that 45 poets have been selected for inclusion in Cram 11=Poetry². The Cram 11 poets and poems are:
Renée Szostek, Scotts, MI
A Poetic Discovery
Almira Astudillo Gilles, Palatine, IL
Ode (not quite) to some Flowers (not really) in a Pot
Nathaniel Terrell Jones, Potsdam, NY
Without You
Antonia Clark, Winooski, VT
What is Poetry?
Beth Staas, Westmont, IL
A Poem Stillborn
Bonnie Kepplinger, Chicago
I Am the One
Carol Brockfield, Medford, OR
Another Near Miss
Chris Reid, Chicago
Old wives’ cures for writer’s block
(absolutely guaranteed to work)
Colleen McManus Hein, Riverwoods, IL
Sylvia
Cynthia Pfeiffer Stell, Oak Lawn, IL
Where I write
Debka Colson, Jamaica Plain, MA
Following After Williams' Nantucket
Dianalee Velie, Newbury, NH
COMMON ORDINARY DAYS
Edith Willis, Sauk Village, IL
Punctuation Not Needed
Douglas Herr, Chicago
Open Mic Night
Gail E. Goepfert, Palatine, IL
After a Poetry Reading Outside Brothers K Coffeehouse
Itala Langmar, Evanston, IL
The Mexican Colors of Poetry
Jamie Lynn Perry, Chicago
One Word
Jasminum McMullen, Oak Park
The Reunification of Destiny
Josephine Stewart, Chicago
Poetry
Kami Andridge, Chicago
Beat
Kathy Lundy Derengowski, San Marcos, CA
Wordworker
Kohar Jones, Chicago
Eaten by a Metaphor
Laurie Lee Didesch, Northbrook, IL
Dogged
Linda Leedy Schneider, Grand Rapids, MI
Look Mama, I’m Writing a Poem.
Lorraine Brown, North Barrington, IL
Once
Marcia J. Pradzinski, Skokie, IL
12 Ways of Looking at a Fountain Pen
Marian Kaplun Shapiro, Lexington, MA
Writing a poem on a paper bag
Marilyn Peretti, Glen Ellyn, IL
Poetry Mistakes?
Mary Langer Thompson, Apple Valley, CA
Where Dark Poems Come From
Michelle Brinckerhoff, Wilmette, IL
Dangers of Dating a Poet
Nancy J. Heggem, Palatine, IL
Readers Write and Writers Read
Donna Pecore, Chicago
Poetry: Simply Put
Robert Nixon, Country Club Hills, IL
K.West
Pamela Larson, Arlington Heights, IL
THE POET’S HELL
(VIA VILLANELLE)
Wilda Morris, Bolingbrook, IL
Where My Poems Hide
(for Ellen Kort)
Reggie Legend, Elgin, IL
19th Century Literature
Richard Ilnicki, Tarpon Springs, FL
The Corpse of Poetry
Robert Coté, Crystal Lake, IL
Poetry
Sandra Santiago-Posadas, Chicago
Ode to El Spanglish Poem
In honor of Tato Laveria and Miguel Piñero
Scott McFarland, Chicago
ARE YOU REALIZING YOU LIKE THINKING ABOUT THAT
NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE YOU ONCE HAD?
Sheila A. Donovan, Chicago
POETRY: CHANGING W/THE TIMES
Suzanne Seed, Chicago
WhyOWhyOWhy
Neal Whitman, Pacific Grove, CA
A Poet's Haiku Quintet
Timothy J. Schnoor, Chicago
The Courteous Ku
Ellen Savage, Highland Park, IL
Entre Nous
Congratulations Cram 11 poets!
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
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POETRY CRAM 10 A HUGE SUCCESS!
Congratulations go out to the thirty-seven poets selected for inclusion in the new publication, CRAM VOLUME 10: BEST OF 10.
Cram 10 was given away FREE at the Cram 10 Book Release on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at Café Ballou, 939 N. Western Avenue, Chicago.
