ASPS Winners List 2023 Spring
2022 Book of the Year: Five Points South: Poems from an Alabama Pilgrimage by Nancy Owen Nelson
2022 Poet of the Year: Dr. Roger Carlisle
Category 1: ASPS Spring Contest
1. “Ms. Rhydinghood Remembers” by Joe Whitten, Odenville, AL
2. “It’s Life or Death” by Delbert Reed, Northport, AL
3. “The Great Gate at Kiev” by Virginia Gilbert, Madison, AL
4. “Liminality of Ash” by Melissa Wold, Mobile AL
1st HM: “The House on Foxcroft Lane” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
2nd HM: “Rappahannock” by Nancy Cook, St. Paul, MN
3rd HM: “Does Any Ukrainian Sleep at Night” by Ruth Keally, Athens, GA
Category 2: Spring Young Poets Contest
No entries
Category 3: Rosemarie Stutts Haiku Contest
1. Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
2. “haiku” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
3. “Springtime cherry blossoms” by Daniel Moreschi, Neath, Wales, UK
HM: “Earth – Water – Air – Fire” by Susan Tolle, Birmingham, AL
HM: “This calendar page” by Virginia Gilbert, Madison, AL
Category 4: Come to your Senses Contest
1. “Southern Circuit, Afternoon Ride Home” by Saundra Grace, Mobile, AL
2. “After Afghanistan” by Shari Crane Fox, Grass Valley, CA
3. “Poem Prayer for Fitting In” by Miriam Calleja Shaw, Birmingham, AL
HM: “In the Dentist’s Chair Just Before the Jaw-Numbing Gel Kicks in for My Second Crown” by Jennifer Grant, Newberry, FL
Category 5:Beach Bards Publishing Contest
1. “Forever Faun” by Dr. Emory D. Jones, Iuka, MS
2. “Morning in Amber” by Pat Launius, Warrior, AL
3. “Was it Raining” by Charles Firmage, Eloy, AZ
HM: “Time Marches On” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
Category 6: Mike & Nancy memorial Award
1. “An Unusual Ultrasound” by Sue Brannan Walker, Mobile, AL
2. “Multiverse” by Jonathan Bennett, Lakeland, TN
3. “Trains, Planes, and Automobiles” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
HM: “Of Fabric and Dadaism: My Memo to Gertrude Stein” by Jennifer Grant, Newberry, FL
Category 7: Buddy Roberts Memorial Award
1. “Bringing” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
2. “Happenstance” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
3. “Sounds you always hear” by Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
HM: “More Than a Job” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
Category 8: Precious Prodigal Contest
1. “October Morning Memory Where Past and Present Meet” by Joe Whitten, Odenville, AL
2. “yellow fanged winter” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
3. “Sharing a night walk with ancient voices” by Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
HM: “Observe the Nine-Pin Thunder as it Sheds Sparks” by Gurupreet Khalsa, Mobile, AL
Category 9: I’ll Take the French Form, S’Il Vous Plait
1. “Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon” by
2. “Villon Villanelle” by Jim Ferguson, Birmingham, AL
3. “Ritual” by Virginia Gilbert, Madison, AL
4. “The Ancestors Awoke” by Melissa Wold, Mobile, AL
HM: “Playful Spring” by Dr. Emory D. Jones, Iuka, MS
Category 10: Thalassic Contest
1. “Set Wide” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
2. “I am just a shell in which the ocean is not yet silent” by Miriam Calleja Shaw, Birmingham, AL
3. “Discussing My Fish with Elizabeth Bishop” by Jennifer Grant, Newberry, FL
Category 11: Eliza Dargan Ware Memorial Contest
1. “Into the Heart of the Mountains” by Nancy Cook, St. Paul, MN
2. “Reunion” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
3. “My Mountain” by Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
HM “Mountainborn” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
HM “The Mountain” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
Category 12: Stork Contest
1. “in March storks return to the fields of Ukraine” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
2. “Storksville” by Mike Wahl, Athens, AL
3. “The Birth of Myths” by Jerri Hardesty, Biarfield, AL
ASPS Fall 22 Winners List
1. ASPS Fall Contest
First: “Women in Flight” by Pamela Manasco, Madison, AL
Second Place: “Unencumbered by Beauty’s Cage” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton, Vestavia Hills, AL
Third Place: “And the Livin’ is Not So Easy” by Gurupreet Khalsa, Mobile, AL
Fourth Place: “A Mother to Hold” by Seb Detling, Mobile, AL
Honorable Mentions:
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“That scraping of iron on iron when the wind rises, what is it?” by Miriam Calleja, Birmingham, AL
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“Thoughts Under a Machine” by Teri Reese, Muscle Shoals, AL
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“Me, Air That Kills Surreptitiously” by Mike Wahl, Athens, AL
2. Dr. Patricia Burchfield Memorial Contest
First: “Looking Through the Paper Memories” by Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
Second: “Grandma’s Recipe Box” by Kimberly Shackelford, Gulf Shores, AL
Third: “Polaroid Pictures” by Lorrain Jeffery, Orem, UT
3. Ekphrastic Poetry Award
First: “Ansel Adams” by K.B. Kincer, Marietta, GA
Second: “Le Demoiselles d’Avignon” by Miriam Calleja, Birmingham, AL
Third: “The Two Fridas” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton, Vestavia Hills, AL
Honorable Mentions
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“Reflections on Van Gogh’s Skull with a Burning Cigarette” by Jeral Williams, Mobile, AL
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“Going Dutch: Two World Delft-ly Limned” by Pat Launius, Warrior, AL
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“The Long View” by Nancy Simmonds, Fort Wayne, IN
