Poetry and travel thread from spring into summer for me. As I write, I’ve been on the road to Florida and back and hightailed it to Maryland, to visit a dear friend. In the midst of my travels, Poets Laureate have been named in the East and the West regions of our state. Also in the East, Southern Fried Slam Competition was held June 11-14.

On June 11, Aasritha Butti was named Youth Poet Laureate of Memphis for 2025. On June 16, member of East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame (and Poetry Society of Tennessee) Linda Parsons was named Knoxville’s 5th Poet Laureate. Linda’s term begins July 1, 2025.

Team winners of the Southern Fried Slam were 1st Place – Verbal Slap,
2nd Place – Rich Ink, 3rd Place – Spellbound, 4th Place – Detour Slam. Indie winners were 1st Place: THE GYEXP, 2nd Place: LADY 380, 3rd Place: Nathan Wallace, 4th Place: Silent Knight. If you’ve never experienced a slam before, be on the lookout for opportunities near you.

As we enter month two of our current program year, we also enter our 72nd year in existence! Travel around the sun with us and join an organization formed by poets for poets: join or renew now. At just $25, our membership fee is well worth the value. Find membership information here (online & mail options available).

Contest programming is underway. We invite you to become a contest sponsor for a members-only contest or a festival contest as we kick off the year. You pick the topic or form and prize amounts. Help shape our next edition of Tennessee Voices Anthology. Learn more.

Earlier this month we celebrated and honored our volunteers and dug into a couple of poetry prompts. In July, John Davis presents Allusions and Illusions: Using the Appropriate Amount of Literary and Cultural Influence in your Poetry. As a poet who is always trying to strike the right balance across so many elements, I’m looking forward to this topic!

In Memphis, Keeping it P (and the P is for Poetry) hosts a new open mic event Mondays at the Hu Hotel Rooftop located at 79 Madison Ave, Memphis, 38103. Enjoy the magnificent view of the river and bridge and share or just take in some poetry. Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. Sign-up starts at 7:00 p.m. 

There is still time to register for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) Annual Convention will be held July 23-28, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Check out the diverse activities here (including the National Slam competition). If you will attend and would like to serve as a delegate for our society, please contact me via poetrytennessee@gmail.com.

Late summer look for the next edition of Tennessee Voices Anthology. We are excited to share the wonderful work of our winning poets with you. We look forward to the launch of this book.

Check out more poetry calls, events, and other opportunities here.

We are always looking for volunteers to support our mission. If you have a heart for engaging our next generation of poets, we need a student contest chair for the 2025-2026 program year! Our Regional Connections Committee is in need of someone to take minutes for meetings. We are also seeking volunteers 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 gratitude and excitement for our growing community of poets—
Lisa Kamolnick
President, Poetry Society of Tennessee