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HEAR YE ALL!
1979
UNITED AMATEUR PRESS CONVENTION
July 11, 12, 13
DAYS INN 95TH STREET RT. 1-35
SHAWNEE MISSION, KANSAS 66215
Cost: per room, per night, double bed $24.00, (tax incl.)
Save the date… Plan to come… Surprises!
ELEANOR CRUM AND FAMILY HOSTESSING
Those looking for mistakes are very likely to find them in The Eloquent Quill. My eyesight has been effected by the auto accident and I was a poor typist before.
However, I hope you will read our paper with all of the love with which it is offered.
Wondrous Beauty
by Ova B. Henry
Last night as I lay sleeping,
An artist painted a picture for me;
As I arose and looked out the window
A beautifully decorated scene I see.
The lawn is laid in soft velvet,
All carpeted with fleecy white;
Trees with frosted hair are bowing,
Seemingly in sheer delight.
There are many lovely decorations
On the little scrubs of this and that;
All the fencepost are proudly wearing
A tall white feathery hat.
Telephone lines are twined and twisted…
They have a white ropy look;
The lawn gate is open
Looking like a big white book.
Little snow banks are drifted…
Guided by an unseen hand:
Replicas of little mountains
As in jagged peaks they stand.
Wondrous Beauty! beautifully portrayed
By an Infinite Artist for me,
All over the lawn, lea and landscape
As far as my eyes can see.
(I received a lovely song from Ova called “What Would We Do Without Jesus.” It’s beautiful! Thank you, Ova.)
Only One Chance
by Lois Oakes (Excerpt – Thoughts in Rhyme)
I know not the day nor the hour
That I shall leave this earth…
So, I must therefore live each day
For all that it is worth.
I shall not pass this way again,
So give me strength of heart
To do some good down here, O Lord,
Ere I this world depart.
Where Constellations Sing!
by LaVerne Stallings
(In memorium of a dear nephew: Benjamin Ralph Dowdy)
From vantage heights where vision transcends space,
And galaxies weave stars against the skies,
You ride the winds of circumstance, where dreams
And reality meet and marry in surprise.
The mortal, minor differences we shared
Did not mean that we could be less proud,
As you ran through life’s scattered leaves of chance
With mirth unshadowed by the coming cloud.
And now, your chains are dust, and we
Will waste no wishes on so hopeless a thing
As longing for transient yesterdays
While you rejoice where constellations sing!
For love’s hand cannot stay the tide
That is perpetually toward a wholeness flowing,
Or burning incense heal the wound, while we
Search for reason beyond our humble knowing.
The race is done… you come full circle now,
No longer measured sunrise to sunset…
But, would we be mortal if we did not weep
And sometimes dream in shadows of regret?
Holding Hands…
by LaVerne Stallings
A few smudged ink stains on some line
Can sometimes
Become the lasting tie that binds
Searching hearts and minds.
For we, through words, have grown to know
The secret heart so
Well, your presence like a shadow clings
In words your message brings.
And though your voice I’ve never heard,
A knowing beyond word
Or sound with time ascends,
And speaks the language of true friends…
For on every page that’s known your touch
There lingers such
A lasting warmth, like holding hands
Across the distant lands.
One day when I was knee-deep in the dumps and without the willpower to wade out, the phone rang. It was long distance and Helen Pelosi’s warm, cheerful voice greeted me from the other end. Her beautiful outlook on life, her charm and forethought picked me up and dusted me off and set me back in the sunshine again. Thank you, Helen. Your hand in mine was, indeed, appreciated. (Imagine someone taking the time and caring enough about their fellowman to reach out as Helen has done!) Blessings, Helen.
My heartfelt appreciation is extended to all who have taken the time to write us such thoughtful notes, cards and letters. Lois Oakes, Velma Lamoreaux, Eleanor Crum, Marty Ford, Cassie Edwards, Pat Merz, Sister Mary Rega, Ruby Quillman, Paul Morrison, Mildred Wilson, Don Harding, and Delores Griffin are all very special people.
And especially to Etheree Armstrong, I would like to send a special ‘thank you’ for her encouragement and support.
Some very good submissions are coming in for the U. A. P. anthology that Mel and I are planning for the end of this year. If anyone wishes to be included in this book, send submissions and a small black and white photo if desired for consideration to 1812 Andrea Court, Concord, Cal. 94519 we would like to use at least two poems or articles from each member.