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“Moses in a Roman Basilica, or Damned in Translation” by Saundra Grace, Mobile, AL
4. Quantum Poetry Award
First: “A cure for recurrent underwater dreams,” by Miriam Calleja, Birmingham, AL
Second: “Supernova” by Pamela Manasco, Madison, AL
Third: “Duality” by Beth Sherrill, Tuscaloosa, AL
Honorable Mention: “Orchestrated Objective Reduction Theory of Consciousness” by K.B. Kincer, Marietta, GA
5. Beatlemania Award
First: “Where My Daddy is Today” by Beth Sherrill, Tuscaloosa, AL
Second: “Count Me Out [In]” by Nancy Cook, Saint Paul, MN
Third Place: “the god of loneliness” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
Honorable Mention: “Goo goo g’joob, goo goo goo g’joob” by Pat Launius, Warrior, AL
6. The BKC Award
First: “red car” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
Second: “The Totem Animal Speaks” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
Third: “If Reincarnated” by Seb Detling, Mobile, AL
Honorable Mention: “This is Also Just to Say” by Nancy Cook, St. Paul, MN
7. WA Award
First: “Poppies Still Grow There” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
Second: “Just Show Your Love” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
Third: “Focus Ahead,” by Heidi Schmidt, Foley, AL
Honorable Mention: “She Sings” by Dr. Emory Jones, Iuka, MS
8. Precious Prodigal Award
First: “An apostrophe to punctuation” by Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
Second: “Speeding” by Mike Wahl, Athens, AL
Third: “Oh My Precious Books” by Kimberly Shackelford, Mobile, AL
Fourth: “Oh Rare Ben” by Pat Launius, Warrior, AL
Honorable Mentions
-
“A Delayed Apostrophe to Eliot” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
-
“Ode to Chocolate” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
9. Buddy Award
First: “Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Lubbock roller rink” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton, Vestavia Hills, AL
Second: “Dream Team” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
Third: “That’ll Be the Day” by Mike Wahl, Athens, AL
Fourth: “How do I Keep Your Love” by Tanya R. Whitney
10. Tell Me A Story
First: “Old Woman in the Garden” by Pat Launius, Warrior, AL
Second: “Missing Redbirds” by Seb Detling, Mobile, AL
Third: “A Body of Work” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
11. Mike Flores Memorial Award
First: “Fibonacci Future” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX’
Second: “Things I have found out” by Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
Third: “The Pavilion” by Charles Kinnaird, Birmingham, AL
12. Relatives Award
First: “Canning Time” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
Second: “Interconnected” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
Third: “The buttons they press” by Miriam Calleja, Birmingham, AL
Honorable Mentions
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“Everything Will Be Better in a Week or Two” by Gurupreet Khalsa, Mobile, AL
-
“The Cheese Stands Alone” by Melissa Wold, Mobile, AL
2022 Spring Contest Winners List
2021 Book of the Year: it was never Eden by Jeanette Willert
2021 Poet of the Year: Alina Stefanescu
Category 1: ASPS Spring Contest
1. “Girlhood” by Kate Duthu
2. “Patterns” by Virginia Gilbert
3. “Ella: Just One of Those Things” by Jeanette Willert
4. “At a Christmas Party I Name My Prosthesis DeLoris after Drawing Names from a Glass Jar” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton
HMs: “Morning is the Shedding Time” by Catherine Hall Kiser
“Final Chapter” by Ruth Keally
“Un-Newtonian Love” by Deanna Stephens
Category 2: Seasons Contest
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“Faerie Alchemy” by Pat Launius
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“Summer Repair” by DeAnna Stephens
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“When Summer Starts to End” by Nancy Cook
Category 3: Thalassic Poetry Contest
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“Beauty and Barbed Wire” by Maryella Sirmon
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“Mutability” by Saunda Grace
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“Salt has Reached My Lips” by Adwiti Subba Haffner
HM: “Dusk” by Jeanette Willert
Category 4: Pictures at an Exhibition
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“Notes of Freedom” by Charlie K. Firmage
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“Invitation to Escape” by Kathleen Duthu
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“The Gnomes and Baba Yaga Team Up” by Gurupreet Khalsa
Category 5: Golden Shovel Contest
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“Young Soldier Sent to Fight the Neighbors” by Gurupreet Khalsa
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“Love in the Ruins” by Jeff Grill
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“Changing Perspective” by Jerri Hardesty
HM: “Released from Time” by Maryella Sirmon
Category 6: I’ll Take the French Form S’il Vous Plait
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“I was with him at the end” by Miriam Calleja
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“Our old ways of thinking” by Charlie K. Firmage
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“Heart…” by Jeanette Willert
Category 7: Buddy Roberts Memorial Award
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“Learning to be a Man” by Lorraine Jeffery
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“Caregivers” by Beth Staas
