As I write, I’ve just returned to Florida after not-quite-a-week in Tennessee. It was wonderful to reconnect with a few of the poets in our Tennessee community; I’m so grateful for these friendships. I also (finally!!) submitted some poems to lit mags. I may not hit 100 rejections in 2026, but the count will exceed zero, and I’ll take that as a blessing. As for our society, I appreciate how you are showing up. As I look back through our past year, I’m especially grateful for the many people who volunteered time, talent, and treasure to our programs and activities. (When we say we are society by poets for poets, we really mean it.) Thank you for the part you have played in making our 2025-2026 program year so wonderful.

I’m looking forward to more good things for our new program year! Our first Board meeting was held May 18, and we are off and running. Jeffrey Heath, our new program chair, has some compelling monthly programs lined up for you through the summer, with more to come. The Anthology Board is working on Tennessee Voices Anthology, and our members-only contests are shaping up. This year we will hold our 70th Annual Poetry Festival! We are also working on some important changes to streamline and modernize our processes and looking at more ways to bring our mission to life. Look for details in the coming weeks and months.

If you are looking for summer reading, why not peruse our bookstore? If you’re a member with a poetry book not appearing on our store, send us your bio, photo, book cover(s) and blurb(s) and we will feature you!

I invite you to join us June 13 for our next monthly member meeting, during which we briefly honor our volunteers and acknowledge accomplishments. Afterward, we will share poetry. Bring a poem or two. From calm and quiet to wild and weird, published or unpublished, we just want to hear your work! (And be ready to write in case we spring a prompt on you!) I hope to see there.

With appreciation and enthusiasm—
Lisa Kamolnick
President, Poetry Society of Tennessee