THE POETS AND POEMS SELECTED FOR INCLUSION IN CRAM VOLUME 10
ChicagoPoetry.com Press is proud to announce that six of the poets published in Cram 10 have been nominated for Pushcart Prizes. You can read the nominated poems by clicking here. The Cram 10 poets and poems nominated for Pushcart Prizes are:
2011 Pushcart Prize Nominee:
CHARLOTTE DIGREGORIO, Winnetka, IL
At The Museum of Contemporary Art
2011 Pushcart Prize Nominee:
MARILYN PERETTI, Glen Ellyn, IL
Polar Dreams
2011 Pushcart Prize Nominee:
STELLA VINITCHI RADULESCU, Chicago, IL
Landscape & More
2011 Pushcart Prize Nominee:
CYNTHIA PFEIFFER, Oak Lawn, IL
Demands from a Selfish Lover
2011 Pushcart Prize Nominee:
CYNTHIA GALLAHER, Chicago, IL
After Henri Matisse’s "Interior at Nice" 1920
2011 Pushcart Prize Nominee:
DEBORAH NODLER ROSEN, Glencoe, IL
A TIME OF ONE’S OWN
Out of a large pool of entries, thirty-one additional poets were selected for inclusion in Poetry Cram Volume 10: Best of 10. The winning poets and poems are:
CATHARINE J. JONES, Evanston, IL
Creation: A Story
CAMILLE ROSE CASTILLO, West Haven, UT
A Poet's Pen
COLLEEN MCMANUS HEIN, Riverwoods, IL
A Perfect Light
DIANE ANJOUE, Wood Dale, IL
Fickle Muse
DOUGLAS HERR, Chicago, IL
Welcome Back Kotter
JULIAN T. BROLASKI, Brooklyn, NY
astral travel w/ paranoia
KALEB HOFFER, Midland, OH
“My Lover”
KAMI ANDRIDGE, Chicago, IL
4x5
KATE SCHLACHTER, Chicago IL
That terror is never a simple thing.
KAYLEAH JEWEL PORTER, Chicago, IL
Watching you
LAURIE BLUM, Chicago, IL
Unfinished
LORRAINE BROWN, North Barrington, IL
He won’t eat my soup!
MARGARET DUBAY MIKUS, Lake Forest, IL
After the Release Party
A word from Sheila
MARGIE SKELLY, Chicago, IL
The Coffee Percolator on the Gas Stove
(An earlier version of this poem was previously published
in Vacations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly [Outrider Press])
MARIANNE SCHAEFER, Chicago, IL
Haikus
MARITA A. DEMARINIS, Chicago, IL
Be Still
MARY KRANE DERR, Chicago, IL
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, ROOM K461
MARY LANGER THOMPSON, Apple Valley, CA
At the Dollar Store
MATTHEW POLK, Winchester, VA
Gaza #1
MICHAEL ETHAN LANDAU, Evanston, IL
I'll never be a poet
NANCY J. HEGGEM, Palatine, IL
Illinois Quilt
O' Hare approach 5000 feet
NORM NANSTIEL, Des Plaines, IL
Donation
PAMELA BOROVICH, Valparaiso, IN
Tiny Riot
RAE TIMOTHY, Riverside, IL
Not Even Past
RENÉE SZOSTEK, Scotts, MI
Flare
ROBERT KLEIN ENGLER, Des Plaines, IL
.DANCING WITH THE DEAD.
for Jerry Jaselski
SHARON BENTLEY, Chicago, IL
Beneath the Bodhi Tree
SHEILA DONOVAN, Chicago, IL
Chercheuse
(Searcher)
TED RECIO, Eugene, OR
To the Lost Poet
TERRI M. O’HARA, Santa Monica, CA
# (Is it “Number” or is it “Sharp”?)
WILDA MORRIS, Bolingbrook, IL
Café Blue, Savanna, Illinois*
Congratulations poets!
