Poetry Society of Tennessee Members-Only Contest Results
Many thanks to our entrants, sponsors and judges who make these contests possible. Congratulations to all entrants whose poetry has been recognized. First place winning poems will be published in an upcoming edition of Tennessee Voices, the Poetry Society of Tennessee anthology.
2023-2024
July: Double contest, exploring forms. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Russell Strauss.
Dorsimbra
1st: "Crime Borders" Sara Gipson
HM: "Jacob's Well" Jerry Buchanan
HM: "Frustrated Fisherman" Howard Carman
Pantoum
1st place: "The Heart of Art Appeal Revealed" Sara Gipson
August: Any form, on the theme "As Summer Fades." Many thanks to sponsor and judge Lisa Kamolnick.
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
September: An ekphrastic poem in response to a specific artwork. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually.
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
October: An apostrophe poem, rhymed or metered. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Howard Carman.
1st (tie): “Rufous Hummer” by Jerry Buchanan and “To My Mickey Mouse Watch” by Russell H. Strauss
3rd: “Grieving” by Dr. Emory Jones
November: A free verse poem about a childhood Thanksgiving memory. Many thanks to sponsor and judge JoAn Howerton.
1st: "Thanksgiving After the Prognosis" by KB Ballentine
2nd: "The Perfect Thanksgiving As I Remember It" by William Hill
3rd: "Childhood: Thanksgiving" by Cynthia Storrs
1HM: "Thanksgiving my 9th Year" by Howard S. Carman Jr.
2HM: "Last Thanksgiving in Jonesboro" by Lisa Riley
3HM: "Thanksgiving" by Dr. Emory Jones
More results coming soon!
Many thanks to our entrants, sponsors and judges who make these contests possible. Congratulations to all entrants whose poetry has been recognized. First place winning poems will be published in an upcoming edition of Tennessee Voices, the Poetry Society of Tennessee anthology.
2023-2024
July: Double contest, exploring forms. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Russell Strauss.
Dorsimbra
1st: "Crime Borders" Sara Gipson
HM: "Jacob's Well" Jerry Buchanan
HM: "Frustrated Fisherman" Howard Carman
Pantoum
1st place: "The Heart of Art Appeal Revealed" Sara Gipson
August: Any form, on the theme "As Summer Fades." Many thanks to sponsor and judge Lisa Kamolnick.
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
September: An ekphrastic poem in response to a specific artwork. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually.
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
October: An apostrophe poem, rhymed or metered. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Howard Carman.
1st (tie): “Rufous Hummer” by Jerry Buchanan and “To My Mickey Mouse Watch” by Russell H. Strauss
3rd: “Grieving” by Dr. Emory Jones
November: A free verse poem about a childhood Thanksgiving memory. Many thanks to sponsor and judge JoAn Howerton.
1st: "Thanksgiving After the Prognosis" by KB Ballentine
2nd: "The Perfect Thanksgiving As I Remember It" by William Hill
3rd: "Childhood: Thanksgiving" by Cynthia Storrs
1HM: "Thanksgiving my 9th Year" by Howard S. Carman Jr.
2HM: "Last Thanksgiving in Jonesboro" by Lisa Riley
3HM: "Thanksgiving" by Dr. Emory Jones
More results coming soon!
2022-2023 MEMBER CONTEST RESULTS
September: A humorous poem, 40-line limit, any subject. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Florence Bruce.
1st: “Fix Me” by Bill Hill
2nd: “Clark’s Dilemma” by Russell Strauss
3rd: “my Old Man” by Ann Carolyn Cates
October: A cinquain or cinquain sequence., any subject. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Howard Carman.
1st: “Remnants” by Russell Strauss
2nd: “Flightless” by Sara Gipson
3rd: “Wine Making” by Ann Carolyn Cates
Honorable Mention: “A Year in Cinquain" by Florence Bruce
November: A Shakespearean sonnet. Many thanks to sponsor and judge JoAn Howerton.
1st: "A Painter's View of Autumn Sunset" by William Hill
2nd: "Late Autumn Love" by Russell Strauss
3rd: "Autumn's Fading" by Patricia Hope
1HM: "Mice of Autumn" by Mark Hudson
2HM: "Jack O 'Lantern" by Howard Carman
3HM: "Merry Go Round" by Ann Carolyn Cates
December: A limerick about pets. Many thanks to sponsor Anna"s Pet Sitting and judge Bill Hill.
1st: "At Least, There Was No More Doggy Breath" by Russell Strauss
2nd: "The Chicken" by Claire Webb
3rd: "Willow" by Mark Hudson
1HM: untitled by Lisa Kamolnick
2HM: "Zippy Skippy" by Howard Carman
3HM: "The Board Broad" by Ann Carolyn Cates
January: Any form about a fresh start, 40-line limit. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Lisa Kamolnick.
