This time of year, I look forward to the arrival of warmer days, landscapes filled with lemony yellows and greens, and poetry celebrations! As I write this, we’ve just celebrated World Poetry Day. As March closes, we look ahead to National Poetry Month, the month our society has chosen to hold our 68th Annual Poetry Festival. I’m especially excited that we will have both an in-person and Zoom component for our festival. This makes it possible for us to meet in person for the first time since COVID reared its spiky, deadly head, while remaining accessible to those who are not able to travel. Our festival committee, in partnership with MTSU Write and Poetry in the ‘Boro, has put together a wonderful program for you, whichever way you plan to attend. Get details and a link to register here. Registration deadline is April 18, and the festival is April 26.

To further celebrate poetry in April, I’ll be squeezing poetry into every day, in some way, whether reading, writing, submitting, collecting rejections or participating in activities. I’ll start the month off celebrating at PoetTEA, our collaboration with Poetry Writers Workshop. I look forward to hearing our regulars and newcomers alike. (Join us!) Later that week, I’ll visit with Lost State Writers Guild and invite members to explore poetic insights for poetry and prose. I’ll attempt East Tennessee State’s Spring Lit Festival as well (get details here). Add in travel for family gatherings, and I’ve got a hectic and rewarding National Poetry Month coming, culminating our society’s program year with our 68th Annual Poetry Festival.

Then May will be upon us, time to renew membership in Poetry Society of Tennessee. This is also the perfect time to join! Find membership information here (online & mail options available). We already have our first presenter of the next program year: join acclaimed author Janisse Ray and explore the intersection of poetry and nature. Learn more.

This summer features the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) Annual Convention. Registration is open for this event, to be held July 23-28, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Last call for two anthologies:

• Poets for Peace anthology of peace poems. This call closes the earlier of March 31 or when they receive 150 entries. Learn more.
• Red Hawk Publications for Appalachian poets-submit poems for an anthology about Hurricane Helene to support the Helene Flood Relief Fund. Learn more.

Check out more poetry opportunities here.

If you have interest in volunteering for one of our society committees, we’re fielding a volunteer team for next year. We’re especially looking for people with a passion for contests, marketing, or creating connections in our regions. We promise, inquiries are not expectations for a commitment. Contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com to learn more.

Curious about PST? Join us at a meeting or event. Reach out anytime. I hope to see you soon at a PST event—in person or virtual.

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