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CONGRATS TO THE CRAM 9 POETS
 Congratulations go out to the forty poets selected for inclusion in the new publication, CRAM VOLUME 9: POETRY IN THE FIRST, which were given away free to the public, starting on the evening of Friday, July 30, when over 150 copies of Cram 9 were given away, FREE, to people attending The Printers' Ball at Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. The Cram 9 distribution then continued at the official release party and reading on Saturday, August 14, at Cafe Ballou, 939 N. Western Ave, where Cram 9 poets read their work to a packed house and where the last remaining Cram 9s were given away.
Recently we announced an open call for Cram Volume 9 that sought poetry about "YOU" and we received more submissions than ever. Forty poets were chosen for inclusion, more poets than Cram has ever published in a single issue. Congratulations go out to the 40 poets who have been selected for inclusion in
CRAM VOLUME 9: POETRY IN THE FIRST. THE POETS AND POEMS ARE!
ANN PERBOHNER, West Lebanon, NH
SUBMISSION
ANNE WESLEY, Chicago
Holidays in the City
BRENDAN THOMAS, Chicago
A rope in section 105a
CAROL L. GLOOR, Chicago
How to Survive Winter
CHEYENNE DEMUS, Chicago
All for nothing
CHRIS MACK, Chicago
anna and me
CHRIS REID, Chicago
Unsent Letter
CJ LAITY, Chicago
Endangered Species
CYNTHIA PFEIFFER, Oak Lawn, IL
Your Cat
DONNA KISER, Chicago
Walls and Addictions
DONNA PECORE, Chicago
Defining the Avatar
JENNY SANTELLANO, Glenview, IL
If Just For A Day
JUDITH MK TEPFER, Highland Park, IL
Asylum
LAURIE BLUM, Chicago
Cherries Roll Downhill
LAURIE SLICER, River Forest, IL
Medusa
LINDA LEEDY SCHNEIDER, Grand Rapids, MI
Tomato
LIZ PAVEZA, Elmhurst, IL
Day Worker
LORRAINE BROWN, North Barrington, IL
What my momma said
LORRAINE HARRELL, Chicago
The Healing Heart
MARCIA J. PRADZINSKI, Skokie, IL
Diamonds
MARGARET DUBAY MIKUS, Lake Forest, IL
Cast Off
MARIANNE SCHAEFER, Chicago
NEEDS AND WANTS
MARITA DEMARINIS, Chicago
Dark Silhouette
MARY CHAPMAN, Orlando, FL
Change
MARY LANGER THOMPSON, Apple Valley, CA
Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?
MICHAEL ETHAN LANDAU, Evanston, IL
The Invisible Man
NORM NANSTIEL, Des Plaines, IL
You in Me
RENÉE SZOSTEK, Ann Arbor, MI
The Moon
SHARON BENTLEY, Chicago
99¢
SHEILA A. DONOVAN , Chicago
OLD FRIDGE NEW FRIDGE
STELLA V. RADULESCU, Chicago
No, thanks
SUSAN BEALL SUMMERS, Hutto, TX
Donut Memory
SUSANNE DONOGHUE, Evanston, IL
Apr 17 Leaving Coats Behind
TERRI M. O’HARA, Santa Monica, CA
30 December Meditation #17
VALISA BENSON, Chicago
The Screen
ZANN CARTER, Terre Haute, IN
when i do tai chi sometimes
And ChicagoPoetry.com Press is also pleased to showcase talented poets from Joseph E. Gary Elementary School in Cram Volume 9.
JAILENE HERNANDEZ
“Someday”
ALFA RODRIGUEZ
“One Open Window Is All I Need”
SALUD MARTINEZ
“One Window is All I Need”
ALLISON LIZCANO
A Leader in Me
Congratulations, poets!
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CRAM VOLUME 8 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
 Congratulations go out to the 32 poets who were selected for inclusion in CRAM VOLUME 8: POETIC CHICAGO. Cram 8 was released on Saturday, April 24, 2010, from 10 AM until 2 PM, at the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street, during the annual National Poetry Month Festival, where over 300 copies were given away FREE to the public. Many of the Cram 8 poets read their selected poem during the release event at the Harold Washington Library during the Poetry Fest on April 24: click here for some photos from the event and to listen to the event, in its entirety, on WBEZ Chicago Amplifed.
