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...

Subject: "Cleaning House"

Form: Any, 20 lines max

Sponsor: Lori Goetz

These need to be sent to Pete Harris by 11/20.

Something New – Poetry Round Robins

Please see the attached flyer, and respond to Lori Goetz if you’re interested in participating.

Poetry Round Robins

The 2016 Mid-South Poetry Festival took place on October 7, 2017

Please click here to see the Winner's List!

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"