Poetry Society of Tennessee

EST. 1953

PST News

  • 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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  • Opportunities Abound: June 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!

    • BoomerLit (open to writers of all ages) seeks submissions on the theme of resilience. Learn more. Deadline June 20.
    • The Dribble Drabble Review seeks Little-ature. Call closes June 21.
    • Shift, lit mag for MTSU Write, seeks submissions on the supernatural. Learn more. Deadline June 30.
    • Last Stanza seeks submissions on the theme conversation. Learn more. Deadline June 30.
    • Submissions are open for Procrastinating Writers United‘s 2025 mini-digital-publication THE YELLING CONTINUES, not surprisingly themed on Noise. Be part of the cacophony. Learn more. Deadline June 30.

    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! Details on the BlackBerry Peach Youth Mini-Festival to be held July 25, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will also become available in the coming months.

    More Calls and Contests

    Events

    • On June 7, the FW Coleman Theatre will put on a Children’s Jazz and Poetry Festival from 12:00 – 4:00 PM at 1517 S Mt. Zion Rd, Byhalia, Mississippi.
    • The Southern Fried Poetry Slam will be held June 11-14, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Get details.

    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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  • That’s A Wrap: Full-Year Contest Results for 2024-2025

    Poetry Society of Tennessee wrapped up their 2024-2025 contest year with the final winner announcement at their May membership meeting. We are pleased to present highlights for a year of firsts and full contest slates for poets of virtually all ages as well as a new contest for artists.

    Winning art work, first place poems from festival, member, and student contests along with Tennessee Voices contest finalists and other editorial selections will be published in the upcoming edition of Tennessee Voices Anthology, expected to become available in late summer.

    68th Annual Poetry Festival Contests

    A partnership with MTSU Write and Poetry in the Boro, The 68th Annual Poetry Festival was the first-ever hybrid event for the society and offered diverse workshops for attendees. The event concluded with contest winner announcements and a reading of winning poems.

    The festival’s 22 contests received 532 entries and yielded 141 moments of recognition for poets. First place winners and Tennessee Voices finalists will appear in the anthology.

    Best of Fest Goes to ….

    Best of the Fest is an award presented to the top poem among winning festival poems. Plenary session presenter Christian J. Collier, the guest judge for this special award, selected the Best of Fest winner. KB Ballentine won Best of Fest for her poem “Rest.” Look for “Rest” and other winning poems in Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2024-2025 this summer.

    Get the full festival winners list.

    Tennessee Visions Cover Art Contest

    The society launched its inaugural cover art contest in the fall of 2024. Winners will appear on the front and back cover of the upcoming anthology edition. Learn more about the contest, winning art, and the artists.

    Members-Only Contests

    In addition to 11 traditional sponsored contests with monetary prizes, this year the society’s Full Moon Poetry Group sponsored a unique poetry contest for members, where all entrants received feedback from at least two members on the judging panel. First prize winning poems of these 12 contests will appear in the upcoming edition of Tennessee Voices Anthology. Get full results of members-only contests.

    Tennessee Collegiate and Student Contests

    The society launched its inaugural Tennessee Collegiate Contest open to college students of all levels attending Tennessee-based higher education institutions. They also continued their long-running annual student contests for elementary, middle school and high school students. First place winners will appear in the forthcoming Tennessee Voices Anthology. Get full Tennessee Collegiate Contest results. Get full Student Contest results.

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  • June 2025 Program: Celebration

    In June, as we near our 72nd anniversary, we offer a special two-part program! First, we invite you to reflect on the year’s highlights and join us in a brief ceremony celebrating and honoring volunteers who delivered an amazing 71st program year to members. Next, we will celebrate poetry with hands-on activities. Get ready to write as Jake Lawson guides us through a writing prompt or two! Afterward we will have a poetry share.