CRAM VOLUME 8 included work by Infamous, Charlotte Digregorio, Christine Cassello, Cynthia Pfeiffer, Divya Rajan, Ellen Savage, Jenny Santellano, Jim Graham, Laurie Blum, Liz Paveza, Louise Mathewson, Marianne Schaefer, Marilyn Peretti, Mary Langer Thompson, Michael Ethan Landau, Norman Nanstiel, Patrick Kijek, Paul Buchheit, Rae Timothy, Robin Goldberg, Sharon Bentley, Sheila A. Donovan, Shontay Luna, Wilda Morris, Donna Pecore, Clare McCloskey, Marita DeMarinis, Bonnie Pignatiello Leer, Chris Reid, Doree L McNulty, Kim Berez, and Jayson Nessi.
Sorry, all copies of Cram 8 were given away FREE to the public.
THE CRAM 7 POETS
 Right in time for the holidays, ChicagoPoetry.com Press released Poetry Cram Volume 7, a chapbook filled with holiday themed poetry by:
Donna Pecore, Joseph S. Spence, Sr., Robert Klein Engler, Susan T. Moss, Anna Husain, Cynthia Pfeiffer, Sheila A Donovan, Mary Langer Thompson, Michael Landau, Marissa Brawn, CJ Laity, Diane Anjoue, Doree McNulty, Edith Willis, Laurie Blum, Peter Rodenby, Norm Nanstiel, Tania Ahlin, Laurie Slicer, and Clarke Canedy.
Cram 7 was given away free to audience members at the Chicago Poetry Love-In on December 4, 2009. More were given away free at various venues throughout December and January. About 250 copies total were given away free and a $100 cash prize was given to the recipient of the Editor's Choice Award.
Sorry, Cram 7 is gone. All copies of Cram 7 have been put into the hands of the people.
Many people got a free copies of Cram 7 at these two release events.
.
--and--
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CRAM 6: THE UNCENSORED EDITION!
Cram 6: The Uncensored Edition was given away free to the public on Friday, July 31, exclusively at the Printers Ball. Hundreds of copies of Cram 6 were given away to the public.
Sorry, Cram 6 is all gone. They are all in the hands of the people.
Hundreds of copies of Cram 6 were given away free at
*****CRAM 6 POETS*****
Congratulations go out to the poets chosen for inclusion in Cram 6.
Amber Groomes, Angie Tomcik, Chris Reid, Colleen D. Storiz, Cynthia Gallaher, Cynthia Pfeiffer, David Breeden, Dizzy Costales, Don Ward, Donna Pecore, Dred Sista Ren, George McKim, Homer Smith, Jennifer Dotson, Judith Wiker, Julie M. Tate, Laurie Blum, Lillian Jordan, Marilyn Peretti, Marissa Brawn, Michael H. Brownstein, Michael Landau, N. Barry Carver, Peter Rodenby, Sheila Donovan, Shontay Luna, Stella Vinitchi Radulescu, Vito De Meo, Shermin Izadpanah-Kruse and Wilda Morris
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CRAM 6 POETS!!
LISTEN TO THE CRAM 5 RELEASE EVENT ON WBEZ RADIO
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
Please bookmark or add to favorites for future reference.
CRAM 5 IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE
Congratulations go out to the 29 poets selected to be included in ChicagoPoetry.com's new publication, Poetry Cram Volume 5.
Hundreds of copies of Cram 5 were given away for free HERE and HERE.
Sorry. Due to the popularity of Cram 5, we no longer have copies available for mail orders.
