First, a big THANK YOU to members and friends who joined us for our 70^th anniversary celebration. Together, we honored the seven-decade legacy of our poets and poetry. We revisited our founders and founding, enjoyed the work of PST poets past and present, shared memories, and sealed up mementos in a time capsule to be reopened on our 75^th anniversary.

This time of year, I look forward to another celebration:  the nightly lightning bug light show. The winged wonders usually arrive as spring ticks to summer. But while walking an early May evening this year, a lone firefly lit up—a full five weeks earlier than normal—and another toward the end of May. These twinkling outliers reminded me of an African proverb: “To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.” Sometimes, you need to get out ahead of others, sometimes you need to follow the early traveler’s path, sometimes you need to slowly forge a new trail together. (And sometimes, maybe you do a little of everything.)

Last year, our Board navigated new territory and stabilized our society. This year, I would like us to build upon that work and further our journey. Let’s explore Tennessee, discover what poets and arts communities are doing across our state, connect our poetic network in ways that might expand the impact all of us can make. Imagine holding a statewide poetry slam, collaborating with a ballet company to interpret poetry through dance, creating a quarterly e-magazine, collaborating with a community of artists, offering affiliate PST memberships to organizations, or holding regional open mic events monthly.

Sound impossible? A little crazy? These are just a few things state societies in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies are already doing. And in many cases, their blueprint for success is available just for the asking. We can nurture our traditions, adopt others’ successes, and form the future from our own fertile imaginations. My promise is to collect and bring ideas forward so we have possibilities to explore and decide upon. 

The power of our legacy and the possibility of promise are in all of our hearts and hands. PST happens when enough of us get involved in our past’s preservation and our future’s creation. To that end, I’d love to hear from you:

• Let us know about other poetry-focused organizations, dance and theater companies, art galleries, and other arts associations, especially those that might be open to collaboration. (If you include website, social links, and contact information—even better!)
• If you have energy to join a committee to help us lead, steward a tradition or explore a new direction, let us know. Today, we need an assistant treasurer, a festival chair, and a festival contest chair.
• We always welcome help on our regional committees, and we expect to have more opportunities for you to get involved as the year progresses.

We’re a spry 70! Let’s travel across Tennessee and light up the state with poetic energy!

With enthusiasm—
Lisa Kamolnick
President, Poetry Society of Tennessee