Poetry Society of Tennessee

EST. 1953

PST News

  • Opportunities Abound: August Roundup

    This month’s roundup includes various opportunities brought to our attention by various organizations, members, and friends others discovered organically. Grow your skills, find submissions opportunities, and more!

    Submissions Closing Soon!

    More Calls

    Always Open

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

    More Calls and Contests

    Events

    In the northeast region, East Tennessee State University hosts poet Li Young Lee on September 24, 2025. Get details. Check out their other literary events coming up as well. Also in the northeast region, member Heidi Ehle presents a reading and musical event on September 16 in Jonesborough, TN. (Details for all in the slide show below.)

    Take your poetry off the page at an open mic! You’ll find them across the state and in the virtual realm:

    WEST
    • Monday nights 7:00 pm at the Hu Hotel rooftop with Keeping it P (and the P is for poetry). Follow them on instagram.
    • Third Saturday of each month 3:00 pm at Coffee Central, 5627 Getwell Rd. Southaven, MS 38672: Bring original poetry or short prose (3 minutes) to share with other poets and poetry lovers. Good listeners are also welcome.To encourage young children, we would like to hear them read anything they write or just read their favorite poem. We do not censor any social, political, religious, or philosophical viewpoint. We do ask, when it comes to graphic content and profanity, remember that Coffee Central is one of our most gracious sponsors and 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 Cookesville, Tennessee. Get details.

    SOUTHEAST
    • Rhyme n Chatt Interactive Poetry Group, based in Chattanooga, hosts an Open Mic at the Edney Innovation Center at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday evening of each month. It is called Fresh Out the Shoebox. The also hold workshops and performance events with a focus on performance poetry. See the website for more information.  Get details. 
    • 7:30 pm last Fridays (except for November and December) at Barnes & Noble at 2100 Hamilton Place Boulevard in Chattanooga.
    •  The Wandering Poetry Circle meets every other Tuesday Night at WanderLinger Brewing Company,  https://www.wanderlinger.com/
    EAST *NEW*
    • Third Thursdays at The Maker’s Space, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM in Knoxville, TN. Former Knoxville Poet Laureate Rhea Carmon hosts.
    NORTHEAST
    VIRTUAL

    Last Monday of the month, 7:00 pm Poetry Pie shares poetry on Zoom (max three poems). Contact the society to get on the email list.

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

    Workshops

    On Demand

    Find More Opportunities

    Introducing a running list of venues to find poetry opportunities. Are we missing a good one? Let us know!

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  • PST Seeks Festival Sponsors for 69th Annual Poetry Festival

    Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) is excited to share that member Deborah Z Adams will once again serve as Festival Contest Coordinator for the society’s 69th Annual Poetry Festival. The contest coordinator plays a critical role for our festival: they organize contests, process entries, and pass winner information and poems to the Anthology Editorial Board.

    Sponsors Wanted

    You can help make our 69th festival one to remember: sponsor a contest. 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 and tapping into the broad interests of our growing membership.

    Individuals and organizations may sponsor a contest, and you do not need to be a member to sponsor. Sponsors will be recognized on PST’s website and blog, through PST social media channels and in the 2025-2026 edition of Tennessee Voices.

    PST will remain open for festival contest sponsorship applications through the earlier of September 4, 2025, 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 or by mail. (Please note: our monthly members-only contests are closed. Please do not select this option on the application.)

    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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  • August 2025 Program with Heather Dobbins

    HISTORICAL PERSONA POEMS

    Join PST for their August meeting to gain insights from Heather Dobbins about historical persona and micro-fiction in poetry. She’ll review samples from her own work and others. In addition, expect to hear about the poetry revision process.

    ABOUT THE PRESENTER

    Heather Dobbins is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from the College Scholars program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She earned a Master of Education degree from Holy Names University in Oakland, California, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the Graduate Writing Seminars at Bennington College in Vermont.

