I ARRIVED HOME on a recent Saturday afternoon to the answering machine blinking.
When I reached Sharon Harris of the northern Minnesota based Jackpine Writers’ Bloc a few moments later, I was pleased to hear her news. I’d placed second, she said, in the poetry division of The Talking Stick 23 competition with my poem, “Sunday Afternoon at the Auction Barn.”
Such news could not have come at a better time. Just the day prior, my mother had entered a nursing home. I needed to hear something positive.
TS 19 in which my poem, “Hit-and-Run,” received honorable mention.
Getting work accepted into this well-respected literary journal is always an honor. This marks my fifth year in the book in six years of submitting. Twice I’ve earned honorable mentions, for my poem “Hit-and-Run” and for my short story, “The Final Chapter.”
And now this year, I bumped up a spot to get that second place award. Another poem, “The Promised Land,” and a short story, “Eggs and Bread,” will also publish in volume 23.
The Talking Stick editorial team read and considered more than 300 submissions (of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction) before forwarding their top picks in each of the three divisions to selected “celebrity” judges. Poet Margaret Hasse judged this year’s poetry.
Finishing second, I not only receive a $100 cash prize, but also Hasse’s comments on “Sunday Afternoon at the Auction Barn.” She writes:
I loved how you turned a humdrum occasion of bidding on antiques in an old barn into a closely observed and luminous occasion. The writer John Ciiardi once wrote that close and careful observation can “leak a ghost.” The surprise of your poem was the elevation of a commercial or material enterprise into a spiritual gathering—with a fellowship, liturgy, reverent respect, and people who commune. The ending—visual and concrete—was just right. The poet Franklin Brainerd wrote a poem something to the effect, “in a world of crystal goblets, I come with my paper cup.” There’s something both unpretentious and appealing about “sipping steaming black coffee from Styrofoam cups.”
Hasse gets it. She totally understands my poem, how each well-crafted line defines, as she says, a “spiritual gathering” in a small town auction barn.
If I could share my auction poem with you today, I would. But I’ve signed a contract not to do so for a year.
Suffice to say, this poem, like nearly every other poem I’ve written and/or had published, is rooted in my rural memories, my connection to the land and/or my appreciation for rural Minnesota.
Turek’s Auction Service, 303 Montgomery Ave. S.E. (Highway 21), Montgomery, has been “serving Minnesota since 1958.” Daniel Turek, Sr., started the third-generation family business now operated by Dan, Jr. and Travis Turek. They sell everything from antique vases to real estate.
Specifically, a photograph I took this past winter of a Montgomery, Minnesota, auction barn prompted the idea for this winning poem. I also drew on my experiences attending auctions, albeit not in recent years, to pen the 12 lines of verse.
Likewise, “Lilacs,” a poem I will read this coming Saturday evening, May 10, during the Poet-Artist Collaboration XIII reception at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota, was inspired by my rural rooted memories. (Click here to learn more about that poet-artist collab.)
When I consider my poetry, I clearly hear the rural voice in my words. There’s nothing pretentious about me. I remain, as I always have been, rooted to the land in my writing.
FYI: The Talking Stick 23 publishes late this summer with a book release party set for Saturday, September 13, in the Park Rapids area. To purchase past volumes of the anthology, click here.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Congratulations!!!!!! Hope to see you this Saturday in Zumbrota!!!!
That would be wonderful. And thank you.
Congratulations!
Thank you, Dan.
Congratulations, Audrey!
Thank you, Deanna. Nice to hear from you again.
Congrats Audrey!
Thank you, Mike.
I am so sorry to hear of Clayton’s passing. That’s an incredible tribute to him. What a remarkable man.
Readers, you MUST check out Mike’s moving post about his right hand man, Clayton, from the Emmaville Store in northern Minnesota:
http://emmavillestore.blogspot.com/2014/04/position-available.html
Congratulations Audrey. What a wonderful God given talent you have.
Thank you, Louise. I appreciate your kind comment.
Congratulations Audrey! You are so talented. Wish I lived closer so I could come and
hear you at the reading.
You chose a good place for your Mom to live. They will take good care of her and I
am sure she will like it there.
DeLores
Thank you, DeLores. Maybe I should do a reading at Parkview sometime when I’m visiting my mom.
We are so pleased that Mom is at Parkview. She raves about the kindness of the staff and the beautiful home-like environment. I’ve had numerous loved ones who’ve lived at Parkview, so I know it’s excellent reputation.
You should stop by and introduce yourself to my mom. I’m sure she would be pleased to meet you.
I must do that as I have others living there that I have to catch up on visiting.
We are doing some remodeling in our kitchen and bathroom so it would be a
good time to go when I have to stay out of the way of the workers!!! The weather is
so nice now too.
I am sure they would like to hear your readings and so would I!!
Those are big projects, to tackle both an kitchen and bathroom remodel simultaneously.
Yes, the folks at Parkview would love to see you, DeLores.
I am so HAPPY and EXCITED for You – Doing a Happy Dance Over Here – Congrats & Well DESERVED – Time to CELEBRATE now – Commence the Bubbles 🙂 🙂 🙂
Commence the bubbles. What type of bubbles are we talking here?
Sparkling Bubbles – guess I should have clarified that – POP!!! some corks!!!
Pop.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!! So happy for you. And yes, such lovely timing. Horray!
Thank you, Gretchen.
Congratulations, Audrey! This is a well honor.
Thank you, Katie, and it’s so good to hear from you.
I’ll add my congratulations, too, Audrey! And good luck with the transition happening with your mom.
Thank you, Kathleen.
My mom is transitioning well. She always makes the best of every situation and is so overwhelmingly positive, two of the reasons people love her so.
Congratulations!!! Again! I won’t be able to make the Zumbrota event on Saturday as I have a concert to attend of a group that I am on the board and will have “duties” there. But I will be there in spirit! I am very proud of you and of your accomplishments!
Thank you, Beth Ann. It would be a long drive for you. But I do so appreciate the thought. Enjoy your concert.
Congratulations, Audrey. Well deserved.
Thank you, Ryan.
I love how your photography inspires your poetry. Congratulations, Audrey; that’s so exciting and what a great honour. I love your poetry and your writing and it’s lovely to see you being recognised for your talent. I’m sorry to hear your mother has had to go into a nursing home – that’s always very difficult xx
Thank you, Charlie.
My mom is transitioning quite well and is a wonderful place with the most caring staff.
Goodness girl you did it again…..CONGRATS!!! You pour your heart out into your writings! Isn’t it nice to know that others can appreciate that? So Happy for you Audrey. Will you be heading to Park Rapids for the big party…. It’s a beautiful little town, you’d love it. (cant remember if you’ve been there?)
Thank you, Jackie. No, I have not been to Park Rapids, but would like to go there some day. It won’t be this year, though, as my 40th year high school class reunion is the same date as the book release party. Sigh.
Ugh… oh well It’ll happen some year 🙂
Congratulations, Audrey! And have a great time tomorrow night!
Vivian
Thanks, Vivian. Just finished rehearsing for Saturday evening’s poetry reading.
Congratulations Audrey!
Farm auction tomorrow near Medford, alas too much work here to do!
I have not attended a farm auction in years. Too much to do here also.