Poetry Society of Tennessee

EST. 1953

PST News

  • 67th Annual Poetry Festival Contests Underway

    67th Annual Poetry Festival Contests Underway

    Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) is excited to announce the kickoff of our 67th Annual Poetry Festival Contests. We offer 17 contests, more than $1,000 in prizes, publication opportunities and a Best of Fest Award. We’re excited about the line-up and hope you will be, too. The contests are made possible by PST and a host of sponsors, to whom we are most grateful.

    About the Contests

    Contests explore a variety of themes and forms, several Tennessee-centered. First place poems will be published in Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2023-2024. In addition, poems by winners and finalists of the “Tennessee Voices” contest will be published in the anthology. Other winning poems may be published at the discretion of the society. Poets whose poems are published will receive a complimentary copy of the anthology, as will sponsors and judges.

    For a low entry fee of $10 for members or $15 for non-members, poets can enter all contests for which they are eligible (15 contests are open to anyone). PST accepts checks or online payment for fees. Entries may be submitted by email or mail and must be submitted or postmarked by December 15, 2023.

    Prize amounts vary by contest. In addition to individual contest prizes, first place poems will be eligible for the “Best of Fest” award for the top poem of the festival. An outside judge will select the winning poem. The prize is $250.

    Contest winners will be announced at PST’s 67th Annual Poetry Festival to be held spring 2024.

    Get more contest details here. Download a printer-friendly contest packet here.

    About Tennessee Voices Anthology

    Tennessee Voices Anthology is a publication of Poetry Society of Tennessee. It includes winning poems from member contests, student contests, festival contests and more. Get more information, including how to purchase anthology editions, here.

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  • A New Poetry Collection from Shuly Xóchitl Cawood

    Shuly Xóchitl Cawood’s second poetry collection, Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough (Press 53), will be released on September 26.

    About Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough

    In Shuly Xóchitl Cawood’s newest collection, she shares moments that matter, “where life took a turn, or a truth was revealed.” Her poems “mine regret and longing, travel through joy and sorrow, and hold on to a vision of the future while trying to let go of the past.”

    Praise for Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough

    “Shuly Xóchitl Cawood’s personal and human poems lift us into a world where the past—no matter its complexities or tragedies—can be understood and transformed. We read poetry to do the impossible, to live inside another human mind. ‘I want to tell you a story. // A story with no shame,’ Cawood writes. Yes; let her tell you about her mother who doesn’t believe she can cook or about best friends and good friends, holiday parties and soft-boiled eggs and buttermilk rolls. Learn ‘Yes is everywhere—like fireflies and silver-sided leaves and dogs that chase the rain.’ I’m so glad this book exists. Shuly Xóchitl Cawood has a talent for narrative as well as whimsy, for nonce forms—she’s a master of refrain and of riff— and I came away from these poems not only pleased, but happier for having read Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough.” —Laura Lee Washburn, author of The Book of Stolen Images

    Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough is available for pre-order now. Explore Shuly’s website. Learn more about Press 53.

    About the Author

    Shuly Xóchitl Cawood is an award-winning writer and the author of six books, including Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough: poems (Press 53, 2023) and Trouble Can Be So Beautiful at the Beginning (Mercer University Press, 2021), winner of the Adrienne Bond Award for Poetry. She has an MFA from Queens University, and she loves leading writing workshops, hiking, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at shulycawood.com. You can sign up for her monthly author newsletter here.

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  • Gifts of a Shifting Season

    As fall ushers in Tennessee’s technicolor show and a bountiful harvest, it’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through our program year. Perhaps harder to believe is how much we have already accomplished:

    • welcomed members old and new (We welcome all poets: join us!)
    • celebrated our 70th year as a society
    • modernized operations with digital offerings like online payment
    • gratefully accepted volunteers and contest sponsors
    • launched member and student contests (and soon, festival contests)
    • enjoyed poetry contest entries and winning poems
    • represented our society and state at the national convention
    • published Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2022-2023
    • improved our craft in critique groups
    • joined community open mics and other poetry-related events
    • welcomed speakers who inspired and educated us on diverse topics
    • shared our poetry
    • celebrated our member poets’ achievements
    • supported each other, through both the ease and travails of life
    • and more

    With poet members from beginner to published pro … a colorful array of publications emerged this year: first-time published among the many individual poems published … and a steady stream of book releases! Arch Jones and Jeff Price released inaugural collections. KB Ballentine and Abby Lewis have multiple offerings beyond their current releases. And more member books are coming: at this writing, we know of two. Shuly Cawood and Natalie Kimbell, we’re looking forward to your releases! For a great collection featuring our members (and others), check out our latest edition of Tennessee Voices.

    Beneath the colorful leaves of our published works, our educational programs root us, branching into topics that help us improve in the art and craft of poetry. Thus far, we have explored how to find themes in our poetry for chapbooks, how to craft stellar poems through unexpected word choice, and how to decipher the intricacies of meter. We also dove into several specific forms, including the Dorsimbra, an invention of Poetry Society of Tennessee members! Stay tuned for more interesting programs, like our upcoming ekphrastic poetry program in October, led by prolific poet and past presenter John Mannone. (Denton Loving will join us in November!) Finally, if you miss a program, you’ll find links to member-exclusive videos in your meeting invite and meeting link emails each month.