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“Last Japanese Soldier” by Saundra Grace
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“A Bright Spot” by Randy Hale
HM: “More than a Job” by Jerry Hardesty
Category 8: Precious Prodigal Contest
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“Labels” by Pat Launius
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“Save Me Any Way You Can, Lord” by Gurupreet Khalsa
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“In a Fevered Dream” by Catherine Hall Kiser
HM: “Killdeer” by Mike Wahl
Category 9: New Dawn Unlimited Award
1: “Do Something” by Teri Reese
HM: “Call me Magnanimous” by Nancy Cook
HM: “Funny How Shopping” by Virginia Gilbert
Category 10: Writing from the Inside Out
1. “All I See and Know, Suspended” by Gurupreet Khalsa
2. “I Ask the Sea” by Adwiti Subba Hafner
HM “Within the Rings of Time” by Randy Hale
Category 11:
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“A Purple Dinosaur Sings at My Neice’s Wedding” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton
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“Conjugating Are, Was, Were, Shall Be: Jouissance” by Sue Brannan Walker
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“Show me the Way” by Gurupreet Khalsa
HM: “Pie in the Sky” by Leonard Temme
“You’re no Good” by Ruth Keally
Category 12: Carey Link Memorial Prize
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“For Matt” by Virginia Gilbert
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“A Loose Calligraphy” by Catherine Hall Kiser
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“Hippocampus” by Jerri Hardesty
HM: “The Difference” by Charlie K. Firmage
Fall 2021 ASPS WINNER’S LIST
ASPS POET OF THE YEAR: Jennifer Horne
ASPS BOOK OF THE YEAR: Codes, by Charlotte Pence
Category 1: ASPS Fall Contest
1st Place: “The Dance of Life” by Seb Detling, Mobile, AL
2nd Place: “In August, a Gleaning” by Karen McAferty Morris, Huntsville, AL
3rd Place: “Under Six Heavy Sweaters” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton, Vestavia Hills, AL
4th Place: “Who is Wise Among You” by Harry Moore, Decatur, AL
Honorable Mention:
“Whoever coined the term sandwich generation” by Kate Duthu, Mobile, AL
Category 2: William Desak Sirmon Memorial Award
1st Place: “Moose Tracks in the Sky” by Dr. Monita K. Soni, Decatur, AL
2nd Place: “Fond Memories” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
3rd Place: “Ode to a Teacher – General Day” by Rita Aiken Moritz, Pell City, AL
Honorable Mentions:
“My Teachers Heart by Myra Ward Barra, Pell City, AL
“Somewhere Socrates is Smiling” by Jeral Williams, Mobile, AL
“Thank a Teacher” by Dr. Emory D. Jones, Iuka, MS
Category 3: Janet Hale Memorial Award
1st Place: “Honey Bees” by Ruth Keally, Athens, GA
2nd Place: “A Vigil” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
3rd Place: “Gloriosa Flame Lily” by Lori Lasseter Hamilton, Vestavia Hills, AL
Category 4: Youth Contest
1st Place: Quarantine with Mommy by Diego Balmori, 4th Grade, Mobile, AL
Category 5: Haibun Contest
1st Place: “Winter Haibun” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
2nd Place: “Today” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
3rd Place: “Now I Understand” by Leonard Temme, Pensacola, FL
Honorable Mentions:
“Preparing for the Poet” by Mike Wahl, Athens, AL
“Oak Fall” by Karen McAferty Morris, Huntsville, AL
Category 6: Professor Suzanne MacRae Memorial Award
1st Place: “On Reading Jeannette Wall’s The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
2nd Place: “Moment” by Leonard Temme, Pensacola, FL
3rd Place: “Ode to Whitman 2” by Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
Category 7: BKC Award
1st Place: “we live in a small house” by Terry Jude Miller, Richmond, TX
2nd Place: “Thimble” by Dr. Monita Soni, Decatur, AL
3rd Place: “Passing Time as an Adopted Child” by Seb Detling, Mobile, AL
HM: “Eight Seconds” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
Category 8: Truth Award
1st Place: “The Reception” by Leonard Temme, Pensacola, FL
2nd Place: “Greater Mercy” by Dr. Emory D. Jones, Iuka, MS
3rd Place: “Like Dusty Treasures in a Pawn Shop” by Gurupreet Khalsa, Mobile, AL
Category 9: “That’s a Winner”
1st Place: “Rethinking Leda and the Swan” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
2nd Place: “Soft-Lined Box” by Lorraine Jeffery, Orem, UT
3rd Place: “For My Father” by Virginia Gilbert, Huntsville, AL
Category 10: Buddy Roberts Memorial Award
1st Place: “Stationary Bike” by Harry Moore, Decatur, AL
2nd Place: “Italian Autumn” by Karen McAfterty Morris, Huntsville, AL
3rd Place: “Ode to Aging” by Jeral Williams, Mobile, AL
Category 11: I’ll Take the French Form
1st Place: “Cradle Me, a Villanelle” by Myra Ward Barra, Pell City, AL
2nd Place: “Dawn Can Come” by Karen McAferty Morris, Huntsville, AL
3rd Place: “American Cinquain” by Jeanette Willert, Pell City, AL
Category 12: Humorous Eulogy
1st Place: “Cat” by Mike Wahl, Athens, AL
2nd Place: “That Final Dance” by Rita Aiken Moritz, Pell City, AL
3rd Place: “Eulogy for Me” by Linda Busby Parker
HM: “Loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother” by Myra Ward Barra, Pell City, AL
SPRING 2021 Winners List
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY FALL CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS) 26 entries
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
$75, $50, $25, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions in order of merit
Any Form, Any subject, No line limit.