THE CRAM 5 POETS ARE:
 Rabi Akbik, Evanston, IL
Amy Srodon
veronica precious bohanan, Chicago, IL
Stella Radulescu, Chicago, IL
Bianca Teresa Cappetta, Chicago, IL
Jo Stewart, Chicago, IL
Peter Rodenby, United Kingdom
Jim Lambert, Carbondale, IL
Tim Kucharski, Chicago, IL
Rodney Reinhart, Blue Island, IL
Sara Gove, Chicago, IL
Laurie Blum, Chicago, IL
Shirlee Sky Hoffman, Chicago, IL
Shannon Byers, Chicago, IL
Sheila A Donovan, Chicago, IL
Donna Pecore, Chicago, IL
Giuliano Fontanez\, Ottawa, IL
Bonnie Pignatiello Leer, Manteno, IL
Paul Stewart, Chicago, IL
Wilda Morris, Bolingbrook, IL
Lillian Jordan, Chicago, IL
Anna Husain, Barrington, IL
Joseph Spence, Sr, Shorewood, WI
Cynthia Stell, Oak Lawn, IL
Matthew Polk, Chicago, IL
Timothy A Schuler, Chicago, IL
PJ Destin, Chicago, IL
Michelle Brinckerhoff, Wilmette, IL
Alexei Lalagos, Chicago, IL
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CRAM 4 IS OUT OF PRINT AND IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE
 Exciting News! Cram 4 is a total success.
As promised, all 400 copies have been given away to people at the Woodland Pattern Marathon Poetry Reading in Milwaukee, at the Loose Leaf Tea Loft, by mail, and at the 2009 AWP Conference at the Hilton Chicago.
**Sorry. Due to the popularity of Cram 4 we no longer have extra copies for mail orders.
CRAM 4 FEATURES 33 TALENTED POETS
Congratulations go out to the 33 poets who are included in Cram 4, a chapbook that was distributed free to the public at the 2009 AWP Conference in Chicago, and at other public literary events.
The poets selected for inclusion in Cram 4 are:
Laurie Slicer, River Forest, IL
David Breeden, Mukwonago, WI
Jose Bono Rovirosa, South Korea
Sean Spellman, Chicago, IL
Marilyn Peretti, Glen Ellyn, IL
Donna Pecore, Chicago, IL
Edward D Ward, Raleigh, NC
Chuck Joy, Erie, PA
Wilda Morris, Bolingbrook, IL
Glenn Ferdman, Skokie, IL
Thomas Foote, Shawnee Mission, KS
Davy Corbett, Lake Barrington, IL
Steve Mayfield, Des Plaines, IL
Laurie Blum, Chicago, IL
Anna Husain, Barrington, IL
Jennifer Dotson, Highland Park, IL
Shontay Luna, Chicago, IL
Julie Tate, Tulsa, OK
Sharon Ankrum, Oak Park, IL
Bonnie Leer, Manteno, IL
Daniel S. Weinberg, Chicago, IL
Zachary Kluckman, Rio Rancho, NM
P.S. Cottier, Australia
Wendy Brown-Baez, Minn, MN
Cynthia Stell, Oak Lawn, IL
Robert Klein Engler, Chicago, IL
Peter Rodenby, United Kingdom
rachel levy, Glenview, IL
Chance Corbeil, Columbus, OH
Linda Kaban, Wauconda, IL
Jeffrey Allen, Crystal Lake, IL
Angelique Williams, South Holland, IL
Rabi’ Akbik “Rabibaba”, Evanston, IL
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CRAMFORMATION
*Cram is edited by well known publisher CJ Laity. Submission does not guarantee publication. Printing fee will be refunded if your poem is not selected for publication.
--Cram is titled after the popular open mic event, The Poetry Cram.
 --There are no restrictions as to subject matter, style or form. The more variety the better. Let us see what you have.
--Cram is open to all poets, previously published or unpublished.
--You don't have to be from Chicago to submit to Cram. If you have a poem published in Cram, but you're not around to get your free copy, one will be sent to you by mail free of charge.
--Previously published work is okay.
--You can submit up to three poems, but only one poem will be chosen for publication per issue.
--We are presently only accepting submission by e-mail and only accepting donations toward the printing cost by use of the link to PayPal above. For your security, only tiny amounts of money are kept in the PayPal account at any given time. We are not currently accepting submissions by snail mail.
--Crams are handmade by editor CJ Laity. They are truly collectors items.
--Always include a short cover letter letting the editor know a little bit about yourself any time you submit poetry to a publication. It is professional to do so and increases your chances of getting published.
