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INFORMATION ABOUT CRAM 10 WILL BE POSTED SOON; PLEASE CHECK BACK.
CLICK HERE FOR SOME PHOTOS FROM THE CRAM 9 RELEASE PARTY!
CLICK HERE TO ORDER A BACK ISSUE OF POETRY CRAM.
THE CRAM VOLUME 9 POETS HAVE BEEN SELECTED
 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.
As you know, Poetry Cram Magazine is a unique way for talented poets to get their work into the hands of the people as quickly as possible. We know that copies of Cram won't sit in a dusty box waiting to be purchased because we GIVE them away! Over 2,400 copies of Cram have been given away free so far at such distinguished Chicago area venues as, The Harold Washington Library, The Printers Row Book Fair, The Woodland Pattern Bookstore, The Museum of Contemporary Art, and The AWP Conference. Because copies of Cram are distributed for free to those who are interested in poetry, Cram has become one of the most widely read poetry publications coming out of Chicago today. 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!
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.
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--and--
Over 2,400 copies of Cram have been given away so far at such distinguished Chicago area venues as The Printers Ball, The Harold Washington Library, The Printers Row Book Fair, The Woodland Pattern Bookstore, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The AWP Conference, and at many other events. Cram is one of the most popular and widely read poetry periodicals coming out of Chicago today.
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
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!!!!!!
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
Chicago Inspires Poetry
Often visitors to our great city are so inspired by our beautiful landmarks that they end up writing a poem in tribute. You don't have to be from Chicago to submit your work for publication. If you have a poem about Chicago, or about anything for that matter, you are invited to submit to Poetry Cram Magazine no matter where you live. If you are unavailable to pick your copy up at our release event, one will be mailed to you free of charge. Your work will be reviewed personally by CJ Laity for possible publication. Cram has published poets from all different parts of the United States and the world. We look forward to reading what you have to offer
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.
THE CRAM VOLUME 3 POETS
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
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..
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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ChicagoPoetry.com