1st Jessica Temple For Sylvia, Born In Pandemic Huntsville, AL
2nd Nancy Cook Where Is the Justice In the Tenth Plague? St. Paul MN
3rd Lorraine Jeffery Storm on the Oregon Coast Orem, UT
4th Dargan M. Ware Lines Composed on the 101, a Few Miles
Above Pismo Beach Bessemer, AL
1HM Jeanette Willert Coal Camp on Paint Creek, Revisited Pell City, AL
2HM Sarah Fechter Long, Longer.. Longest... St. Petersburg, FL
3HM Mike Wahl Heat Athens, AL
2. CHANGE (Sponsored by W Roger Carlisle)
$100, $75, $50, and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion 21 entries
Any Form. Subject: Change.
1st Beth Sherrill The Fence Tuscaloosa, AL
2nd Myra Ward Barra A School Day, 1963 Pell City, AL
3rd Lorraine Jeffery Neighborhood Meeting Orem, UT
1HM Catherine Moran Taking a look at where we are Little Rock, AR
2HM Ruth Keally Autumnal Equinox: The Last Waltz of Summer Watkinsville, GA
3HM Randy C. Hale Changes Oneonta, AL
3. FORGIVE. FORGIVING. FORGIVEN. (Sponsored by Sue Brannan Walker and Negative
Capability Press) 16 entries
$100 plus a free critique of 2 poems of the writer's choice, $50 plus a free critique of 2 poems
of the writer's choice, $25, and 3 Honorable Mentions (1st HM will receive a book from
Negative Capability Press.)
Any form, Subject: Forgive. Forgiving. Forgiven. Take one word or all three. Limit one page.
1st Jeanette Willert let bygones... Pell City, AL
2nd Lori Lasseter Hamilton Facebook friend Vestavia Hills, AL
3rd Sarah Fechter Hopscotch St. Petersburg, FL
1HM Maryella Sirmon Absolution Mobile, AL
2HM Mike Wahl Chosen Athens, AL
3HM Terry Jude Miller The Unreturnable Sea Richmond, TX
4. FOUND POEM (Sponsored by Black Warrior Wordsmiths) 12 entries
$50, $30, $20, and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion
Any subject, any form, but must include some material found in another source.
Source should be cited at the end of the poem, but specific lines do not need to be annotated.
The entire poem does not have to be found material.
1st Nancy Cook In Praise of Taco Bell St. Paul, MN
2nd Jessica Temple The Broken Tower Huntsville, AL
3rd Dr. Emory D. Jones Bright Beam Iuka, MS
1HM Jeanette Willert Now I lay me down to sleep... Pell City, AL
2HM Virginia Gilbert Headlines Madison, AL
5. JOHN FINLAY MEMORIAL PRIZE (Sponsored by Jennifer Horne, Poet Laureate of Alabama)
$50, $25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion 19 entries
John Finlay (1941-1991) was an Alabama poet whose poems draw from the classical and Christian
traditions yet often connect to the natural world, specifically that of Alabama. This contest is for a
poem in any form that, in whatever way the author chooses, draws on a connection to religious or
philosophical tradition while connecting to the natural world.
1st Caroline Parkman Barr Sunday Yoga in the Ecology Preserve Mountain Brook, AL
2nd Sara Gipson Autumn Gold Scott, AR
3rd Dargan M. Ware In the Joyce Kilmer Wilderness Area Bessemer, AL
4th Lorraine Jeffery On This Silent Morning Orem, UT
1HM Margaret Vann A spill of daffodils Huntsville, AL
6. THE BKC AWARD: In memory of Bettye K. Cannizzo. (Sponsored by Jessica Temple)
$30, $20, $10, and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion. 19 entries
Any form, Subject: something small. Line limit 40.
1st Lorraine Jeffery Saving the Past Orem, UT
2nd Jeanette Willert Inside -- for a cup of Darjeeling Pell City, AL
3rd Sara Gipson Empty Shells Scott, AR
1HM Virginia Gilbert haiku: Among fashion in... Madison, AL
2HM Beth Sherrill To a Potter's Field Copestone Tuscaloosa, AL
3HM Margaret Vann Antics Huntsville, AL
4HM Ruth Keally The Escaped Poem Watkinsville, GA
7. THE POETS' CHOICE LONG POEM AWARD (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert) 18 entries
$50, $25, $15 and 2 Honorable Mentions.
Any Form, Any Subject, Line limit: MORE than 40 lines.
1st Terry Jude Miller You and Me Richmond, TX
2nd Virginia Gilbert Coming Home Madison, AL
3rd Dargan M. Ware My Brother's Keeper Bessemer, AL
1HM Jessica Temple The Cable Installer Says I'm on My Last
Incarnation Huntsville, AL
2HM Nancy Cook Call It War St. Paul, MN
8. WRITERS ANONYMOUS CONTEST (I’ll Take the French Form, S’il vous plait) 8 entries
(Sponsored by Writers Anonymous)
*Must Be a Member of ASPS
$40, $30, $20, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions as merited.