--If possible, send your poetry submission as an attachment in a word document. You can submit in the body of the email, but sometimes doing it that way changes the form of your poem.
--Copyrights revert back to individual authors after publication. That means you can republish your work, but it's polite to mention Cram as the publication your poem first appeared in.
--ChicagoPoetry.com reserves the right to publish and distribute unlimited copies of Cram or to put into additional printings any volume of Cram.
Eighteen poets were selected to be included in Cram Volume 3 published by ChicagoPoetry.com Press. Three hundred copies of Cram 3 were distributed for FREE to people at various venues, including the Printers Ball sponsored by Poetry Magazine, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Friday, August 22, 2008. The poets selected for inclusion are:
 Dred Sista Ren
Daniel Weinberg
Bonnie Pignatiello Leer
Marilyn Peretti
René Ostberg
Tara Keogh
Jessica Lane
Charlotte Hart
Jenna Augustine
Lillian Jordan
Donna Eder
Tom Roby
Andrew Rafalski
Chris Reid
Rod Reinhart
Donna Pecore
Glenn Ferdman
Thomas Foote
Congratulations to the selected poets!
CJ Laity
Editor
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
CRAM VOLUME 2 POETS
Eighteen poets were selected for inclusion in Cram Volume 2, which was distributed free to the public on Sunday, June 8, 2008, at the Printers Row Book Fair. The recipients of this honor included:
 Kristin LaTour, Aurora, IL
Andrea Uptmor, Chicago
Bianca Cappetta, Chicago
Bonnie Pignatiello Leer, Manteno, IL
Dan Cleary, New Lenox, IL
Daniel Weinberg, Chicago, IL
Donna Pecore, Chicago
Frances Buckley, Chicago
Gerard Sarnat MD, Portola Valley, CA
Glenn Ferdman, Skokie, IL
Jill Eisnaugle, Texas City, TX
Julie Tate, Tulsa, OK
Lina Chern, Vernon Hills, IL
Marilyn Kraus, Chicago
Marilyn Peretti, Glen Ellyn, IL
Martin Willow, Lakewood, NY
Thomas Foote, Shawnee Mission, KS
Sandy Goldsmith, Chicago
FREE POETRY FROM THE DUSTY BOX!
 Cram Volume 1 featured excellent poetry by Buddha309, Donna Pecore, Dan Cleary, Jo Stewart, Larry O. Dean, Robin Goldberg, Lorraine Harrell, Rod Reinhart, Glenn Ferdman, Linda Bendorf, Paul Stewart and Jason Sturner.
Cram Volume 1 was officially released at the Harold Washington Library on Saturday, April 26, 2008. during the National Poetry Month Poetry Fest.
Cram will always be distributed free to the public. How cool is that?
Sorry!!! All available copies of Cram 1, 2 and 3 have been distributed free to the public. We would say that they are "sold out" but we didn't sell them; we gave them away FREE. We may do another printing of any volume at any time, so check back to see what's available.
WHAT A CRAMFULLY CRAZY IDEA!
Poetry Cram Magazine, published by ChicagoPoetry.com Press, is a wonderful idea that is so crazy that it works. Cram is not funded by government grants or by corporations. It has great karma because the people who love poetry the most, the poets, fund it. The small amounts of money that the poets chip in go directly toward the printing of Cram. The more poets who participate, the more copies of Cram can be printed. When more copies are printed, more people get it for free and read it. This guarantees that your poetry will find its way into the hands of the people. Let's face it! People rarely ever buy poetry books, but people love to get free stuff. Cram is not going to sit in a box and collect dust because we are giving it away! Isn't that crazy?
What? You say you don't have a poem but want to send a gift to help with the printing of Cram anyway? Every buck you donate creates another issue of Cram. CLICK HERE TO CHIP IN..
CRAMIBUTION REPORT
 --Several advance copies of Cram Volume 1 were given away for free to people at Millennium Park on Sunday, April 20, 2008.
--April 21, 2008, several copies of CRAM Volume 1 were given away for free to people at a Chicago open mic venue.