    If contests are your thing, meander over to our members-only contests. (Be sure to check out our updated guidelines.) If you know a young poet or a K-12 educator, let them know about our student contest! Thanks to our generous sponsors, festival contests will open for submission soon. Whether you enter or not, be part of our 67th annual festival! (Speaking of festival, we could use some help bringing it to life. If interested, email us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com.)

    As the season shifts, we have much to look forward to, from more engaging educational programs to crafting, sharing and celebrating our poetry, including PST’s poetry festival in the spring. For now, let’s enjoy the brisk air of our efforts and take in the beauty of fall’s bounty.

    With gratitude and enthusiasm—
Lisa Kamolnick
President, Poetry Society of Tennessee
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  • October 2023 Program

    EKPHRASTIC WORKSHOP: ART GIVING BIRTH TO ART

    This presentation gives one methodology to generate creative writing— photographic images “speaking a thousand words.” Besides the story of our Ekphrastic Workshop, which could template your efforts, this presentation may improve your approach to writing poetry and prose when faced with a blank page. Examples and/or testimonies from some of our members will be shared. The audience will take home a PPT with proven example prompts to create their own work.

     

    About the Presenter

    Professor John C. Mannone has poems in Artemis Journal, Poetry South, North Dakota Quarterly, New England Journal of Medicine, and many others. He’s a Jean Ritchie Fellowship winner in Appalachian literature (2017) and served as Celebrity Judge for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (2018). He has been nominated for Pushcart, Rhysling, Dwarf Stars, and Best of the Net awards. He has four poetry full-length collections and edits poetry for Abyss & Apex and Silver Blade. He’s a professor of physics and chemistry and a nuclear consultant, now living in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. http://jcmannone.wordpress.com

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented during our upcoming PST member meeting, to be held October 14 via Zoom, 2:00-4:00 pm Eastern / 1:00-3:00 pm Central. 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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  • September 2023 Poetry Contest Results

    The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) formally announced its members-only September 2023 contest results at their September 9 member meeting. Winners receive cash prizes. The first place poem will be published in an upcoming edition of PST’s anthology, Tennessee Voices.

    Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually, who selected the following winners and honorable mentions:

    • 1st: “April 17, 1967” by Howard Carman Jr.
    • 2nd: “Sonnet to He Who Did Not Try” by William Hill
    • 3rd: “Moon-fall” by Russell H. Strauss
    • HM1: “Postcard from Paradise” by Danita Dodson

    Meeting attendees enjoyed the readings of these winning ekphrastic poems.

    Enter Your Poem

    November’s contest is right around the corner, but you have to enter to win. Sponsor JoAn Howerton is seeking a free verse poem on the subject “Memories of Childhood Thanksgivings.” (You must include the word “Thanksgiving” in the title.) She will accept both mailed and emailed entries. Entries will be accepted starting October 1. (A quick reminder: October’s contest entry must be postmarked or emailed by September 15.)

    Get contest details.

    Not a member? It’s not too late to join. Learn more.

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  • PST Updates Members-only Contest Guidelines

    PST Updates Members-only Contest Guidelines

    PST recently updated its members-only contest guidelines to clarify rules, to add guidance for contests submitted by email, and to add some new rules. For example, the period to submit to contests now includes an open-for-submission date (1st of the prior month) as well as a submission deadline. The guidelines also specify publishing rights associated with poems selected for publication. Get details.

    Get a printer-friendly copy of our contest guidelines here.

    About Our Contests

    Members-only contests run through April 2024 for this program year. Get details. (Not a member? It’s not too late. Join us!)

    Student contests are now open! Three divisions, for Tennessee-based schoolchildren (and student members based anywhere) grades 2 through 12. Get details.

    PST will also hold contests for its 67th Annual Poetry Festival. Contest sponsorships are in process. Keep reading for more details.

    PST Seeks Festival Contest Sponsors

    PST currently seeks contest sponsors and judges for our festival contests. But hurry! Our deadline of September 9 is approaching fast! Learn more.

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  • Creating Opportunity with Contests

    I recently had the pleasure of judging my sponsored member contest, which explored the theme “As Summer Fades.” The poems entered were all so good I found myself creating a chapbook-sized end-of-summer anthology as I wandered through the varied ideas and images summoned forth by our talented members. At the same time, I had the pleasure of a sneak preview of our then soon-to-be-published Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2022-2023. Beyond the pleasure of reading all of this poetry, I was reminded of the value of contests— from the creative process to award and publication of winning poems.

