The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) holds members-only contests through the year. When you participate in a contest, you connect to your community, practice your craft, and take advantage of an opportunity to be published. Contest winners receive monetary prizes, and first place poems are published in PST's anthology, Tennessee Voices. See Publications for information on past and forthcoming editions and how to purchase a copy.
2026/2027 MEMBERS-ONLY CONTESTS
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JULY SELF-PORTRAIT
Subject: Self Portrait Form: any, 40 line maximum Prizes: $25 / $15 / $10 Sponsor and judge: Howard Carman Entries accepted July 1-15. Winners announced August. AUGUST PARKS &/OR PATHS Subject: Parks and/or Paths Form: any (form must be listed on entry), 40 line maximum Prizes: $30 / $20 / $10 Sponsor and judge: Jennifer Smith Entries accepted August 1-15. Winners announced September. SEPTEMBER EKPHRASTIC Subject: ekphrastic poem based on sponsor's art (below) Form: any, 40 line maximum Prizes: $25 / $20 / $15 Sponsor and judge: Janet Qually Entries accepted September 1-15. Winners announced October. 
OCTOBER **SPECIAL POETRY DAY CONTEST**
Subject : Doors or Windows Form: any , 40 line maximum Sponsor: Pella Windows & Doors of Nashville Prizes: $200 / $150 / $100 judge to be chosen by PST Entries accepted October 1-15. Winners announced November. 
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NOVEMBER BALLAD
Form: ballad stanza Subject: any, 40 line maximum Prizes: $35 / $25 / $15 Sponsor and judge: Dr. Diane Clark Entries accepted November 1-15. Winners announced December. DECEMBER CHRISTMAS MEMORIES Subject: Memories of childhood Christmas Form: any, 30 line maximum Prizes: $15 / $10 / $5 Entries accepted December 1-15. Winners announced January. JANUARY PANTOUM Subject: a childhood fear Form: pantoum, 40 line maximum Prizes: $30 / $20 / $10 Sponsor and judge: KB Ballentine Entries accepted January 1-15. Winners announced February. FEBRUARY LIFE A CENTURY AGO Subject: life a century ago Form: any rhymed, metered form (state form on entry) , 30 line maximum Prizes: $30 / $20 / $10 Sponsor and judge: Russell H. Strauss Entries accepted February 1-15. Winners announced March. APRIL PARODY Subject: a song parody, Form: per song, 40 line limit Prizes: TBA Sponsor and judge: William Hill Entries accepted March 1-15. Winners announced in May. |
2026 FULL MOON Poetry Contest
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MEMBERS-ONLY CONTEST RULES **UPDATE** Effective July 1, 2026
1. Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) members may enter (dues owed must be paid in full). Not a member? Join us.
2. Unless otherwise specified in a contest, the following rules apply:
a. Contests open for submission the 1st through 15th of the contest month. (e.g., the July contest is open July 1-15.) Entries received outside the submission window will not be considered.
b. Only one entry per contest per member.
c. Your work must be original, created without use of Artificial Intelligence assisted technologies.
d. Your work must not have been previously published, including online displays.
e. No simultaneous submissions.
f. While PST welcomes a variety of themes and topics, we do not accept explicitly violent or sexual content for our contests.
3. Contests are judged blind.
4. PST publishes first-place poems in Tennessee Voices Anthology. By submitting an entry, you agree to give PST first publishing rights should your poem be selected for publication. Following publication, all rights revert to the author. You also grant PST non-exclusive electronic permission to post this work in archives and share it through social media and/or live presentations. We ask that you credit Tennessee Voices if the work is published elsewhere in the future.
FORMAT
1. Entries must be single spaced in 12-point Times New Roman or similar font.
2. Unless otherwise specified, line count does not include the title or one space below the title. All other lines, including blank lines, are included.
3. If your poem runs more than one page, please clearly note continuation on the first page and place the title on all pages.