    MEETING INFORMATION

    This program will be presented during our upcoming member meeting, to be held June 14 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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  • Debut Poetry from Cynthia Storrs Available for Pre-Order

    Cynthia Storrs’ poetry chapbook, Garden Clippings (Finishing Line Press), will be released on August 29, 2025, and is available at a discount on pre-order now through July 4, 2025.

    About Garden Clippings

    In Cynthia’s chapbook, the richness and vibrance of gardens give voice to transitions, losses, and faith. Image, form and rhyme become a place to innovate, experiment and play, pulling threads of life’s tangles to shape hope for a coming harvest.

    Praise for Garden Clippings

    The beautiful, bountiful garden of Cynthia Storrs‘ Garden Clippings delights and nourishes. These finely crafted poems, vibrant and colorful, have been tended by a loving caretaker. I know you will enjoy spending time with Garden Clippings as much as I do.  –Aaron Anstett, inaugural Pikes Peak Poet Laureate and author of What Now and other poetry collections.

    Garden Clippings (Finishing Line Press) is available at a discount on pre-order now through July 4, 2025. Learn more about Finishing Line Press.

    About the Author

    Cynthia Storrs is a poet, teacher, and cross-culture lecturer. She and her husband reared two children overseas in French schools while working with national churches and teaching English. Her award-winning poetry has appeared on-line and in print in magazines and anthologies. In addition to writing, she is an amateur painter and regularly incorporates her love for art in ekphrastic poetry. Storrs currently resides with her husband Don and their dog Rustee outside of Nashville where they are attempting to tame their backyard into a garden. Learn more.

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  • May 2025 Poetry Contest Results

    The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) formally announced its members-only May 2025 contest results at their May 10 member meeting. Winners receive cash prizes. The first place poem will be published in an upcoming edition of PST’s anthology, Tennessee Voices.

    This month featured two contests. Many thanks to sponsor and judge for each, Russell Strauss and Dr. Emory Jones, who selected the following winners and honorable mentions:

     A humorous poem
    1st: "Composing a Poem" by Sara Gipson
    2nd: "Cab Calloway Called it Chinse Music" by William Hill 
    A poem about friends
    1st: "Reminisce" by Lisa A. Riley
    2nd: "Flow" by Jonathan Bennett
    3rd: "Forever Friends" by Fred Tudiver
    HM "Coffee with Chris" by Mark Hudson

    Meeting attendees enjoyed the readings of these winning poems.

    Get full-year members-only contest results here.

    MORE Members-Only Contests

    More contests are coming, and you can sponsor one. But hurry! Only 5 spots left. Help shape our next anthology edition. Get details.

    Winners of June’s contest, for a Burma Shave poem, will be announced at the next meeting.

    Join Us!

    Not a member? Our new year started May 1, 2025: join us. Learn more.

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  • New Poetry by Charles Thomas

    Charles Thomas’ new poetry collection, Love Too Much, is available for purchase.

    What We Know

    Thomas invites readers on a journey through the multidimensional continuum of love, exploring its depths, limits, and transformative power, aided by the stunning visual art of a professional artist.

    About Love Too Much

    In Love Too Much, poet Thomas offers an exploration of love, darkness, and light, inviting readers to reconsider societal norms and stereotypes of these themes. Through a blend of verse and vivid imagery, Thomas challenges the traditional view that equates darkness with negativity and light with goodness. Instead, the poet celebrates the restorative power of darkness, urging us to embrace a more nuanced and balanced understanding of love and human connection.

    This collection delves into the complexities of the heart, from the delicate balance of strength and weakness in “Space-Time Between” to the raw honesty of loving without causing harm in “Can’t Be Done.” With stunning visual art accompanying each poem, Love Too Much is a transformative journey that will challenge, move, and inspire you to rethink love itself.

    About the Author

    Charles Thomas decided to self-publish a book not for the purpose of self-publishing a book; rather, his purpose is to share his thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and to encourage everyone to do the same. His poetry has appeared in various online and print magazines, including most recently Novus, Dandelion Scribes, Remington Review, Shift, and WorshipWeb of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

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