Meet Sergio Ortiz aka Ecodelluvia - A SplashHall Poet

My name is Sergio Ortiz aka Ecodelluvia. I am a retired English teacher living in San Juan Puerto Rico. Several periodicals have published my poetry, El Nuevo Día and Claridad, Centro de Estudios Poéticos in Madrid, Spain, and POUI, Cave Hill Literary Journal. I belong to “The Pro Patient Coalition,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to protect of the health rights of the poor and homeless in Puerto Rico.

I have traveled extensively throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe and Israel. I lived in Perú, Argentina, Honduras, Bolivia, El Salvador, México, and the United States. I studied English Literature, Vocational Rehabilitation (Daily Living Skills Instruction for visually challenged elderly people), and Culinary Arts.

Sergio can be found roaming around SplashHall Poetry Forums, helping others, or expressing himself with a few verses of his own. You can also visit his blog at Eco_de_lluvia

Congratulation Cy Street And Dublin Steve - Top Poems For Tribute To Women

A gala poetry event at the Red Brick Bistro last night, Saturday August 26, 2006, Judge Mickey Cesar announced the winners of CafeRg's Splash Poetry Picture Competition. Top Honors went to Cy Street (First Place) for his poem "I Like The One Without The Dress" and DublinSteve (Honorable Mention) for his poem "The Art Of Women". Their winning poems can be read at SplashHall Poetry Forums



Cy will receive a beautiful bouquet of roses to give to his lovely wife (woman) from Allen, CEO of Kingsgate Diamonds and all top 4 poets will receive a CD collections of spoken word and music from Dave at Artvilla.

CafeRg's Splash Poetry Picture Competition is a free, open to all poets on the internet poetry contest. Judges for the "Tribute To Women" competition are Witt Wittmann, editor for D-N Publishing and is Poetry Director for SplashHall Poetry Forums. Debbie "Lady SunShine" Porter, SplashHall Hostess. Belinda Subraman, publisher of Gypsy Art Mag and host of the Gypsy Art Show heard the BZoO HomeGrown Radio. Mickey Cesar, an accomplished and published poet.

Poet Judge Mickey Cesar adds, "I'd like to thank all the SplashHall contributors for their fine work in the “Tribute to Women” poetry contest, and Rg for giving me the opportunity to contribute as a judge. I was glad to see such a wide variety of approaches to the subject, which made the experience of judging a delight: there were full narratives, where poets took their impressions of the woman in the photo and ran with it; poems celebrating the qualities of all women, poems projecting into the woman herself, and poems critiquing female representation in two- dimensional terms. I believe the final four choices presented to members represented these varied approaches well.

“The Art of Women” by dublinsteve struck me for its tender, yet impersonal treatment of the subject, and its brilliant combination of the medium – a digital photo of an attractive woman, with all its attendant associations in contemporary culture – with a real woman, imaginary or not. The poem allows its readers a lot of latitude in interpretation in reaching conclusions about the subject and the poetic voice, and is a wonderful read.

The untitled poem by Chelsea is remarkable for how immediately it engages the reader. The voice is natural, sadly conversational and intimate, and only the most detached reader would not feel an emotional response to this poem; the sense of loss, the sense of squandered humanity in the final lines leave the reader wanting to step out onto the street and embrace the first stranger they meet.

“Together” by ecodelluvia wraps the reader up in a blanket – a magic carpet, if you will – and whisks them back into a lovely vision of the Arabian Nights (without all the menace and gore, of course). The imagery is strong, and word-choice admirable: “hummingbirds that feast on colorless roses” and even “chocolate covered cheese” are lines that linger long after the first read.

“i like the one without the dress” by cy street is an evocative montage which a reader mores experiences than reads. Time and place are very fluid in this poem, and each stanza is a vignette unto itself; once the reader settles in to the idea that they are being flashed through seasons and space, those crisp moments in each stanza form a meta-narrative which leaves one happily exhausted, a truly enjoyable read.

