Poetry Society of Tennessee

EST. 1953

PST News

  • Mary Oliver Film Coming to Nashville July 24

    If poetry had a pop icon, Mary Oliver would be it. Celebrated best-selling poet, Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, openly queer but intensely private, Oliver was America’s unlikely contemporary mystic, stalking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod
    for nearly fifty years in order to open herself – and her readers – to the known and unknowable world. From a lonely childhood to literary fame, Oliver’s life was shaped by devotion to nature, paying attention, and the long journey toward learning to love and to be loved. Her poems inspire liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers, naturalists and urbanites, speaking directly to contemporary anxieties about attention, presence, and the human relationship with the natural world – issues that feel especially pressing in an era of climate crisis, digital distraction, and social fragmentation.

    Featuring interviews with her close friends, including John Waters, never-before-seen personal photos, notebooks, and correspondence from her archive, and recitations of her work by Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, Steve Buscemi, and Oprah Winfrey, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World considers the poet’s long lifetime of work in context, capturing the uniqueness of her world and the natural beauty that inspired her.

    Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World opened on July 3rd at IFC Center and at Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles on July 11th before expanding to select theaters nationwide. In Tennessee, the film will run at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre July 24-30. Get details on the film and showings: knlor.com/maryoliverfilm

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  • Summer Invites Poetry

    Summer’s 2026 vibe says RELAX. Take some time. Read. Write. Do it while catching a cool breeze outdoors on shoreline under a shady tree, on a boat in the middle of a lake or bay, curled into a comfy chair in a restful room listening to rain cascade during midday summer swelter, even in an air-conditioned wait zone while your car is under repair. (Maybe while munching a midnight snack?) Yes, summer invites poetry anytime and (almost) everywhere. Here are a few ways to slide into the summer of 2026 (unofficial) poetry party:

    • The Anthology Board is working on our latest edition of Tennessee Voices, and publication is on track for late summer.
    • Our ROUNDUP identifies all manner of poetic happenings and opportunities.
    • Discover our eclectic members-only contests online, including our special members-only Full Moon Poetry contest (due August 15), which seeks ekphrastic poems responding to one of this year’s Tennessee Voices Anthology cover pictures.
    • This year’s Sealey Challenge kicks off soon (August 1!). If you’re collecting books for this 30-day challenge, why not peruse our bookstore? (Member authors: want to feature your poetry book in our store? Send us your bio, photo, book cover(s) and blurb(s) and we will feature you!)
    • Our monthly programs continue through summer, featuring workshops, readings and more. I invite you to join us August 8 for our next monthly member meeting, during which poet Julie Marie Wade will lead a workshop on Haibun, an ancient and resurgent form. Afterward, we will announce monthly contest winners and share our poetry. Bring a poem or two. I hope to see there.
    With relaxed attitude and much gratitude—
    Lisa Kamolnick
    President, Poetry Society of Tennessee
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  • August 2026 Program with Julie Marie Wade

    Old Form, New Form: The Elegant and Elastic Reprisal of the Haibun

    Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694), who popularized the haiku in 17th century Japan, also created a prosimetric form known as the haibun. In contemporary American poetry, the haibun is enjoying an exciting upsurge in popularity and innovation, as reflected in the work of poets like Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Tamiko Beyer, Brenda Hillman, and Maureen Seaton. This workshop will introduce writers to the haibun and several examples of its variants, including stacked, inverted, and “burning” (created by torrin a. greathouse) versions. After reading and considering multiple haibun, participants will have a chance to write and share. 

    This workshop is suitable for all levels of writers.

    Join Julie Marie Wade in this upcoming workshop!

    ABOUT THE PRESENTER

    Born and raised in Seattle, Julie Marie Wade completed a Master of Arts in English at Western Washington University, a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry at the University of Pittsburgh, and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities with a creative nonfiction dissertation at the University of Louisville. Her most recent collections include The Mary Years (Texas Review Press, 2024), selected by Michael Martone for the 2023 Clay Reynolds Novella Prize, Fisk, By Analogy (CutBank Prose Chapbook Series, 2025), The Latest: 20 Ghazals for 2020 (Harbor Editions, 2025), co-authored with Denise Duhamel, and the memoir Other People’s Mothers (University Press of Florida, 2025). A finalist for the National Poetry Series and a winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Memoir, Wade is Professor of English & Creative Writing at Florida International University in Miami. Her newest poetry collection, Quick Change Artist (Anhinga Press, 2025), was selected by Octavio Quintanilla for the 2023 Anhinga Prize in Poetry and received the silver medal for poetry at the 2026 Florida Book Awards.