    Her poems and poetry reviews have been published in Beloit Poetry Journal, Big Muddy, The Rumpus, TriQuarterly Review, and Women’s Studies Quarterly, among others. She has been awarded scholarships and fellowships to the Indiana Writers’ Conference, Napa Writers’ Conference, Squaw Valley Community of Writers, Vermont Studio Center, and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts’ workshop in Auvillar, France.  She served as co-chair of the Mid-South Book Festival in 2015 and 2016. For twenty years, she has worked as an educator (Kindergarten through college) in Oakland, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and currently, Fort Smith, Arkansas.

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented at our upcoming PST meeting, to be held August 9th, 2025, 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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  • Let Your Voice Be Heard

    This summer, let your voice be heard (and I’m not just talking about letting off steam from all the heat and water that have come our way). Earlier this month, we invited members to provide perspectives on our society: why you joined, what you are most interested in, what is working, and how we can do better. If you have not completed this survey, please do so by August 15th. Members should have received a link via email in early July, and a reminder link will be sent to members on or about August 1.

    Beyond a survey, we work to amplify the voices of poets (especially our members!) every day:

    • We promote open mic events and poetry shares.
    • We offer workshops and presentations focused on craft so you can enhance your poetic voice.
    • We offer contests with opportunities for readings and publication.
    • We promote member publications, from individual works to books, along with workshops or other events in which a member may be featured.
    • We offer a monthly roundup with submission opportunities and more.

    For more information on all we have to offer, peruse our website, monthly newsletters, social media (@poetrysocietyoftennessee on Facebook and Instagram), or reach out to poetrytennessee@gmail.com.

    If you’ve not renewed for the new program year, it’s not too late. (And now is always a good time to join us!) At just $25, our membership fee is well worth the value. Find membership information here (online & mail options available).

    Our monthly member contest list is now full, and we thank the sponsors and volunteers who make our contest program possible. We have a couple of special contests in our line-up. First, if you missed it last year, I invite you to try the Full Moon Poetry Contest this year, now open for submissions. And a corporate sponsor has brought us a great opportunity for member poets to be published in two venues, with great prizes. Get contest details here.

    Earlier this month, John Davis Jr. led members through a fascinating presentation on the use of literary and cultural influences in poetry. On August 9, Memphis native Heather Dobbins will join us for a discussion on persona poetry, with examples of persona in poetry and micro-fiction along with a generative session to put the persona poem into practice.

    The Anthology Editorial Board is busy working onTennessee Voices Anthology, 2024-2025, and publication is expected late summer. We look forward to launching this book.

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

    We are always looking for volunteers to support our mission. (We promise, inquiries are not expectations for a commitment.) Current, specific needs include the following:

    • Help inspire our next generation of poets as 2025-2026 Student Contest Chair.
    • Our Regional Connections Committee is in need of someone to take minutes for meetings and others to represent some of our regions.
    • We are also seeking volunteers with a passion for contests or marketing to help connect our community and get the word out.

    Contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com to learn more.

    Curious about PST? Join us at a meeting or other activity. Reach out anytime. I hope to see you soon at an event—in person or virtual. Members, please send in your survey. And poets, everywhere: raise your voices this summer, in that magical way only poetry allows.

    With gratitude and attention—
    Lisa Kamolnick
    President, Poetry Society of Tennessee

    P.S. When you aren’t working on your own voice, why not take the Sealey Reading Challenge this August, and work your way through other poets’ voices one book a day all through August. Get details here.

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  • Opportunities Abound: July Roundup

    Our June roundup includes various opportunities brought to our attention by various organizations, members, and friends and discovered organically. Grow your skills, find submissions opportunities, and more!

    Submissions Closing Soon!

    • MER seeks poems on motherhood and family. Call closes July 15.
    • From Sundress Publications, microgrant applications from trans writers with a chapbook or full-length book in progress are open through July 15.
    • The Waxed Lemon is open for submissions through July 21.
    • Tiger Leaping Review seeks general and literary poetry. Call closes July 31.