--Over one hundred copies of Cram were distributed free at the Poetry Fest at Harold Washington Library on April 26.
--May 16, 2008, several copies of Cram Volume 1 are given away free to audience members at Mercury Cafe during Vito Carli's open mic event.
May 20, 2008, several more copies of Cram are given away free to audience members at another poetry open mic.
--Saturday, June 7, 2008. Cram Volume 2 is at the Printers Row Book Fair. Over 100 copies are given away to audience members at the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Stage throughout the day.
--Sunday, June 8, 2008, another 100 copies of Cram Volume 2 are given away free to audience members at the Printers Row Book Fair.
--Several copies of Cram 2 are given to David Hernandez to be given out free at Blue Line Studios.
--July 27. Several copies of Cram 2 are given to audience members at Cathleen Schandelmeier's Beach Poets event.
--300 copies of Cram 3 were distributed for FREE to people at the Printers Ball at the Museum of Contemporary Art on August 22, 2008.
--January 31, 2009: Dozens of copies of the long anticipated Cram 4 are given away free to attendees at the Woodland Pattern Marathon Poetry Reading in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
--February 6, 2009, dozens of advance copies of Cram 4 are given free to the public at Loose Leaf Tea Loft.
--February 10, Several more copies of Cram 4 are given away free at High Tea With the Poetry Princess open mic.
--February 12, 50 copies of Cram 4 are given away free to people at the AWP Conference at the Hilton Chicago.
--February 13, 100 copies of Cram 4 are given away free to people at the AWP Conference.
--February 14, every last copy of Cram 4 is given away during the AWP Conference. A total of 400 copies of Cram 4 were given away so far.
--April 19, 2009, 75 advance copies of Cram 5 are given away at Peter Jones Gallery during the Poetry Explosion.
--April 25, 2009, hundreds of copies of Cram 5 are given away at the Harold Washington Library during the Poetry Fest
--Arpil 26, the remaining copies of Cram 5 are given out at the Evanston Public Library during the Rhino Magazine Forum
--July 31, 2009, Cram 6 was released at the 2009 Printers Ball sponsored by Poetry Magazine / Poetry Foundation at Columbia College. Hundreds of copies were given away free to the public and we did a big release reading in a wonderrful theater.
--December 4, 2009, about 70 copies of Cram 7 were given away free to audience members at the Chicago Poetry Love-In at Cafe Ballou.
--Throughout December 2009, Cram 7s were distributed at various venues.
--On January 16, 2010, about 40 copies of Cram 7 were given away free to people at the New Year Poetry Cram show.
--20 free advance copies of Cram 8 were given out at the Sam Hamill reading in Oak Park on April 17
--Over 300 copies of Cram 8 were given away at the Poetry Fest at Harold Washington Library on Saturday, April 24
--Saturday, May 8, last remaining copies of Cram 8 were given out at Cafe Ballou during the Mother's Day Poetry Cram.
--July 25, 2010, twenty sneak peek copies of Cram 9 are given away at the Beach Poets show at Loyola Beach in Chicago.
--July 26, 2010, about 80 copies of Cram 9 are sent out by mail so far.
--July 30, 2010, about 150 copies of Cram 9 will be given away at the Printers Ball at Columbia College.
--August 14, 2010, ABOUT 50 copies of Cram 9 were given away at the release reading at CAFE BALLOU, 939 N. Western Ave, 7 PM.
--December 2010, over 200 copies of Cram Volume 10 are mailed to the selected poets in time for holiday gift giving
--January 15, 2011, the remaining Cram 10s are given away FREE at the release party at Café Ballou.
--April 30, well over 300 copies of Cram Volume 11 were given away FREE at Harold Washington Library and at the release party at Café Ballou.
--Hundreds of copies of Cram 12 have been given away.
--300 copies of Cram 13 were given away at Harold Washington Library, April 28, 2012
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT TO CRAM 14
Note: This is your chance to get published in one of Chicago's most popular poetry periodicals, POETRY CRAM. Here are the details.
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