Subject: Any, Form: Any French form (Villanelle, Rondeau, Pantoum, Triolet, etc).
*Must name form and put rhyme scheme on entry* Not doing this will void your entry.
Line Limit: As required by form.
1st Catherine Moran Looking at teens Little Rock, AR
2nd Roger Carlisle Ashley Madison Hacked Birmingham, AL
3rd Dargan M. Ware Advice without Answers Bessemer, AL
4th Nancy Cook Unimpeachable St. Paul, MN
1HM Jessica Temple Wading Huntsville, AL
2HM Mike Wahl Living on the Edge Athens, AL
3HM Lorraine Jeffery Acid Etched Orem, UT
9. PRECIOUS PRODIGAL CONTEST (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz) 5 entries
*Must Be a Member of ASPS
$40, $30, $20, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions as merited.
Form: Any, Subject: Masks, whether tangible or emotional. Either a real mask or the mask we
show the world, yours or someone else’s. Line Limit: Minimum 40, Maximum 80. Developing the
topic will count highly for the win.
1st Nancy Cook Life's Breath St. Paul, MN
2nd Jeanette Willert Deep-rooted things Pell City, AL
3rd Catherine Moran Details in the coverings Little Rock, AR
4th Mike Wahl Cynic Athens, AL
One entry judge did not feel adhered to subject and there were not enough entries to award HM's.
10. THE BUDDY CONTEST (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz In Memory of Buddy Roberts)
*Must Be a Member of ASPS 9 entries
$40, $30, $20, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions as merited.
Form: Any, Subject: Second Chances Line Limit: 60.
1st Jeanette Willert Crossing the road at the capitol Pell City, AL
2nd Ruth Keally Sea Turtle Rehab Center Watkinsville, GA
3rd Beth Sherrill A Sestina of Angels Tuscaloosa, AL
4th Mike Wahl Remodeling Athens, AL
1HM Nancy Cook Committing To Impermanence St. Paul, MN
2HM Catherine Moran Waiting for those second chances Little Rock, AR
3HM Sarah Fechter Kawana St. Petersburg, FL
11. THE JOHN LEWIS MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Emily Grimes-Henderson) 6 entries
$25, $15, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions.
Any Form, Subject: Human rights and human rights heroes. Line limit 60.
1st Jeanette Willert The Cut Rose Pell City, AL
2nd Nancy Cook Reluctant Witnesses St. Paul, MN
3rd Tanya R. Whitney Jim's Stool Sorrento, LA
1HM Susan Hazen Guthrie Equality Owens Cross
Roads, AL
12. TURN AROUND CONTEST (Sponsored by Myra Ward) 17 entries
$25, $10, $5, and Honorable Mention at judge's discretion.
Any form, Any subject, Line limit 20.
1st Jeanette Willert The rotten core Pell City, AL
2nd Dargan M. Ware Lovers' Lesson Bessemer, AL
3rd Jessica Temple In the Cry Room Huntsville, AL
1HM Beth Sherrill Regrets and Resolutions Tuscaloosa, AL
2HM Lorraine Jeffery Rye Grass Orem, UT
3HM Nancy Cook Flowers Grow on Gallows Hill St. Paul, MN
4HM Sarah Fechter Homeless Car St. Petersburg, FL
5HM Nick Sweet The Aisle 3 Cashier Shepherd, TX
13. THE KAREN EDWARDS MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Kirk and Jerri Hardesty)
One prize of $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion. 9 entries
Any form, Subject: Write about a person who helped make you who you are.
1st Virginia Gilbert Mrs. Bensmiller Madison, AL
1HM Sarah Fechter Great Aunt Lema St. Petersburg, FL
2HM Margaret Vann Big Sister Huntsville, AL
3HM Tanya R. Whitney Grandma Mabel Sorrento, LA
14. NEW DAWN UNLIMITED AWARD (Sponsored by New Dawn Unlimited, Inc.) 23 entries
*NDU editorial staff will judge this category.
One prize of $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Any subject, but must be a humorous poem, make us laugh.
1st Jessica Temple Elvis's Billiard Room Hunstville, AL
1HM Jeanette Willert I shouldn't be wearing tights!! Pell City, AL
2HM Caroline Parkman Barr Somewhere Between Salad and Dessert Mountain Brook, AL
3HM Lorraine Jeffery Leaching Fields Orem, UT
2020 Spring winners list
2020 Book of the Year was Resisting Ground by Barbara Blanks (barbarablans@aol.com)
2020 Poet of the Year was Steven Gillis
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY SPRING CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS) 46 entries
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
$75, $50, $25, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions in order of merit
Any Form, Any subject, No line limit.
1st Jeanette Willert Rethinking Leda and the Swan Pell City, AL
2nd Jessica Temple Barge & Blanket Huntsville, AL
3rd Kathleen Duthu Vindicatrix Mobile, AL
4th W Roger Carlisle The Gambler Birmingham, AL
1HM Janet Anderson Little Girl Me Huntsville, AL
2HM Catherine Moran Patching all the holes Little Rock, AR
3HM Harry Moore Mark But This Decatur, AL
2. THE JOANNE CAGE MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored ASPS) 18 entries
$125, $50, $25, and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Subject: A tribute to an incredibly talented person you have been fortunate enough to
know in person. You do not need to name the person, and you may have only known them briefly.