4. We accept .doc. .docx, and .pdf formats.
5. If your poem is selected for publication, we will maintain format if at all possible. Should lines exceed 55 characters including spaces, we will reformat. We reserve the right to make minor revisions to works (e.g., spacing conventions for em dashes, correction of typographical errors, and the like).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
1. Only one poem may be submitted to each Member-only Monthly Contest.
2. Email your submission to [email protected] with “PST Monthly Contest Submission” as the subject.
3. Include the following information in the body of your email:
- Name
- Email Address
- Mailing Address
- Phone
- Month and Year of Contest
- A short (75 words or less) biography written in third person
4. Share poem using one of the following methods:
a. (preferred) attach a Word or PDF document with your poem, making sure there is no information in the file showing your identity
b. type or paste your title and poem in the body of the email (below the identifying information above)
HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP?
Ask us. We’re eager to help. Email [email protected] with the subject line: CONTEST INFO PLEASE.
Especially for our digital non-natives: Need help getting your poem single-spaced in Word? Not sure how to attach a file to email? Other technology questions? Reach out. Email [email protected] with the subject line: CONTEST INFO PLEASE.
Questions on poetic forms? See Florence Bruce's Blogspot and more, available on our resources page.
Get a printer-friendly version of our guidelines here.
1. Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) members may enter (dues owed must be paid in full). Not a member? Join us.
2. Unless otherwise specified in a contest, the following rules apply:
a. Contests open for submission the 1st through 15th of the contest month. (e.g., the July contest is open July 1-15.) Entries received outside the submission window will not be considered.
b. Only one entry per contest per member.
c. Your work must be original, created without use of Artificial Intelligence assisted technologies.
d. Your work must not have been previously published, including online displays.
e. No simultaneous submissions.
f. While PST welcomes a variety of themes and topics, we do not accept explicitly violent or sexual content for our contests.
3. Contests are judged blind.
4. PST publishes first-place poems in Tennessee Voices Anthology. By submitting an entry, you agree to give PST first publishing rights should your poem be selected for publication. Following publication, all rights revert to the author. You also grant PST non-exclusive electronic permission to post this work in archives and share it through social media and/or live presentations. We ask that you credit Tennessee Voices if the work is published elsewhere in the future.
FORMAT
1. Entries must be single spaced in 12-point Times New Roman or similar font.
2. Unless otherwise specified, line count does not include the title or one space below the title. All other lines, including blank lines, are included.
3. If your poem runs more than one page, please clearly note continuation on the first page and place the title on all pages.
4. We accept .doc. .docx, and .pdf formats.
5. If your poem is selected for publication, we will maintain format if at all possible. Should lines exceed 55 characters including spaces, we will reformat. We reserve the right to make minor revisions to works (e.g., spacing conventions for em dashes, correction of typographical errors, and the like).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
1. Only one poem may be submitted to each Member-only Monthly Contest.
2. Email your submission to [email protected] with “PST Monthly Contest Submission” as the subject.
3. Include the following information in the body of your email:
- Name
- Email Address
- Mailing Address
- Phone
- Month and Year of Contest
- A short (75 words or less) biography written in third person
4. Share poem using one of the following methods:
a. (preferred) attach a Word or PDF document with your poem, making sure there is no information in the file showing your identity
b. type or paste your title and poem in the body of the email (below the identifying information above)
HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED HELP?
Ask us. We’re eager to help. Email [email protected] with the subject line: CONTEST INFO PLEASE.
Especially for our digital non-natives: Need help getting your poem single-spaced in Word? Not sure how to attach a file to email? Other technology questions? Reach out. Email [email protected] with the subject line: CONTEST INFO PLEASE.
Questions on poetic forms? See Florence Bruce's Blogspot and more, available on our resources page.
Get a printer-friendly version of our guidelines here.
CONTEST RESULTS
2025-2026 MEMBER CONTEST RESULTS
APRIL The Lannet
TBA
FEBRUARY A Regret
Many thanks to sponsor and judge Dr. Diane Clark
1st: "A Message for My Unborn Children" by Russell H. Strauss
2nd: "Unheard Stories" by Connie Jordan Green
3rd: " A Patchwork of Regret" by Jennifer Susan Smith
1HM: "Haunted" by Jerri Hardesty
2HM: "Thick as a Brick" by Mark Hudson
3HM: "Freshman Failure, 1977" by Howard Carman
JANUARY The Corner of Prose and Poetry
Many thanks to sponsor and judge Jennifer Susan Smith
1st: "Origin Story" by Sarah Cummins Small
2nd: "Barbara June" by L.B. Blackwell
3rd: "River Birches in Winter" by John C. Mannone
1HM "Two Trees Lean Close Together" by Danita Dodson
2HM "Cutlass" by Laura Gunnells Miller
3HM "Grace to Grieve" by Sara Gipson
DECEMBER Christmas
Many thanks to sponsor JoAn Howerton and guest judge.