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented at our upcoming PST meeting, to be held August 8, 2026, from 2:00-4:00 pm Eastern / 1:00-3:00 pm Central via Zoom. Members will be provided a link a few days prior. If you are interested in learning more about PST, check out our website. If you’d like to attend our meeting as a guest, contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com.

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  • PST Seeks Festival Sponsors for 70th Annual Poetry Festival

    Help make our 70th festival a huge success: sponsor a poetry festival contest! How have poetry trends changed over seven decades? What kind of poetry would you like to see in our next edition of Tennessee Voices, PST’s annual anthology? As a sponsor, you can help us share work representing poetry’s diversity, tapping into past trends, member inventions (like the Dorsimbra), and the broad interests of our growing membership.

    You do not need to be a member to sponsor a contest. We invite individuals and organizations to sponsor. Sponsors will be recognized on PST’s website and blog, through PST social media channels, and in the 2026-2027 edition of Tennessee Voices.

    Festival contest sponsorship applications will be open through the earlier of August 4, 2026, or meeting our contest limit.

    What Does a Sponsor Do?

    Sponsors create their own poetry contest! As a sponsor, you choose the theme or poetic form, note poem length, specify prize award amounts, and provide any other special instructions for entrants or judges. In many cases, sponsors also judge the contest, but that is not a requirement. While we encourage variety in poetic forms and themes, PST does not accept contests or poetry centered on explicitly violent or sexual themes.

    In general, individuals and businesses may sponsor one contest. However, PST will also accept memorial contest sponsorships, one per individual or group of individuals being honored. 

    What Does a Judge Do?

    PST’s festival poetry contests are judged blind. The Festival Poetry Contest Coordinator sends entries to the judge. In accordance with contest guidelines, the judge reviews contest entries, selects winners and provides a winners list to the festival contest coordinator.

    How Do I Become a Sponsor or Judge?

    If you are interested in sponsoring a festival contest, you may apply online. (Select the FESTIVAL sponsorship option.)

    If you are unable to judge your sponsored contest and need assistance to find a judge, or if you are unable to sponsor but wish to judge, contact us.

    Questions?

    Do you have questions? Reach out to poetrytennessee@gmail.com with subject line FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP.

    Guidelines are also available on our website.

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  • As Summer Thunders In

    Spring is speeding into summer with waves of heat and cooling showers across Tennessee and in my temporary Florida headquarters. I’m still feeling the warmth of our June meeting, from recognizing volunteers of our last program year to a wonderful open mic session and a rich discussion on poetry contests.

    Meanwhile, our volunteers are working behind the scenes to bring this program year to life:

    • The Anthology Board is working on our latest edition of Tennessee Voices, and publication is on track for late summer.
    • Our ROUNDUP is back! Take time to review our summer roundup of all manner of opportunities across Tennessee and beyond: bookmark it, too, because we’ll update it all summer long.
    • Our members-only contests for this program year are also live. Dive into this eclectic poetic mix. Send in an entry for the chance to win monetary prizes and be published in next year’s anthology.
    • Our society’s Board will meet in July to discuss a variety of topics. As always, members are welcome to attend. Look for a meeting notice in the coming weeks.

    If you are looking for summer reading—including those 30 books for this year’s Sealey Challenge, held each August—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 July 11 for our next monthly member meeting, during which poet (and member) Maria Zoccola will lead us through a discussion on persona poetry. Afterward, we will announce monthly contest winners and share our poetry. Bring a poem or two. I hope to see there.

    With gratitude and enthusiasm—
    Lisa Kamolnick
    President, Poetry Society of Tennessee
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  • Inspiring Ekphrasis in Columbia

    According to Columbia Arts Council chair Warren Feld, Columbia was once a hotspot of art and entertainment in middle Tennessee that over time lost some of its appeal. He aims to reverse this decline, making it his mission to expand the arts and the number of people who enjoy artistic adventures in Columbia. Offering poets a day of ekphrasis with a workshop led by Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) member Cathy Hollister is just one of the ways he is bringing that mission to life.

