Bards of the Sangamo 4-17-03

Opening Day, A.D. 2003

Cold today;
Reckon that’s a blessing

My numb thumb failed to feel
the fish-hook stuck through it;

So much blood!
Mine–or the trout’s?

–John Craig Carpenter

Local poets were writing about contemporary events in the Sangamo Journal as early as the 1830s. People’s Poetry wants you to share your thoughts on what’s happening in Springfield today–in poetic form. Poems on any subject will be considered, but ones that deal with issues of local interest are encouraged. Send yours to poetry editor Lee Gurga, P.O. Box 662, Lincoln, IL 62656, or to gurga@ccaonline.com with “Bards of the Sangamo” in the subject line. (Please limit your submissions to poems of 14 lines or less.)

This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2003.