In all, the contributors to “A Tribute to Women” developed a wonderful, eclectic collection. Thanks to all, and congratulations to the winners and nominees". ~ Mickey Cesar

Mickey Cesar is a former soldier and sailor attending the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS), where he lives with an eighteen-pound tomcat named Alexander Nevsky. His poems have appeared in Andwerve, Coal City Review, I-70 Review, The Other Side of Sorrow (Poetry Society of New Hampshire Press, 2006), Kiosk, and other journals. Mickey has been published as a "Pocket Poet" by UnHoly Day Press (Kansas City, 2004) and is also the author of the poetry collection Vanishing Point (219 Press, 2005) available through Amazon.com.

The Red Brick Bistro is virtual open mic peotry read hosted by cafeRg and streamed live on BZoO HomeGrown Radio on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 9 PM EST. An encore performance will be broadcast tonight at 9 PM EST August 27, 2006.

To submit your audio performance poetry for consideration on the Red Brick Bistro, send a MP3 to cafeRg at cafeRg@gmail.com, include 'Red Brick Bistro" in the subject line. If you would likse to have your poetry group featured on the Red Brick Bistro, send an email to cafeRg to the same email as above.

Meet Laura Amanda Conroy A SplashHall Poet ~ Come Say Hello To Her

Laura Amanda Conroy:
Born in Derbyshire, UK 1987
The world hasn't been the same since.

Laura says, "I am music mad, as in mental, i can not live 24 hours without listening to music. Mostly heavy metal, but i love it all, which is probably why you'll find my best poems are the one's that rhyme. I love to write lyrics although i can not compose music.

I was the lyric writer for my alternative school band, which was fun.

I've always enjoyed writing but never seriously tried to make a career out of it. I could never understand all the rules to writing because for me the best poetry comes from the heart.

I've been writing since i was little when i used to write plays and get my friends and family to perform them with me and then i had a brief fling with the idea of a novel and now am obsessed with poetry.

I'm a little crazy and little subdued, a little high and a little low but mostly i'm just me.

Pleased to meet you all".

Come to SplashHall Poetry Forums and read Laura's poetry and become friends.

Meet Lanaia Lee ~ SplashHall Poet ~ A Virtual Meet Up

"I write because I feel each person has something unique to share with the world and writing is my gift to share"

Lanaia Lee is a 46-year-old stroke survivor that suffered a stroke at 35 due to high blood pressure. Her disease is called erratic hypertension. Ever since the stroke Lanaia has been in a wheelchair but she hasnt let that stop her one bit! In Lanaia own words "I still rock and roll, and I mean literally roll!" Lanaia has also lost six children due to her problem with blood pressure, leaving her with no living children, except for her 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier. He is her baby and constant companion.

She has been married to a wonderful husband for ten years, who is also in a wheelchair, but they live totally independently and on their own. Although according to Lanaia, "This factor does make life interesting! But we face each challenge with the help of God." Her grandmother, a self-professed black witch, raised Lanaia after her mother died when she was eight years old.

Why does Lanaia write such dark poetry? In Lanaia's words, "I guess being raised with the occult and supernatural explains why I have such a knack for dark poetry. Writing is one of the few things I can do that relaxes me. I will probably write for as long as I live because this is something that I really love to do. God gave me this literary gift, so why not use ?

Visit Lanaia Lee's Website or Meet Up with her at SplashHall Poetry Forums.

The Word

Busy, busy. Today we are all so busy. Communication is the key to understanding. Look at the technology that we have. We can flash an idea clear around the world in nothing flat. We can keep up with hundreds of acquaintances with the click of a single button. We can send pictures of ourselves in that silly hat that we knitted all by ourselves without leaving the security of our homes. We can email our friends and family everyday and inform them of every detail of our lives. In fact, with blogs, we can inform the whole world of every detail of our lives. We can rant and rave and bare our souls. We can laugh and cry and send our emotions to everyone in our address book if we so choose in the same instant, but I learned a very important lesson the other day. The spoken word can heal.

The spoken word can lift us up from the very depths of depression in a way that no email can ever do. The lilt of the voice can soothe like a lullaby. Some people have a gift in knowing the exact right words to say and how to say them. The next time that I know someone is hurting or upset, I shall remember the spoken word―the lazy man's email just won't do.

When I read the following poem by a SplashHall poet, I didn't really understand what was meant. Now I do. They have that something special, and they use the spoken word.

The X Factor

Is it a gene; is it a gift; is it acquired?
That special extra outpouring of concern.
That service that exceeds all others.