    Feld enjoys showing off Columbia’s cultural resources: a centerpiece is the Pryor Art Gallery at Columbia State Community College. The gallery boasts a permanent collection and exhibitions. Curator Tori Zemer is understandably proud of the gallery’s current show featuring all local artists. She has filled the gallery with paintings, sculptures, and even a few fashion accessories. The result is a peaceful space that allows viewers to enter other worlds of abstraction, portraiture, farm scenes, and children’s laughter.

    Laughter was the theme of the day for the ekphrastic poetry workshop recently held at the gallery. Cathy Hollister, a society member and published poet from middle Tennessee, led a group of enthusiastic writers. Cathy provided an overview of tools that participants might use for their poems, then read several of her published ekphrastic poems. Participants considered the images and offered ideas of how to use images as inspiration. They commented on the poems, noting poetic techniques and how the image related to the work, then they turned to the art surrounding them to create their own ideas and poems. With so many works to choose from, it was an easy task. For many attendees, ekphrastic writing was a new concept. With expanding arts in the area, ekphrasis seems certain to take root in Columbia.

    Why not begin your own ekphrastic adventure? Explore ekphrastic poetry, visit a Columbia arts venue, or find inspiration in an art gallery near you.

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  • July 2026 Program with Maria Zoccola

    Mask and Muse: Persona Poetry

    In Ancient Greek theater, actors wore expressive character masks made of linen and wood that covered their entire heads; these masks acted as resonance chambers to project the actors’ voices. The Latin word for this kind of mask is “persona.” In this session, we’ll explore the persona poem as mask and as muse, examining how writing in the voice of another amplifies our own. We’ll read and discuss pieces by poets such as Lucille Clifton and Shara Lessley, and then break to try the form ourselves before returning to share the resonance of the voices we’ve found with each other.

    Join Maria Zoccola in this upcoming workshop!

    ABOUT THE PRESENTER

    Maria Zoccola is a poet and writer from Memphis, Tennessee. Her work has previously appeared in The Atlantic, Ploughshares, Kenyon Review, The Sewanee Review, and elsewhere, and has received a special mention for the Pushcart Prize. Her debut poetry collection, Helen of Troy, 1993 (Scribner, 2025), was a New York Times Editors’ Choice pick and was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker and NPR.

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented at our upcoming PST meeting, to be held July 11, 2026, from 2:00-4:00 pm Eastern / 1:00-3:00 pm Central via Zoom. Members will be provided a link a few days prior. If you are interested in learning more about PST, check out our website. If you’d like to attend our meeting as a guest, contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com.

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  • June 2026 Program Highlights Members

    Volunteer Appreciation and Open Mic

    Join us for a brief celebration to recognize our 2025-2026 volunteers. Take time to say thank you to the people who brought our mission and programs to life over the past program year.

    We will also celebrate you and your poetry in an open mic session. Poets of all levels are welcome to participate. This is a fabulous opportunity to share work from your latest publication, project, or work-in-process and to practice poetic presentation in a highly supportive environment.

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented at our upcoming PST meeting, to be held June 13, 2026, from 2:00-4:00 pm Eastern / 1:00-3:00 pm Central via Zoom. Members will be provided a link a few days prior. If you are interested in learning more about PST, check out our website. If you’d like to attend our meeting as a guest, contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com.

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  • Opportunities Abound: Summer 2026 Roundup

    Back by popular demand, we’re retooling our roundup. This roundup will be updated periodically through the end of summer. In it you will find various opportunities brought to our attention by organizations, members, and friends or discovered organically. Grow your skills, find submission opportunities, and more!

    Workshops

    • Poetry Society of Tennessee’s virtual monthly workshops are open to members. An email with link is sent out in advance. Recent presenters include Shan Overton and Jeffrey Heath. Check out some of our past presenters.
    • The Bert C. Bach Written Word Initiative offers programs related to literature and creative writing at ETSU
    • Shuly Cawood virtual generative and craft-focused writing workshops
    • John Davis Jr. “Metacreativity: The Process Behind the Poetry” mail-based tips and insights

    Submission Opportunities

    JUNE DEADLINES
    July Deadlines
    AUGUST DEADLINES
    SEPTEMBER DEADLINES
    rolling deadlines / ALWAYS OPEN

    Hate deadlines? Here are a few randomly selected literary venues that are always (or almost always) open to submissions:

    Events & Opportunities

    Take your poetry off the page at an open mic! You’ll find them across the state and in the virtual realm. Venues, dates and times are sometimes subject to change. Check with venue or organization in advance.

