Janet Qually was presented with a plaque as this year's Poet Laureate of The Poetry Society of Tennessee.

Alongside Janet, JoAn Howerton, 2018-2019 PST President, holds a Proclamation that was presented to The Poetry Society of Tennessee from Jim Strickland, Mayor of The City of Memphis, proclaiming October 15, 2018 to be National Poetry Day throughout The City of Memphis.

AWARDS TOTAL $150 FOR POEMS AND FOR EYE-POEMS

1. The deadline for Grades 6-12 is December 7, 2018; Elementary and Eye-Poem is February 15, 2019. 

2. The competition is open to all TENNESSE students in grades 2-12. Public, private, and home schools are eligible.

3. Submit two single spaced copies of each poem. 12 point font is preferred.  Put the division (elementary, junior or senior) in the upper left corner of both copies. One copy must have student's ID in upper right corner. The ID information is student name, school name and address, student grade level, and the student's language arts/English teacher's full name.  

4. Each poem must be neatly typed or computer-generated, and have no more than 35 lines including ...

Please see link for Russell's Challenges for 2018-2019:

Russell's Challenges 2018-2019

SAVE THE DATE!! “Diamonds Crown the Poet In the City Different”, NFSPS 60th Anniversary Annual Convention. Sunday June 23rd through Wednesday, June 26th at the Hotel Santa Fe Hacienda and Saga Inn (2 hotels) Registration is now available at ww.NMSPS.org and there is a link on the www.NFSPS.org website to the convention. You may already register at the hotel. The time is different because of the cost of hotels. One hotel, the Saga Inn is less expensive. Website: http://nmpoetry.com/convention-nfsps-2019.shtml

Here are the 2017-2018 Student Contest Winners:

Student Winners List

Please plan to attend the Poetry Society of Tennessee's 62nd Annual Poetry Festival. Jerri Hardesty will be our workshop leader; winners of our annual contest will be announced. See our festival brochure for details!

Festival Brochure 2018

Any subject, Any rhymed and metered form, 30 lines max

Pete Harris, Sponsor and Judge

1st - The Eyes Have It, Barbara Blanks

2nd - Insomnia, Lori Goetz

3rd - Retirement Age, Ann Carolyn Cates

2018-2019 Contest Sponsorship PDF

Just

Thomas Waldrip, Shelby Oaks Elementary

Amy Bogdal, teacher

The 2018 Poetry Society of Tennessee Annual Contest Brochure is now available at the link below. Members and non-members are welcome! All submittals are due (postmarked) by August 1, 2018. All winners will be announced at PST's 62nd Annual Festival to be held on October 6, 2018. Please see the Contest Brochure for additional contest details. Additional details regarding the Festival will be posted shortly.

2018 Poetry Society of Tennessee Annual Contest Brochure

Patriotic Theme

Sponsor and Judge: Janet Qually

Any form, 10-40 lines

1st, Sara Gipson - "For Love of U.S.A."

2nd, Florence Bruce - "Hirohito on MacArthur"

3rd, James "Mac" Perry - "America"

"When I'm 64" or "When I Was 64" whichever is appropriate

Sponsor and judge: Russell H. Strauss

Any form. 10-40 lines

1st, Barbara Blanks - "An Oldie But A Goodie"

2nd, Lori Goetz - "Retirement Plans"

3rd, Florence Bruce - "Enchanting Event"

1HM, Sara Gipson - "Celebrating Sixty-Four"

"Elevators"

Sponsor and Judge: Randy Stoker

20 lines max

1st, Russell H. Strauss - "Elevator Dance"

2nd, Sharon M. Fox - "Crocodile Tears for the Alligator"

3rd, Ann Carolyn Cates - "Fear Factor"

HM, Lori Goetz - "Trapped"

The Eye-Poem was invented by Kenneth L. Beaudoin. The idea was to create a collage using visual and verbal imagery. A free verse poem is constructed by combining images from magazine pages with words, phrases and clauses to create a poem on one page. The objective is to create a mood or inspiration. Do not write a poem first and then look for pictures.  The poem is a discovery of words that fit with the graphics. You should be able to read the poem three feet away.

1. Find a picture or pictures up to 8 1/2 x 11 inches. Vertical is best.

2. Go through one or more magazines and find words or phrases etc. that remind you of the graphics (pictures). Cut the words out neatly and place on the page of  graphics. Do not use words ...

"Cleaning House"

20 lines max, Lori Goetz, Sponsor

1st, Ann Carolyn Cates - "Hoarding"
2nd, Russell H. Strauss - "Modern Household Solution"
3rd, Pete Harris - "Christmas Mourn"

Russell needs more entries for his Minute Poem entries. He’s going to extend his deadline.

Remember all monthly contest submittals are due to Pete Harris no later than the 20th of the month.

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

January – Elevators, any/20 lines max. 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 – Patriotic Theme, any form. 10-40 lines. Janet Qually, sponsor.

April – Any subject, any rhymed and metered form, 30 lines max. Pete Harris, sponsor.

RULES FOR POETRY SOCIETY OF TENNESSEE

2017-2018 STUDENT CONTEST

AWARDS TOTAL $150 FOR POEMS AND FOR EYE-POEMS

1. The deadline for Grades 6-12 is December 5, 2017; Elementary and Eye-Poem is February 5, 2018.  No exceptions.

2. The competition is open to all TENNESSE students in grades 2-12. Public, private, and homeschools are eligible.

3. Submit two copies of each poem. Put the division (elementary, junior or senior) in the upper left corner of both copies. One copy must have student's ID in upper right corner. The ID information is student name, school name and address, student grade level, and the student's language arts/English teacher's. No font larger than 12 point should be used.

4. Each poem must be neatly typed o...

Just a reminder that Russell holds his monthly critiquing sessions prior to the meeting; the purpose of the critiquing sessions is to help improve writing skills. These sessions focus on select 2018 NFSPS contests. These sessions are shown below:

November: #3 NFSPS Board Award

Subject: Any
Form: Rondeau (NFSPS brochure has a description of this form)

December: #2 The Diamond T Award

Subject: Cowboy Poetry detailing the life of a cowboy at work. Past or present cowboys. (See Baxter Black for examples)
Form: Any/50 line limit

January: A guest host will be chosen to direct this critiquing. The contest chosen will be that person’s choice.

February: #40 Poetry Society of Oklahoma Award
Subject: Any
Form: Trimetric/13 line limit

March: #46 San Antonio Poets...