    More Calls

    Always Open

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

    From NFSPS

    CONVENTION: NFSPS will hold their annual convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from July 23-28, 2025. Naomi Shihab Nye will be their keynote speaker!

    More Calls and Contests

    Events

    This month we focus on events with open mics being held around the state:

    WEST
    • Monday nights 7:00 pm at the Hu Hotel rooftop with Keeping it P (and the P is for poetry). Follow them on instagram.
    • Third Saturday of each month 3:00 pm at Coffee Central, 5627 Getwell Rd. Southaven, MS 38672: Bring original poetry or short prose (3 minutes) to share with other poets and poetry lovers. Good listeners are also welcome.To encourage young children, we would like to hear them read anything they write or just read their favorite poem. We do not censor any social, political, religious, or philosophical viewpoint. We do ask, when it comes to graphic content and profanity, remember that Coffee Central is one of our most gracious sponsors and 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 Cookesville, Tennessee. Get details.

    SOUTHEAST
    • Rhyme n Chatt Interactive Poetry Group, based in Chattanooga, hosts an Open Mic at the Edney Innovation Center at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday evening of each month. It is called Fresh Out the Shoebox. The also hold workshops and performance events with a focus on performance poetry. See the website for more information.  Get details. 
    • 7:30 pm last Fridays (except for November and December) at Barnes & Noble at 2100 Hamilton Place Boulevard in Chattanooga.
    •  The Wandering Poetry Circle meets every other Tuesday Night at WanderLinger Brewing Company,  https://www.wanderlinger.com/
    NORTHEAST
    VIRTUAL

    Last Monday of the month, 7:00 pm Poetry Pie shares poetry on Zoom (max three poems). Contact the society to get on the email list.

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

    Workshops

    On Demand

    Find More Opportunities

    Introducing a running list of venues to find poetry opportunities. Are we missing a good one? Let us know!

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  • New Poetry from John Mannone

    John Mannone’s latest poetry chapbook, Coffee Poems: The Art of Waking (Island of Wak-Wak Press), is now available for purchase.

    About Coffee Poems

    In his latest collection, John explores coffee: its origin, traditions, obsessions, rituals, associations; its science and mixology; and coffee as metaphor. With a variety of forms matching the various approaches to coffee, the reader is sure to enjoy each taste.

    Praise for Coffee Poems

    “Whether you like your coffee swirled with a bit of cream or black and bitter, you will relish the offerings in this latest book brewed by John C. Mannone. From the stoops of the Columbian mountains, where the original Juan Valdez grew his coffee beans, to the monks of Ethiopia who, having been informed of the antics of goats that ate the coffee berry, then imbibed a liquid from those same berries and hence were able to remain awake through the long evening prayers, and on through history to the author’s own cup steaming before him, the face of his long dead father looking back upon him from the “fluid folds of the dark pool,” there is much to savor and to learn in this small collection. The poems are testaments to the magic and mysticism of the drink from a poet with his “fingers wrapping the … cup / as something holy.” Mannone brings a lifetime of refining his palette and honing his use of language to produce a delightful collection of 16 poems, an apt bit of reading while you drink your first morning cup—or your final afternoon cup—of the “essential elixir.”
    —Connie Jordan Green, author of Nameless as the Minnows

    Coffee Poems: The Art of Waking (Island of Wak-Wak Press), is now available for purchase.

    About the Author

    John C. Mannone has poems in Windhover, North Dakota Quarterly, Poetry South, Baltimore Review, New England Journal of Medicine, and others. He was awarded the 2017 Jean Ritchie Fellowship and served as National Federation of State Poetry Societies 2018 celebrity judge. He has five full-length collections, five chapbooks, and his first short fiction collection, Dark Wind, Dark Water (Mind’s Eye Publishing, 2025). A retired professor of physics, he teaches mathematics and creative writing. http://jcmannone.wordpress.com ​

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  • July 2025 Program with John Davis Jr

    ALLUSION AND ILLUSIONS: USING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF LITERARY AND CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON YOUR POETRY

    Join PST for their July meeting to hear John Davis Jr. speak on how to keep your own voice while incorporating various influences from life, literature, media, and more.