    WEST
    • Java Cabana hosts an open mic every Thursday from 7:00-10:00 pm, featuring poetry and music. Java Cabana is located at 2170 Young Ave, Memphis.
    • The Hu Hotel Rooftop Monday open mic by Keeping it P is active. Follow them on instagram (@https://www.instagram.com/wekeepingitp/).
    • Every last Friday of the month, 7:00 pm, is Thee Last Friday at the Rumba Room, 303 S. Main, Memphis. Poetry/Music/Live Art. There is a cover charge at the door, but anyone can sign up for the open mic. Also try the Thursday open mic at 627 Chelsea Ave, Memphis but I haven’t been to that one.
    • Third Saturdays join The Poetry Club, 3:00 pm at Coffee Central, 5627 Getwell Rd. Southaven, MS 38672. Share up to 3 minutes of original poetry or short prose. Good listeners also welcome. Young children are also invited to read original works or a favorite poem. We do not censor any social, political, religious, or philosophical viewpoint. However, please no graphic content and profanity in consideration of Coffee Central’s public space: we should not and will not offend other customers or negatively affect business.
    MIDDLE

    Poetry in the Boro is a monthly open mic and featured reading series hosted in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, currently held at the Dapper Owl Coffee Pub & Bakery and at many other locations when collaborating with other organizations in the community. Often meet the second or third Sunday evening of each month but dates can vary, especially when partnering with other organizations and groups. Get details.

    MIDEAST

    Sawmill Poetry is a poetry reading and open mic held at the ​The Plenty Bookstore in Cookeville, Tennessee. Get details.

    SOUTHEAST
    EAST
    • The Red Branch Review holds a monthly open mic on the first Friday of each month, 8:00 p.m. at Pretentious Beer, following their First Friday reading series at Union Avenue Books held from 6:00-7:30 p.m..
    • Third Thursdays at The Maker’s Space, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM in Knoxville, TN. Former Knoxville Poet Laureate Rhea Carmon hosts. Check with venue beforehand.
    • The Declaration: I Am Tennessee project launches July 16, 6:30-8:30 pm, East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St, Knoxville. This project is funded by TN 250 and a partnership of Knoxville’s poet laureate, Linda Parsons, the Knoxville Writers Guild, and the East Tennessee Historical society. Thirty Knox County residents write how Tennessee has shaped them as part of the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration. In addition to the July 16 launch of the Declaration project, five of the authors will perform at the East Tennessee History Center’s East TN History Fair on August 15
    • Apply to participate! Book Fair at the King Family Library in Sevierville on October 11 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Details and a form you will need to complete in order to participate are in the link below. 
      https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqS5pZ65qNUtg1PYUD66xzGhjy6sSg7xmkv3YNxU9IE4QXWA/viewform?pli=1
    • Applications are open for the Appalachian WordFest, a one day celebration of “the voices, stories, and creativity that flow from our beloved Appalachian Mountains.” You can apply to be a presenter, sell your books ($50 booth fee), etc. To be held Saturday, February 27, 2027, 9-3,  at Event Center at The Ridge, 1250 Middle Creek Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.  https://seviervillechamberofcommerce.wufoo.com/forms/m1maxksr1qk02me/ 

    NORTHEAST

    VIRTUAL
    • Sunday, June 28,, 2-4 p.m on Zoom: The Sundress Academy for the Arts presents Poetry Xfit hosted by Shelby Hansen. This is a generative workshop event via Zoom.  Join at the link tiny.utk.edu/sundress with the password “safta”. While this event is free and open to the public, donations are appreciated.
    • Monday, June 29, 7 p.m.: POETRY PIE meets  via Zoom at 7 p.m. Poets of all levels welcome to read up to three poems. Contact Pat Hope at thetwohopes@aol.com for details and the monthly link.

    Are we missing an open mic in Tennessee? Let us know!

    On Demand

    Find More Opportunities

    So little time, so many ways to find homes for your work. Are we missing a good one? Let us know!

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  • A (Brief) Meditation on Appreciation

    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
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