1st: "Ode to the Little Orchid Trying to Survive" by Shuly Cawood
2nd: "Love in Color" by Claire Webb
3rd: "Nobody Knows Me Here" by Russell Strauss
HM1: "This Year I'll Make It" by William Hill
HM2: "Tabula Rasa" by Howard Carman
HM3: "Nature's Special Gift" by Sara Gipson
February: A cowboy poem, either lyric or narrative, 10-40 lines. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Russell H. Strauss.
1st: "Smokey Joe" by Sara Gibson
2nd: "Print the Legend" by William Hill
3rd: "Saving Face" by Howard Carman
March: A minute poem about "bad art.” Many thanks to sponsor William Hill Art and Poetry and judge Bill Hill.
1st: “Contested” by John Page
2nd: “Impersonating Impressionists” by Howard Carman
3rd: “A Square of Blue” by Sara Gipson
1HM: “My Friend the Artist” by Ann Thornfield-Long
2HM: “Home Made Art” by Ann Carolyn Cates
April: An ekphrastic poem in response to a specific work of art, 5-15 lines. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually.
1st: “What Is Really Here” by Russell H. Strauss
1HM: “Digital Genesis” by Howard Carman
2HM “Serenity” by Claire Webb
3HM: “Impressions” by Connie Jordan Green
May: Any form poem about "The Ace of Spades," 40-line limit. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Dr. Diane Clark.
1st: "A New Spadille" Howard Carman
2nd: "Eighth Grade Poker" Russell Strauss
3rd:"Aces and Eights" Emory Jones
1HM: "Ace of Spades" Pat Hope
2HM: "The Last Ace" William Hill
September: A humorous poem, 40-line limit, any subject. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Florence Bruce.
1st: “Fix Me” by Bill Hill
2nd: “Clark’s Dilemma” by Russell Strauss
3rd: “my Old Man” by Ann Carolyn Cates
October: A cinquain or cinquain sequence., any subject. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Howard Carman.
1st: “Remnants” by Russell Strauss
2nd: “Flightless” by Sara Gipson
3rd: “Wine Making” by Ann Carolyn Cates
Honorable Mention: “A Year in Cinquain" by Florence Bruce
November: A Shakespearean sonnet. Many thanks to sponsor and judge JoAn Howerton.
1st: "A Painter's View of Autumn Sunset" by William Hill
2nd: "Late Autumn Love" by Russell Strauss
3rd: "Autumn's Fading" by Patricia Hope
1HM: "Mice of Autumn" by Mark Hudson
2HM: "Jack O 'Lantern" by Howard Carman
3HM: "Merry Go Round" by Ann Carolyn Cates
December: A limerick about pets. Many thanks to sponsor Anna"s Pet Sitting and judge Bill Hill.
1st: "At Least, There Was No More Doggy Breath" by Russell Strauss
2nd: "The Chicken" by Claire Webb
3rd: "Willow" by Mark Hudson
1HM: untitled by Lisa Kamolnick
2HM: "Zippy Skippy" by Howard Carman
3HM: "The Board Broad" by Ann Carolyn Cates
January: Any form about a fresh start, 40-line limit. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Lisa Kamolnick.
1st: "Ode to the Little Orchid Trying to Survive" by Shuly Cawood
2nd: "Love in Color" by Claire Webb
3rd: "Nobody Knows Me Here" by Russell Strauss
HM1: "This Year I'll Make It" by William Hill
HM2: "Tabula Rasa" by Howard Carman
HM3: "Nature's Special Gift" by Sara Gipson
February: A cowboy poem, either lyric or narrative, 10-40 lines. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Russell H. Strauss.
1st: "Smokey Joe" by Sara Gibson
2nd: "Print the Legend" by William Hill
3rd: "Saving Face" by Howard Carman
March: A minute poem about "bad art.” Many thanks to sponsor William Hill Art and Poetry and judge Bill Hill.
1st: “Contested” by John Page
2nd: “Impersonating Impressionists” by Howard Carman
3rd: “A Square of Blue” by Sara Gipson
1HM: “My Friend the Artist” by Ann Thornfield-Long
2HM: “Home Made Art” by Ann Carolyn Cates
April: An ekphrastic poem in response to a specific work of art, 5-15 lines. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually.
1st: “What Is Really Here” by Russell H. Strauss
1HM: “Digital Genesis” by Howard Carman
2HM “Serenity” by Claire Webb
3HM: “Impressions” by Connie Jordan Green
May: Any form poem about "The Ace of Spades," 40-line limit. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Dr. Diane Clark.
1st: "A New Spadille" Howard Carman
2nd: "Eighth Grade Poker" Russell Strauss
3rd:"Aces and Eights" Emory Jones
1HM: "Ace of Spades" Pat Hope
2HM: "The Last Ace" William Hill