    ABOUT THE PRESENTER

    John Davis Jr. is the author of The Places That Hold (Eastover Press, 2021), Hard Inheritance (Five Oaks Press, 2016), Middle Class American Proverb (Negative Capability Press, 2014) and two other books of poetry. He has received many literary awards including the Florida Book Awards Bronze Medal and the 2021 Sidney Lanier Poetry Prize. He holds an MFA from the University of Tampa. His writings are published in literary journals throughout the South and around the world. He teaches English and Literature in the Tampa Bay area. You can find his profile from Poets and Writers magazine here: http://www.pw.org/content/john_davis

    In addition to his work as an author and teacher he manages Metacreativity: The Process Behind the Poetry. “Metacreativity” is a monthly workshop that breaks down an original poem by Davis Jr. through a discussion of its inspiration and an in-depth description of how the poem itself was created. See details and sign up here: https://www.stampfans.com/john-davis-jr

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented at our upcoming PST meeting, to be held July 12th, 2025, 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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  • Poets Laureate and Slam Winners

    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

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  • Memphis Celebrates Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate

    by Ruby Jones, Regional Connections Committee Representative, West Tennessee

    The award presentation for the Memphis Youth Poet Laureate (MYPL) of 2025 took place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Cafe Noir in Memphis. The 2024 MYPL also attended. Aasritha Butti was selected from among contenders for the role.

    About the Youth Poet Laureate Program

    The Memphis Youth Poet Laureate Program identifies and celebrates teen poets who exhibit a commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement, youth leadership and social justice.

    Meet Memphis’ New Youth Poet Laureate

    Aasritha Butti is a junior at White Station High School (WSHS), where she is active in all aspects of her school.

    Aasritha Butti, Memphis Youth Poetry Laureate of 2025

    Ms. Butti has a 4.0 GPA, writes poetry, has a perfect score (36 of 36) on the ACT. She has been on the Principal’s List every semester at WSHS.  Ms. Butti has participated in the Science Olympiad, HOSA, Science Bowl, Quiz Bowl, and Biology Olympiad. She also  organized monthly speaker events and volunteer opportunities for the largest academic club at WSHS as Activities Director and maintained all correspondence between officers and 100+ members as Secretary. 

    For the past 3 years Aasritha has won three Scholastic Gold Keys (top 5% of regional submissions) and was chosen to be a National Student Poet Program Semifinalist (top 50 out of 40,000 poetry submissions). She also led her high school’s WordSmith team in local competitions, organizing informal workshops. 

    Aasritha has worked as a Kumon Tutor in Memphis since 2021, teaching students aged 5 to 18 concepts in Math and English. Since 2024, she has organized weekly packets for over 100 students every two weeks for Computational Chemistry Research, Memphis. Since 2022, she has worked under the guidance of Dr. Nathan DeYonker to perform ORCA optimizations for the enzyme chorismite mutase in transition states at HOSA in Memphis.

    She received 1st Place for the Regional Clinical Laboratory Science Event Quiz Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, and qualified for Nationals 3x as member of Quiz Bowl A Team. Since 2022, she has hosted the fall quiz bowl tournament at WSHS as Quiz Bowl Tournament Director. Aasritha has also made appearances on local TV station (WREG-3) as a Knowledge Bowl member and is currently a Quarterfinalist in the competition eligible for $7,500 scholarship General Science Clubs in Memphis.

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  • June 2025 Poetry Contest Results

    The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) formally announced its members-only June 2025 contest results at their June 8th 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 all who participated in the Burma Shave poetry contest, and congratulations to the winners:

    • 1st: “Not Blather” Fred Tudiver
    • 2nd: “White Beard” Howard Carman

    Sponsor a Contest!

    If you want to support PST and the development of future poetry consider sponsoring one of our contest! You can complete a sponsor application online or by mail. You need not be a member to sponsor a contest. 

    Join Us!

    Not a member? Join us. Learn more.

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