Poetry Society of Tennessee Turns 70

In June 1953, charter members gathered to sign a charter for a poetry society dedicated to poets and poetry. During the meeting, they elected officers and enacted a charter whose purpose stands fast today. Learn more.

Virtual Celebration Held

On the evening of June 15, 2023, society members from across the state and beyond gathered virtually to celebrate the occasion.

In the Beginning

President Lisa Kamolnick opened the event with a reading of Linda Pastan’s “A New Poet,” reflecting on the ways that Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) creates the kind of experience described in the poem for untold numbers of people through their many programs. She stepped through the founding history and spoke about the ways that PST continues to fulfill the charter’s original purpose today, such as member contests, educational programs, critique groups and sessions, student contests, poetry shares, annual festival, and anthology. Longtime member JoAn Howerton, who knew some of the founding members, added color and detail to the presentation. Lisa also expressed gratitude for the founders and the hundreds who came after to keep the society alive.

Long-time PST member JoAn Howerton reflects on founding PST members. — Long-time member JoAn Howerton shares memories of founding members.

Our Past in Poetry

Board Director and Member Contest Chair Russell Strauss, a longtime member, prepared a thoughtful and, at times, amusing collection of poems by past (and passed) members, with thanks to member and longtime contest chair Ann Carolyn Cates for assisting with the earliest poetry sources. He and other members provided a touching memorial reading of their poems:

“Harps in a Strange Land” by Raymond McCarty—read byRussell Strauss
“Dear Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck” by Michael R. Denington—read by Lisa Kamolnick
“Modern Times, Sometimes a Poem” by Isabel J. Glaser—read by Rose Klix
“Early Spring at Reelfoot Lake” by Patricia W. Smith—read by Rose Klix
“Joy” by Rosemary Stephens—read by Fred Tudiver
“Nothing” by Sam Sax—read by Fred Tudiver
Untitled pyramid poem by Kenneth Beaudoin—read by Calvin Ross
“From Stone to Stars” by Frieda Dorris—read by Calvin Ross
“Starlight” by Jeanine Mah—read by Cynthia Storrs
“God’s Grandmother” by Malra R. Treece—read by Howard Carman
“Like Milkweed Puff” by Eve Braden Hatchett—read by Russell Strauss

In Our Own Words

Treasurer and Membership Chair Howard Carman presided over a powerful poetry share, opening with two poems that inspired him to take up poetry seriously: “Acrophobia,” by Janice Hornburg (a former PST member, PST Best of Fest Winner, and Northeast Chapter leader) and “Pruning Rose,” by Rose Klix (Northeast Chapter founder and longtime chapter leader). PST members shared a collage of poetry:

Jerry Buchanan, “Song of the Stones”
Howard Carman, “Too Slow”
Janice Hornburg, “Acrophobia”
Lisa Kamolnick, “Breaking Silence” and (penned by Bard, Google’s AI Experiment) “70 Years of Poetry”
Rose Klix, “Gift of the Eagle’s Feather” and “Pruning Rose”
Lisa Riley, “Reflection”
Calvin Ross, “The Close-in Crowd”
Cynthia Storrs, “To the Non-Existent Parent Licensing Bureau” and “Ode to My Brother Who, Like My Father, Knows Everything”
Russell Strauss, “Emergency Call”
Fred Tudiver, “Chicken in a Shoe Box”

Treasurer/Membership Director and Anthology Chair Howard Carman tells of his first encounter with Poetry Society of Tennessee, and the profound impact members’ poetry had on him.

Preserving Our Memories

The evening concluded with a time capsule ceremony. Lisa Kamolnick presented and accepted various documents and artifacts and placed them in the PST time capsule, a heavy duty black case with dual combination locks. By unanimous decision in the only official business of the evening, the society heard a motion and approved that the time capsule hold said items, remain open through June 18, 2023, for any as-yet provided poetry from the poetry share, be sealed on June 19, 2023, not to be opened again until June 2028. The items placed in the physical time capsule have been digitized and placed in a digital time capsule as well.

As additional historical information is gathered and created over the coming years, the society will collect it for potential placement in future time capsules. Importantly, a central storage repository for history with a chain-of-command has been established to preserve PST history.

Contents of the Time Capsule inside an open container. A binder with various papers, a copy of the most recent edition of Tennessee Voices and a meat tenderizer.

While accepting items for the time capsule, President Lisa Kamolnick recognized former President Bill Hill for contributing artwork for several Tennessee Voices editions. Wondering about that meat tenderizer? It represents the “gavel” used in Memphis-based meetings for many years.

The evening concluded with thanks and merriment and a wish for Poetry Society to thrive for many years to come.

Bonus Material

Miss the meeting? Check out the replay.

PST member, PST-Northeast founder and former PST Poet Laureate Rose Klix sent a heartfelt note in response to the evening.