As I write, the winter solstice has given way to the first of hundreds of longer-than-yesterday days. I’m settled on the beach, channeling a surfside Christmas, something I’ve not experienced for more than a decade. Replacing our traditional live tree and various decor, a hand-crafted, wooden “winter holiday” wave sits on a console, a pair of water-blue stockings and tiny, striped surfboard affixed. With gifts wrapped and plans in place, my mind has been poised not upon sugar plums or egg nog (or flip flops or beach hair) but upon a year of poets, poetry, and community in Tennessee and other parts, thanks to modern technology and a year’s travels.

What wonder a trip around the sun delivers. In the poetic realm, it’s been an incredible year of meeting fine people in person or in online gatherings at conventions, workshops, open mics, and readings; learning and improving practice, celebrating our poetry wins and publications; and reading your work in anthologies and collections (or experiencing you perform or read it!).

In 2024 I set my first-ever rejection goal, which quickly moved from 50 to 100. (I won’t hit 100 rejections this year, but I came close!) I encourage you to set a rejection goal in 2025. You not only create accountability to submit poems and increase your publication odds, but you defang the sting of rejections. Maybe a New Year’s resolution? Here’s another: treat yourself to a poetry collection from our book store and support a member author.

We closed out 2024 with a lively and productive discussion on group work. I am pleased to share that the poem attendees authored together during that session will be published in Tennessee Voices Anthology. We’ll kick off 2025 with a program on confessional poetry, then we’ll move focus to form with a February workshop on the ghazal.(Members, meeting replay links are available in meeting notice emails.) We’ll close the 2024-2025 program year with our poetry festival April 26, 2025. More details will be be shared soon.

Other opportunities opening soon include the National Federation of State Poetry Societies annual contests (PST members are also NFSPS members) and Poets for Peace call for submissions. Stay tuned for details. (These could be a great way to work toward your 2025 #rejectiongoals!)

If you’re looking for ways to be part of your poetry community, our society offers opportunities (no pressure to take on a role just for inquiring). Have a passion for contests, events, marketing, or finance? Know someone who’d make a great program presenter? Reach out (poetrytennessee@gmail.com).

Curious about PST? Join us at a meeting or event, or take the plunge and join us for our 71st year. Reach out anytime. I hope to see you soon at a PST event.

With gratitude and anticipation—
Lisa Kamolnick
President, Poetry Society of Tennessee