September - "Humor on the Dance Floor" Any form. 40 lines max. Karen Kestner, sponsor.

November - Any subject. Any form. 40 lines max. William H. King, sponsor.

December - "Cleaning House" 20 Lines max. Lori Goetz, sponsor.

January - Details to be announced. Randy Stoker, sponsor.

February - "When I'm 64" or "When I Was 64" whichever is appropriate. Any form. 10-40 lines. Russell H. Strauss, sponsor.

March - Blank Verse. Any subject. 40 lines max. Janet Qually, sponsor.

April - Details to be announced. Pete Harris, sponsor.

May - Details to be announced. Sarah Hull Gurley, sponsor. 

The 2017 Poetry Society of Tennessee Festival Brochure is now available. Download a copy and find a contest that is calling you! Our Festival will be held October 7, 2017 and our guest speaker will be Ron Whitehead. Please join us at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn for a great day!

See details in the brochure link:

2017 Poetry Society of Tennessee Festival Brochure

Date: June 4

Time: 4:00 pm

Place: Celtic Crossing

Our June Poetry Reading will be held on Sunday June 4 at 4 pm at Celtic Crossing at the corner of Cooper and Oliver Streets. Celtic Crossing has one of the best restaurant patios in town that we can use this time of year. This location should please those who want an outside reading this year. The patio is partially covered, so rain is not be a problem. If it rains, we will be in the covered section of the patio. Celtic Crossing has no music on Sunday afternoon at this time, and because we will be outside (and away from the bar) the noise level will be low.

Both restrooms and food are available. We have set this reading at 4:00 so that that when we have our half time break, th...

Criteria: Beauty of Nature. Any Form. 40 line limit.

Sponsor: Sarah Hull Gurley

1st: Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX - "Of Cabbage Crowns and Dreams"

2nd: Frances Cowden, Cordova, TN - "Searching for Beauty"

3rd: Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN - "Late Afternoon Wedding, Hot Springs"

1HM: J. Pompford "Pete" Harris, Memphis, TN - "Bits of Beauty"

2HM: Lori Goetz, Germantown, TN - "One Hundred Wings"

don’t fade

Jarvis Johnson, Shelby Oaks Elementary, Amelia Bodgal, teacher

Elementary:

Judge: Whitney Brinkley Wright

1st: Balloon, Ella Gamble, Edmondson Elementary School, A. Long

2nd: A Girlie Girl Color, Allison Totty, Richland Elementary, Louise Clark

3rd: Forest, Trinity Crowder, Shelby Oaks Elementary, Amelia  Bogdal

4th: Tiger, A’Marion Bolden, Shelby Oaks Elementary, Amelia Bogdal

HM: A Forest of Thought, Crosswind Elementary, Mrs. Sludor

HM: Basketball, Tiyana Warren, Shelby Oaks Elementary, Amelia Bogdal

Criteria: Any subject. Any Form. 10-40 lines

Sponsor: Beverly Seaton

1st: Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN - "Mule Cart"

2nd: Pete Harris, Memphis, TN - "Love of Life"

3rd: Janice Hornburg, Johnson City, TN - "Last Maple"

1HM: Frances Cowden - Cordova, TN "The Spirit Speaks"

2HM: Sara Gipson, Scott, AR - "Finding Peace"

Photos and results from the 2016 National Convention

Jan.     TBA (chosen by group leader)
Feb.     #48. Texas: Bedrock, any form, 36
Mar.     #44.  Gingerbread Poets of AR. Appropriate subject, Spoon River, 40

The 2016 Mid-South Poetry Festival took place on the first Saturday of October.

Click here to see the Winner's List!

Subject: America the Beautiful

Any Form. 40 lines.

Sponsor: Russell Strauss

Criteria: Any Subject. Blank verse. 40 lines.

Sponsored by Janet Qually

1st: Lori Goetz, Germantown, TN – “New Specs”

HM: Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX – “I’ll Skin It and Make Boots”

HM: Charles Firmage, Boise, ID – “Rain Girl"

Criteria: Winter Solstice

Any Form. 16 lines.

Sponsor: Lori Goetz

Criteria: Teaching (any interpretation)

Any form. 30 lines.

Sponsor: Leslie: Blakeburn

1st: “To a First Grade Teacher”  – Sara Gipson, Scott, AR

2nd: “Time Together”  – Charles K.  Firmage, Boise, ID

3rd: “Child Care”  –  Florence Bruce,  Memphis TN

1HM:  “The silence of Leaving”  – Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN

2HM:  “ By Example” – Lori Goetz,  Germantown,

This contest is for members only. Please contact us to join!

April: The Inside Out Award: "What you see when you look in the mirror, real or imagined." Any Form. 40 lines maximum.

Sponsored by Barbara Blanks

March 4, 2017:

White Station Public Library

Regular Meeting

2:00 - 4:00 P.M.

April 1, 2017:

Colonial Park Methodist Church

Special Awards for Student Poetry Contests

May 6, 2017:

White Station Public Library

Regular Meeting

2:00 - 4:00 P.M.

Stay tuned - we'll be posting our festival and contest information soon!

The Mississippi Spring Contest is due March 10, 2017

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies Contest is due March 15, 2017