The smile that does not flash on and off
born of politeness, but glows focused just on you.
Time has no constraints or controls;
you receive their undivided attention.

Many walk in their shadow
Few have the electricity to illuminate their surroundings

Be it the boardroom or the backyard,
reward is not their focus.
Excellence is their motive.
How they stimulate us followers
who stand in awe.

Once met, their presence remains like a beacon at sea.
How blind can we be if we do not acknowledge this special soul
gifted beyond belief
They stand apart,
an example of how good we could be
given the test.

These people possess the X factor.
Maybe we can absorb this essence.

© Kevin Taylor (used with permission)

I think that I will go telephone my mother now.

The Poetic AX @ SplashHall Poetry - Can You Handle The Truth?

The Poetic AX ~ Sharp Critique
The Poetic Ax is just that, the AX --[unspoken] if you gonna put your poem here we are going to cut it up. Our AX is sharp baby, so dont start wining [sic] unless you bring the cheese--

SplashHall Poetry is proud to announce the Poetic AX -- a workshop to enhance your poetry. Make your poem sizzle. Our critique editors will review your poem to the bone. They are seasoned, accomplished poetry editors. They mean serious business.

The Poetic AX is exclusively at SplashHall Poetry Forums. It's absolutetly free. Our critique editors are professionals. This is your opportunity to have your poetry critiqued free - nada, no charge.

If you're not a SplashHall Poetry Forum member, you will have to register. It's quick, easy and free. You will be glad you did; it will be well worth your time. You will be back time and time again to polish that special poem and it will always be free. Click now and meet the SplashHall Poetry award winning critique editors in the
Poetic AX -- Witt Wittman, Cy Street, Diana Trees and Champagne Shoes

That is if you can handle the truth?

Don't like the sight of blood in poetry? Then try our Lite Critique in the Poetry Wax. We'll take care of those grammatical, technical and metric errors. Bandages available at the bar.

The Poetic Ax and the Poetry Wax exclusively at SplashHall Poerty for the serious poet in you.

Last Call For Poetry Submissions "Tribute To Women" Competition and Meet The Judges

Enter CafeRg's Splash Poetry Picture Tribute To Women [more info] Competition. Last Call For Submissions is - Monday, August 14, 2006 8:00 PM EST. If you have not entered the popular FREE poetry contest yet click the link above for more information or go directly to SplashHall Tribute To Women Poetry Competition Forum. Winners will be announced August 26, 2006.

The competition is judged by four Judges - two from SplashHall Poetry, one from BZoO HomeGrown Radio and one notable Judge from outside the SplashHall Poetry Network. The Judges score and choose four poems of all the entries for the Tribute To Women Competition. The four top poems are then submitted to a SplashHall Poetry members poll, which the members vote to award a First Place Banner and A Beautiful Bouquet Of Roses from Kingsgate Diamonds of Summit, NJ. Honorable Mention is awarded a Banner. The Top Four poems are also awarded an Artvilla CD Collection of Spoken word Poetry and Music.

The Tribute To Women Judge's are:



Special Guest Judge Mickey Cesar





Mickey Cesar is a former soldier and sailor attending the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS), where he lives with an eighteen-pound tomcat named Alexander Nevsky. His poems have appeared in Andwerve, Coal City Review, I-70 Review, The Other Side of Sorrow (Poetry Society of New Hampshire Press, 2006), Kiosk, and other journals. Mickey has been published as a "Pocket Poet" by UnHoly Day Press (Kansas City, 2004) and is also the author of the poetry collection Vanishing Point (219 Press, 2005) available through Amazon.com.


BZoO Radio And SplashHall Poetry Judges





Left to right BZoO Radio Host Belinda Subraman, SplashHall Poetry Director "Witt" Wittmann, SplashHall Host D. "Sunny" Porter.



BZoO Radio Host Belinda Subraman Belinda’s own writing has grown to span a vast array of subjects, styles and publications. She has traveled in over 20 countries, lived in Europe for 6 years and was part of an East Indian family for 22 years. These cross-cultural experiences often inform her work as well as her experiences as a Registered Nurse. These days her poetry, stories, and art can be found in hundreds of journals, reviews, anthologies, books and chapbooks. Since 1994 her archives are housed at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in the Center for Southwest Research. Her daily updated web site is Belinda Subraman She also is Editor/Publisher of a multi-media ezine at GypsyMag and is BZoO Homegrown Radio Host.