1st: "What Christmas Means to Me" by Wesley Sims
2nd: "Around the Christmas Tree" by Sara Gipson
3rd: "Christmas" by Sherry Poff
1HM: "A Merry Little Christmas" by Jerri Hardesty
2HM: "A Child on Christmas Eve" by Mark Hudson
3HM: "Riding Home, Christmas 1965" by Russell H. Strauss
NOVEMBER Ekphrastic
Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually.
1st: "The Door of My Choice" by Russell H. Strauss
2nd: "Steadfast" by Laura Gunnels Miller
3rd: "Coded Lines" by Jerri Hardesty
HM: "Destiji Art" by Mark Hudson
OCTOBER A Villanelle
Many thanks to sponsor and judge K.B. Ballentine.
1st: "So Little" by Lorraine Jeffrey
2nd: "January Poetry Reading" by Russell H. Strauss
3rd: "Star Quality" by Jerri Hardesty
HM: "Turning of the Earth" by Connie Jordan Green
SEPTEMBER FERTILITY PHARMACY CONTEST 2025
This is a special contest sponsored by the Fertility Pharmacy of America for a poem about fertility struggles.
1st through 3rd place winners will be published by Fertility Pharmacy of America and 1st place will be reprinted in next year's edition of Tennessee Voices Anthology.
Judging: Many thanks to Will Weimer, Vince Jackson, and Kirk Rawl (company management) for serving as judges.
1st: "Miscarriage" by John C. Mannone
2nd: "To the Baby We Almost Had" by Sherry Poff
3rd: To be or not to be" by Mark Hudson
HM: "baby talk" by Lisa Kamolnick
August 2025 FULL MOON Poetry Contest
This is a special contest sponsored by the Full Moon Poetry Group: a ghazal on any subject. In lieu of prize money, all entrants will receive electronic feedback from at least 2 judges. 1st place poem will be published in the 2026 Tennessee Voices anthology. Many thanks to judges Cathy Hollister, Cynthia Storrs, Ione Singletary, Nikki Noushin, Scott Pierce, and Betty Lee Kasoff
1st Place "Maui in Harmony" by Jennifer Smith
2nd Place "Swimming Laps" by Connie Green
3rd Place "Praying in the Garden of Croton Petras with the Sound of Herons in the Distance" by John Mannone
July Treasurer's Contest: a poem about money. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Howard S. Carman, Jr.
1st: "Grand Mansion According to an Unbalanced Accountant" by Laura Gunnells Miller
2nd: "A Cautionary Limerick" by Deborah Z Adams
3rd: "In the Checkout Line at Tractor Supply" by Sherry Poff
1HM: "Hole in the Pocket" by Russell H. Strauss
June A Burma Shave poem. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Russell Strauss.
1st: “Not Blather” by Fred Tudiver
2nd: “White Beard” by Howard Carman
PAST WINNERS
Congratulations to winners and many thanks to sponsors, judges and all entrants in our members-only contests.
Get the 2024-2025 Member Contest Winners list (including the inaugural Full Moon Poetry contest).
Get the list of 2023-2024 and 2022-2023 monthly contest winners.