Christ, The Eagle, and Elijah
by Birdie Malcolm, new member U.A.P
How sweet to know that someday soon
We’ll know just as we’re known. (1 Cor. 13:12)
It is so hard for men down here
To understand as shown.
They’re liable to think it strange
Unless they find it so,
And what they think is queer and strange
They say, “It just isn’t so.”
Jesus, too, in deepest prayer,
Desired three friends to share; (Matt. 26:38)
In sorrow’s lonely hour, their aid
Would help the load to bear.
If only they would pray… but no!
They slept while Jesus prayed
For power to take on Him our sins,
And the terrible debt be paid.
An angel came and strengthened Him
Right in the crisis hour. (Luke 22:43)
Elijah, too, in his deep need,
And in his darkest hour (1 Kings 19)
Found an angel there to renew
Strength for many a mile.
WE, too, have added strength, not ours
And give the world a smile!
The eagle flies so high alone,
He’s closer to the sun.
We, too, sometimes must fly alone
Beyond that friends have done.
When we desire a helping hand
The arm of flesh will fail,
But as the eagle, strength renewed.
Can fly into the gale.
Our strength renewed when we are tired
By resting for awhile
Our soul and spirit inspired;
Youth and health restored. (Psa. 103:5)
We’re strong again… Hallelujah!
Taking courage, Brother,
Like Christ, the eagle, and Elijah
Fit to help another!
Mildred (Millie) Wilson is a retired, 76 year old publicity worker. She has done much work in garden clubs, P.T.A., federation, P.T.A council in her home town of Bremerton, Wash. She has won statewide honors for her work in District Federation of Garden Clubs.
Her work has appeared in the Bremerton Sun Post Intelligencer Seattle, Washington Clubwomen, Coffee Break, Tacoma Tribune, and many others.
She is active in Kitsap Writers, Washington Poets, K. Historical Society, U.A.P. and her books have have at least 10 outlets.
Her latest book of poetry, Prisms, is a self-published, 76 pg. limited edition. It is compiled of traditional and free verse and enhanced by 12 black and white illustrations by Richard Wilson.
The ivory, light-weight cover gives Prisms a rather plain look, but here again the old saying, “You can’t tell a book by its cover rings true. Her poems range from nostalgic to religious, with much of her every day life captured in between.
For more information about her book Prisms, write to Mildred Wilson, Bremerton, Wash. 98310
Heartsease
Shy sweet flower with a face,
Adding grace to any place;
Velvet petals frame your smile,
Darling features without guile.
Nodding blooms along my walk
Make me think: If you could talk,
You would tell me of your days;
Of your gentle, friendly ways…
Spreading love for all to see,
The beauty and tranquility.
Blessed the garden you will grace,
Precious flower with a face.
Recently there has been some controversy about “Rights” in the U.A.P. These definitions are offered for clarification of this matter and are the legal ones defined in the 1975 and 1976 editions of Writer’s Market.
First North American Serial Rights – This should be self-explanatory in as much as a “Serial” means a magazine or newspaper, or any publication that is published periodically, such as monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly. In offering these rights, one is stating that the material has not previously been published in such a publication. This “Right” has nothing to do with material that has previously been used in a book.
Book Rights – This gives a publisher the right to publish material in book form. It has nothing to do with First North American Serial Rights.
Second Rights – This gives a publisher the right to reprint material that has previously been used in a periodical or “Serial.” An author offering these rights to a publisher should list where and when the material was previously used.
All Rights – This gives a publisher the right to use your material any way that he or she might see fit. The publisher may use your material, re-sale it to another publisher or make a movie or T.V. play out of it without further payment to you. Be careful in granting “All Rights” to anyone.
First Rights – A short term for North American Serial Rights. If the material is an excerpt and the author is offering “First Rights” to a publisher, the author should print “Excerpt” after First North American Serial Rights, giving the name of the book in which the material is used.
The Eloquent Quill requests First North American Rights. We will consider “Second Rights” if the material has not previously been used in a publication of the U.A.P. Excerpts are also accepted, but we request the author let us know that the material is an excerpt and give the title of the book. Enclose S.A.S.E. with all submissions.
The Eloquent Quill amateur journal. 300 copies printed for distribution through the United Amateur Press and friends. Printed by offset on an A.B. Dick 310.
Published in the interest of amateur journalism for friends and members of the U.A.P. by Melvin and LaVerne Stallings, Concord Calif. 94519. Printed by offset.