1st Danelle Lejeune A Candle for Blessed Santa Barbara Hinesville, GA
2nd Randy C. Hale A Man's Home is His Castle Oneonta, AL
3rd Lorraine Jeffery My Uncle's Light Orem, UT
1HM Jeanette Willert Boundless Silence Pell City, AL
2HM Maryella Sirmon Beautiful Cloth Mobile, AL
3. SILENCE (Sponsored by Roger Carlisle) 29 entries
$75, $50, $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any Form, Subject: Silence.
1st Linda Busby Parker Prom Night Daphne, AL
2nd Dr. Emory D. Jones Silence is Golden Iuka, MS
3rd Mack Knopf The Sound of Time Birmingham, AL
1HM Ruth Keally After Thyroid Surgery, Silence Comes Watkinsville, GA
2HM Ramey Channell Mornings on Moon River Leeds, AL
3HM Maryella Sirmon Waiting for the Ambulance Mobile, AL
4. THE CURTIS HALLMAN ECO-POETRY MEMORIAL PRIZE
(Sponsored by Alina Stefanescu Coryell) 36 entries
*Sponsor will judge this category.
One prize of $100
Any Form, Subject: A poem about place, nature, and the environment. Line limit 2 pages.
*THERE WAS A TIE FOR FIRST PLACE. THE PRIZE WILL BE SPLIT BETWEEN THE POETS.
*1st Danelle Lejeune Chariton, Iowa: listening to the requiem
Lacrimosa Hinesville, GA
*1st Virginia Gilbert Radical Swing Madison, AL
1HM Jeanette Willert Again, to the boat house Pell City, AL
2HM Jessica Temple At Sunrise Huntsville, AL
5. THE WRITERS ANONYMOUS CONTEST (Sponsored by Writers Anonymous) 14 entries
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
$50, $30, $20 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any Form, but use an extended metaphor (Your metaphor should be consistent throughout.)
Subject: The writing life. Line limit 50.
1st W Roger Carlisle The Poet Birmingham, AL
2nd Catherine Moran Writing the onion Little Rock, AR
3rd Jessica Temple Practice Huntsville, AL
1HM Mike Wahl Becoming Aware Athens, AL
2HM Harry Moore Easy as ABC -- Literally Decatur, AL
3HM Charles Kinnaird Sitting in Minerva's Kitchen Birmingham, AL
6. HISTORICAL POEM (Sponsored by Dargan Ware) 19 entries
$50, $30, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion.
Any Form, Subject: A poem about any historical figure or event, pre-20th century.
1st Catherine Hall Kiser Vincent Left His Shoes Fairhope, AL
2nd Danelle Lejeune Conjuring Evangeline Hinesville, GA
3rd Lorraine Jeffery Nouns Orem, UT
* Judge selected three equal Honorable Mentions
HM Barbara Blanks Turning Yankees Every Which Way
But Loose Garland, TX
HM Nancy Cook Celestial Reckoning St. Paul, MN
HM Catherine Moran A few words about Babel Little Rock, AR
7. BUDDY ROBERTS MEMORIAL CONTEST (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz) 21 entries
$50, $25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion.
Any Form (If you use a form, name the form), Subject: Second chances or new beginnings
Line limit 50.
1st Jessica Temple Moving Day Huntsville, AL
2nd Virginia Gilbert Saving Face Madison, AL
3rd Harry Moore What Do You Do? Decatur, AL
4th Jeanette Willert Headed Home Pell City, AL
1HM Lorraine Jeffery Spring's Flower Child Orem, UT
2HM Catherine Moran We hold the morning in our hands Little Rock, AR
3HM Barbara Wiedemann Try and Try Again Montgomery, AL
8. THE DODIE WALTON HORNE MEMORIAL PRIZE (Sponsored by Jennifer Horne,
Poet Laureate of Alabama) 27 entries
Awards: $50, $25, $15; and $10 Honorable Mention
Any Form, Subject: An experience of change or growth. No line limit.
1st Harry Moore All Things New Decatur, AL
2nd Jeanette Willert Breakup on the edge of a lake in
Colorado Pell City, AL
3rd Janet Anderson Change Huntsville, AL
1HM Barbara Blanks On that dark and stormy night Garland, TX
9. THE POETS' CHOICE LONG POEM AWARD (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert) 22 entries
$50, $25, $15 and 2 Honorable Mentions.
Any Form, Any Subject, Line limit: MORE than 40 lines.
1st Nancy Cook Workers' Caucus St. Paul, MN
2nd Jessica Temple To the Girl Who Now Lives in My Room Huntsville, AL
3rd Lorraine Jeffery Night Watch Orem, UT
1HM Barbara Blanks Mending the Sound Barrier Garland, TX
2HM Harry Moore Reprise: Twenty Years Later Decatur, AL
10. "WHAT PUTS A SPRING IN YOUR STEP?" Award (Sponsored by Emily Grimes Henderson)
$25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion. 17 entries
Any Form, Subject: Tell us what puts a spring in your step. Line limit 60.