    It wasn’t long ago that, as a new member encouraged by others to use contests for growth, I jumped in. PST contests laid a foundation for me, created a bridge to literary journals, contests, and anthologies outside the society network. Entering contests became a path to judging contests, where I was able to expand my poetic critique beyond peer group sessions. Through sponsoring society contests, I not only enjoy an array of poems around subjects or forms that feed my soul, but I create opportunities for our poets to grow and be recognized. It also feels good to contribute to our anthology as writer, judge and sponsor. I encourage each of you to try something new this year and stretch yourself, whether it’s taking part in a PST activity or forging some other uncharted territory!

    Summer may be fading, but PST contests fill the air right now:

    • We have a full roster of members-only contests underway. I’m excited to share we are adding email submissions for some of our contests this year. Many thanks to Cynthia Storrs, our digital contest entry coordinator. We are also updating our contest guidelines, so be on the lookout for communications.
    • Our student contests are underway, once again featuring High School, Middle School and Elementary School divisions.
    • We have an open call for contest sponsors for our 67th Poetry Festival. Many thanks to Deborah-Zenha Adams, our Festival Contest Chair.

    Contests don’t take up all the air. I’m enjoying and excited about our educational programs, critique groups and all the community events happening across the state, from ongoing open mic nights to slams and festival performances. I’m also gathering quite a collection of our members’ books. Each read has been a unique pleasure … and more are coming!

    I invite you to participate in our society in ways that create opportunity for you to grow as you offer your unique contribution to our society and to poetry at large. In giving we often receive something greater, like a priceless collection of poems capturing the fading away of a season, and the anticipation of what is yet to be discovered in the coming season. 

    With joy and gratitude—
Lisa Kamolnick
President, Poetry Society of Tennessee
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  • Tennessee Voices 2022-2023 Available

    Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2022-2023, Poetry Society of Tennessee’s anthology of winning and selected poem from the past program year, is now available for purchase.

    Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2022-2023: An anthology of winning and other selected poems features Poetry Society of Tennessee members and other poets from across Tennessee and beyond.

    About Tennessee Voices

    PST publishes an anthology annually. This edition features results and winning poems for the 2022-2023 membership year: monthly members-only contests, PST’s annual Poetry Festival, student competitions and a Tennessee Voices Call for Submissions.

    About our Poets

    Discover the work of 40 poets ranging from elementary school children to octagenarians … and all points between. The anthology includes first-time published poets and award-winning authors and covers a wide variety of subjects and poetic forms. Learn more about our authors (more bios coming soon!).

    Other Publications

    Earlier editions of Tennessee Voices are also available. Learn more.

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  • September 2023 Program

    Choosing the Unexpected

     Find yourself in a rut with your writing? Why do we find it difficult to tackle the Muse some days? If we are passionate enough about words to write, shouldn’t we also spend time choosing the exact word? Adverbs and clichés can weaken our writing, especially when you’re a poet and the real estate for your work is smaller. This session will focus on word choice, specifically verbs, and how we can expand our vocabulary to refresh our work and forge pieces that are unexpected and noteworthy. Please come prepared to write or bring along some work to revise.

    About the Presenter

    KB Ballentine’s eighth collection, Spirit of Wild, was released March 2023 with Blue Light Press. Her earlier books can be found with Iris Press, Blue Light Press, Middle Creek Publishing, and Celtic Cat Publishing. Published in Atlanta Review and Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal, among others, her work also appears in anthologies including Women Speak: Women of Appalachia, Vol 8 (2022), I Heard a Cardinal Sing (2022), The Strategic Poet (2021), and Pandemic Evolution (2021). Learn more at http://www.kbballentine.com.

    KB Ballentine loves to travel and practice sword fighting and Irish step dancing: those Scottish and Irish roots run deep! When not tucked in a corner reading or writing, she makes daily classroom appearances to her students. Learn more at http://www.kbballentine.com.

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented during our upcoming PST member meeting, to be held September 9, 2023, via Zoom 2:00-4:00 pm Eastern, 1:00-3:00 pm Central. 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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  • August 2023 Poetry Contest Results

    The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) formally announced its members-only August 2023 contest results at their August 12 member meeting. Winners receive cash prizes. The first place poem will be published in an upcoming edition of PST’s anthology, Tennessee Voices.

    Many thanks to sponsor and judge Lisa Kamolnick, who selected the following winners and honorable mentions:

    • 1st: “The Sacrilege of a Tilted Axis”  by Deborah Zenha-Adams
    • 2nd: “Labor Day” by Cynthia Storrs
    • 3rd: “The Boys of Summer, or a Teacher’s Ode on Indolence” by Jeff Price
    • HM1 (tie): “Bored” by Russell H. Strauss and “When Summer Fades” by Kayla Nichols
    • HM2: “Standing in the Sun”  by K.B. Ballentine
    • HM3: “Labor Day Potatoes” by Donna Harlan

    Meeting attendees enjoyed the readings of these winning minute poems exploring the theme “As Summer Fades.”

    Enter Your Poem

    October’s contest is right around the corner, but you have to enter to win. Sponsor Howard Carman is seeking an Apostrophe form. Howard will accept both mailed and emailed entries. Get details.

    Not a member? It’s not too late to join. Learn more.

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