SplashHall Poetry Director Witt Wittmann a recipient of the James A. Rodgers Creative writing award, was born and reared in Lake City, SC. She has attended the the University of South Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education. Recently retired from the public school system, she now spends her time editing and illustrating books for others. She also the Poetry Directory at Splashhall Poetry. Wittmann is a self-taught, award-winning author and artist. Witt's work has been recognized and displayed at South Carolina's Artisans Center, and her tatted treasures have been exhibited throughout the state. witt has published two books: TatWitt: What I learned When I Learned To Tat (Union County Writers Press 2002) and Musing at La Poulaille (D-N Publishing 2002). TatWitt is an inspirational book with essays and poetry to motivate people to pursue their love for the arts. Musing at La Poulaille is a humorous collection of poems delving into the extraordinary world of chickens. You can see some of her tats and books at her WebSite.

SplashHall Hostess Debbie "Sunny" Porter lives in sunny Florida. Sunny dabbles in all type of arts and crafts. From panty hose dolls, dream catchers and quilts, each unique, never two alike. "When I was a teenager my favorite hobby was making necklaces, and poetry. I enjoy doing digital art, Cin(E)-Poetry, and spoken word Poetry". Sunny has published Skating on Saturns Rings & Sensual Lavender Dreams available through LuLu . You can visit one of her blogs at Lady SunShine's Aura Sunny has been a SplashHall Hostess for the past 5 year and loves helping others.

Meet SplashHall Poet Kay Vibbert ~ A Virtual Meet Up

I'm Kay Vibbert (Kathleen) and I live in the Midwest with my family. I'm retired and my three children are grown. I enjoy narrative and nature poetry and have been writing poetry for about ten years.

I left a librarian position several years ago and since have struggled with a vision impairment but it doesn't keep me from writing. I'm very excited to be included in Muscadine Lines, A Southern Anthology that has just been released by Cold Tree Press.

I enjoy digital photography also and hope to travel more when my husband retires. You can visit my personal blog at http://kathleenvibbert.wordpress.com/.

Visit Kay and read her poetry at SplashHall Poetry forums. Tell her cafeRg sent you.

Meet Cy Street SplashHall Poet ~ A Virtual Meet Up

my name is cy bish port street. i was conceived in an earthquake off bainbridge island in the company of sea lions, captain pete and bald eagles. i was born a hundred years and a few days and blocks from the same town square where wild bill hickok killed davis k tutt, jr.. apparently gambling and guns do not mix.

i was raised in the scrub brushes of mesquite and flat plains of dallas, texas. i can still smell my baseball mitt and the black earth of my childhood. i miss my stolen mongoose which accompanied me on countless expeditions through the undeveloped farms scattered like freckles on a sun scorched face.

poetry found me in a public school classroom at an early age. i was listening to a classmate read from euripides, "medea". as her husband's betrayal became evident, i watched a fly land on the teacher's fly swatter. in awe, i wrote the first lines of ignorance and irreverence. the first utterences were as meaningless as television, but i still like to read them, especially to children. i find little people judge less than their taller counterparts.

i owe as much to that fly as i do to so many dead writers. i carry baudelaire's letters with me as a reminder of how blessed my life is. his accounts of burning furniture to stay warm during the parisian winters, the pursuit of his debtors and the state banning of his words are for me inspirations and warnings of the magnitude of what is at stake.

i hold neruda's, memoirs, in the same regard as a jesuit might the bible. there are so many writers i love from the past and a few from the present, i do not have the time or space to cover them all. in simplest terms, it is for them i write. i imagine them looking down, drinks in hands, saying, "street, tell us something we don't know."

finally, i approach poetry as emotional photography. i try to convey what is impossible to see with the naked eye. i try to bring to bear all the modern tools that are available in this age. writing inside of splashhall is one of infinite examples of what is at our fingertips as writers. i am working on visual verse projects, musical interpretations and explorations of new languages.

poetry is bread, let's feed the world.

Visit Cy and read his poetry at SplashHall Poetry forums. You can also hear Cy on the BZoO HomeGrown Radio. Tell him DJ Rg sent you.