1st Jeanette Willert An old novice takes a dive Pell City, AL
2nd Sharmila Mitra Setting Sun In Winter West Bengal, India
3rd Catherine Hall Kiser Salt and Pepper Rooster Fairhope, AL
11. NEWBIES ONLY (Sponsored by Jessica Temple) 7 entries
*FOR NEW MEMBERS WHO JOINED SINCE FALL 2019
(AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR FALL CONTESTS)
$25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any Form, Any Subject, Line limit 60.
1st Lorraine Jeffery Soft-lined Box Orem, UT
2nd Ruth Keally Butch Watkinsville, GA
3rd Joan Peterson Ant Versus Gladiola: The Tale of Two
Winners Mobile, AL
1HM Jeral R. Williams The View From the Middle Mobile, AL
2HM Linda Kornegay The Strength of the Tree Lake View, AL
12. THE PRECIOUS PRODIGAL AWARD (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz) 12 entries
$25, $15, $10, and Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion.
Subject: Any, Form: Sonnet (List type of sonnet and rhyme scheme, and don’t forget your volta!)
Line limit as dictated by form.
1st Catherine Moran In the right time Little Rock, AR
2nd John W. Crawford Thank Heavens for Good Beer Arkadelphia, AR
3rd Dr. Emory D. Jones Personal Aesthetic Iuka, MS
1HM Jeanette Willert How Love Fled Pell City, AL
2HM Steven Gillis Trinity Cotacachi, Ecuador
13. THELASSIC POEM (related to the sea) (Sponsored by Jessica Temple) 15 entries
$25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any Form, Subject: the sea. Line limit 60.
1st Nancy Cook Water is the Most Powerful Element: St. Paul, MN
2nd Virginia Gilbert Spiritus Mundi Madison, AL
3rd Dr. Emory D. Jones Moon Streak Iuka, MS
1HM Barbara Blanks State of Mind Garland, TX
2HM Janet Anderson Beyond the Call Huntsville, AL
3HM W Roger Carlisle Sand Castles Birmingham, AL
14. "THE STOP SIGN" (Sponsored by Myra Ward Barra) 15 entries
$20, $10, $5 and Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion.
Any Form, Subject: The stop sign (either real or metaphorical)
1st Harry Moore The Percipient Decatur, AL
2nd Nancy Cook A Quinquagenarian Learns about
Poetry St. Paul, MN
3rd Jeral R. Williams When the Stoplight Changes Mobile, AL
1HM Dr. Emory D. Jones Shadows in the Mind Iuka, MS
2HM Nancy Simmonds Souvenir Ft. Wayne, IN
3HM Barbara Blanks Snake, Rattle, and Go! Garland, TX
15. THE "FILL IN THE BLANKS" AWARD (Sponsored by Barbara Blanks) 6 entries
*Sponsor will judge this category.
One prize of $30 and 2 Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion
Any Subject, Form: Single Limerick OR Limerick series of at least 3 stanzas (15 lines),
with a maximum of 6 stanzas (30 lines). Be sure to use correct limerick meter.
* No prize was awarded as none of the entries met the proper form/meter.
16. THE KAREN EDWARDS MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Kirk and Jerri Hardesty)
One prize of $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion. 22 entries
Any form, Subject: A woman who is smart, strong, sassy, and always classy.
1st Catherine Moran The turning point Little Rock, AR
1HM* Jeanette Willert Judy Pell City, AL
2HM James Matthew Byers Aranyani Odenville, AL
3HM Hanh Chau The Beauty She Is San Jose, CA
* The judge wished they could award two 1st place awards.
17. THE NEW DAWN UNLIMITED AWARD (Sponsored by New Dawn Unlimited, Inc.)
*NDU editorial staff will judge this category. 21 entries
One prize of $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Subject: “Imagine This!” Line limit 50.
1st Virginia Gilbert The Land Madison, AL
1HM Harry Moore Imagination: What If? Decatur, AL
2HM Ramey Channell I Dreamed I Floated High Above the
Earth Leeds, AL
3HM Mike Wahl Fancy That Athens, AL
2019 Fall Contests
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY FALL CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS) 46 entries
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
1st Harry Moore The Sentence Decatur, AL
2nd Amanda J. Gillis Playground with My Father Orange Beach, AL
3rd Catherine Moran Balancing out Little Rock, AR
4th Steven A. Gillis Five years on the strand Orange Beach, AL
1HM Jeanette Willert Toni Morrison, before the Nobel Pell City, AL
2HM Roger Carlisle Walking the dog......... Birmingham, AL
3HM Virginia Gilbert Patterns Madison, AL
2. ADDICTON...TOO MUCH PAIN (Sponsored by Roger Carlisle) 19 entries
1st Barbara Blanks Smoking Guns Garland, TX
2nd Harry Moore Home Again Decatur, AL
3rd Virginia Gilbert Therapy # 2 Madison, AL
1HM Angie Bell Everything's Fine Birmingham, AL
3. THE BUDDY ROBERTS AWARD (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz in memory of
their son, Buddy.) 16 entries
Subject: My Christian Faith.