2025-2026 MEMBER CONTEST RESULTS
APRIL The Lannet
TBA
FEBRUARY A Regret
Many thanks to sponsor and judge Dr. Diane Clark
1st: "A Message for My Unborn Children" by Russell H. Strauss
2nd: "Unheard Stories" by Connie Jordan Green
3rd: " A Patchwork of Regret" by Jennifer Susan Smith
1HM: "Haunted" by Jerri Hardesty
2HM: "Thick as a Brick" by Mark Hudson
3HM: "Freshman Failure, 1977" by Howard Carman
JANUARY The Corner of Prose and Poetry
Many thanks to sponsor and judge Jennifer Susan Smith
1st: "Origin Story" by Sarah Cummins Small
2nd: "Barbara June" by L.B. Blackwell
3rd: "River Birches in Winter" by John C. Mannone
1HM "Two Trees Lean Close Together" by Danita Dodson
2HM "Cutlass" by Laura Gunnells Miller
3HM "Grace to Grieve" by Sara Gipson
DECEMBER Christmas
Many thanks to sponsor JoAn Howerton and guest judge.
1st: "What Christmas Means to Me" by Wesley Sims
2nd: "Around the Christmas Tree" by Sara Gipson
3rd: "Christmas" by Sherry Poff
1HM: "A Merry Little Christmas" by Jerri Hardesty
2HM: "A Child on Christmas Eve" by Mark Hudson
3HM: "Riding Home, Christmas 1965" by Russell H. Strauss
NOVEMBER Ekphrastic
Many thanks to sponsor and judge Janet Qually.
1st: "The Door of My Choice" by Russell H. Strauss
2nd: "Steadfast" by Laura Gunnels Miller
3rd: "Coded Lines" by Jerri Hardesty
HM: "Destiji Art" by Mark Hudson
OCTOBER A Villanelle
Many thanks to sponsor and judge K.B. Ballentine.
1st: "So Little" by Lorraine Jeffrey
2nd: "January Poetry Reading" by Russell H. Strauss
3rd: "Star Quality" by Jerri Hardesty
HM: "Turning of the Earth" by Connie Jordan Green
SEPTEMBER FERTILITY PHARMACY CONTEST 2025
This is a special contest sponsored by the Fertility Pharmacy of America for a poem about fertility struggles.
1st through 3rd place winners will be published by Fertility Pharmacy of America and 1st place will be reprinted in next year's edition of Tennessee Voices Anthology.
Judging: Many thanks to Will Weimer, Vince Jackson, and Kirk Rawl (company management) for serving as judges.
1st: "Miscarriage" by John C. Mannone
2nd: "To the Baby We Almost Had" by Sherry Poff
3rd: To be or not to be" by Mark Hudson
HM: "baby talk" by Lisa Kamolnick
August 2025 FULL MOON Poetry Contest
This is a special contest sponsored by the Full Moon Poetry Group: a ghazal on any subject. In lieu of prize money, all entrants will receive electronic feedback from at least 2 judges. 1st place poem will be published in the 2026 Tennessee Voices anthology. Many thanks to judges Cathy Hollister, Cynthia Storrs, Ione Singletary, Nikki Noushin, Scott Pierce, and Betty Lee Kasoff
1st Place "Maui in Harmony" by Jennifer Smith
2nd Place "Swimming Laps" by Connie Green
3rd Place "Praying in the Garden of Croton Petras with the Sound of Herons in the Distance" by John Mannone
July Treasurer's Contest: a poem about money. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Howard S. Carman, Jr.
1st: "Grand Mansion According to an Unbalanced Accountant" by Laura Gunnells Miller
2nd: "A Cautionary Limerick" by Deborah Z Adams
3rd: "In the Checkout Line at Tractor Supply" by Sherry Poff
1HM: "Hole in the Pocket" by Russell H. Strauss
June A Burma Shave poem. Many thanks to sponsor and judge Russell Strauss.
1st: “Not Blather” by Fred Tudiver
2nd: “White Beard” by Howard Carman
PAST WINNERS
Congratulations to winners and many thanks to sponsors, judges and all entrants in our members-only contests.
Get the 2024-2025 Member Contest Winners list (including the inaugural Full Moon Poetry contest).
Get the list of 2023-2024 and 2022-2023 monthly contest winners.
MORE CONTESTS
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) offers contests annually, including:
Get details on NFSPS and other state society contests.
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) offers contests annually, including:
- Annual poetry contests
- Blackberry Peach Spoken & Heard: a contest for page and stage
- Blackberry Peach National Slam
- College Undergraduate Competition: chapbook competition
- Barbara Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition
- Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest (for grades 6 through 12)
Get details on NFSPS and other state society contests.