1st Lynanne Carroll I sold the field Pell City, AL
2nd Catherine Moran Moved by the ordinary around us Little Rock, AR
3rd Barbara Blanks Listen, Kids Garland, TX
1HM Mike Wahl Directions Athens, AL
2HM Dr. Emory D. Jones Katrina: God's Blessings Iuka, MS
3HM Steven A. Gillis Our Perfect Bible Orange Beach, AL
4. THE ANHINGA AWARD (Sponsored by Susan Luther) 29 entries
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
Any form, Subject: Birds of a different feather, literal or figurative --
anything or anyone that is somehow "different."
Note: Three equal prizes
Harry Moore Hands Decatur, AL
Jeanette Willert Schism on a Road Trip Out West Pell City, AL
Steven A. Gillis Mirror Bird Orange Beach, AL
Note: Three equal Honorable Mentions
HM Virginia Gilbert An Ode on Greatness: A
Personal Observation Madison, AL
HM Angie Bell Home Ec Birmingham, AL
HM Joanne Ramey Cage The Adventures of Red River Dan, a
Cowboy of Color Leeds, AL
5. LEAVING (Sponsored by Steven and Amanda Gillis) 31 entries
Any Form, Subject: Leaving -- actual or metaphorical, in honor of our exodus from the US.
1st Dargan M. Ware Transplanting Birmingham, AL
2nd Virginia Gilbert Photographs Madison, AL
3rd Harry Moore Packing Up Decatur, AL
1HM Edward Wilson Wednesday in Mississippi Birmingham, AL
6. THE WRITERS ANONYMOUS AWARD (Sponsored by Writers Anonymous) 27 entries
*Sponsor will select judge for this category.
Any form, Subject: Life as a poet.
1st Lori Lasseter Hamilton parchment guard Vestavia Hills, AL
2nd Randy C. Hale How Poems are Born Oneonta, AL
3rd Catherine Moran Writing on the edge Little Rock, AR
4th Barbara Blanks If I'm the Boss, Then I Need a Raise Garland, TX
1HM Harry Moore Ars Poetica: What to Make of It Decatur, AL
2HM Charles Kinnaird What Virgil Said in that Dream You
Almost Remembered Birmingham, AL
3HM Christine Riddle Life as a Poet Foley, AL
4HM Lynanne Carroll After Hours Pell City, AL
7. POETS' CHOICE / LONG POEM (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert) 29 entries
Any form, Any subject, Line limit: A poem more than 40 lines.
1st Harry Moore Musing on Good Friday Decatur, AL
2nd Joanne Ramey Cage Cleopatra Leeds, AL
3rd Dr. Emory D. Jones Sacred Music Iuka, MS
1HM Virginia Gilbert Getting the Bones Right: Reunion '65 Madison, AL
2HM Catherine Moran Pasta and Poetry Little Rock, AR
8. SESTINA FOR STEVEN (Sponsored by Dargan Ware) 13 entries
Form: Sestina. Any Subject.
1st Steven A. Gillis Why I Am Not a Soldier Orange Beach, AL
2nd Barbara Blanks Ogden Nash -- Nashurally! Garland, TX
3rd Dr. Emory D. Jones The Spirit Moves You: A Sestina Iuka, MS
1HM Melissa Wold Lyrics of a Saffron Dress Mobile, AL
2HM James Matthew Byers Teatime Odenville, AL
3HM Sara Gipson A Special Journey Scott, AR
4HM Jonathan Bennett The Edge Lakeland, TN
9. THE PRECIOUS PRODIGALS AWARD (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz) 17 entries
Form: Trimeric. Any subject, Line limit 13, as dictated by form.
1st Jeanette Willert Poe's Ladies Pell City, AL
2nd Mike Wahl Again Athens, AL
3rd Amanda J. Gillis Waiting Orange Beach, AL
1HM Barbara Blanks In A New Year Minute Garland, TX
2HM Roger Carlisle Don't Ever Stop Birmingham, AL
10. POETS' CHOICE AWARD (Sponsored by Joanne Cage) 41 entries
Any form, Any subject.
1st Jeanette Willert Photo of my grandfather Pell City, AL
2nd Roger Carlisle Chemotherapy Birmingham, AL
3rd Amanda J. Gillis The Red-Eyed Flight Orange Beach, AL
1HM Barbara Blanks I Can't Write Limericks Either Garland, TX
2HM Angie Bell It's Okay Birmingham, AL
11. HOME SWEET HOME CONTEST (Sponsored by Jessica Temple) 21 entries
Any form, Subject: Write a poem about the people, places, or things of Alabama.
1st Roger Carlisle Alabama the Proud Birmingham, AL
2nd Steven A. Gillis Our Favorite Nazi Orange Beach, AL
3rd Ramey Channell The Farmer from Arab Leeds, AL
1HM Dargan M. Ware The Exit Formerly Known as Brompton Birmingham, AL
2HM Harry Moore Albany: Where the Twain Met Decatur, AL
3HM James Matthew Byers Backbeat and Birmingham Odenville, AL
4HM Mike Wahl The Wilderness of Choice Athens, AL
5HM Harry Moritz Bayou La Batre Pell City, AL
12. THE "BLACK DRESS" AWARD (Sponsored by Myra Ward Barra) 17 entries
*Sponsor will judge this category.
Any form, Subject: The Black Dress.
1st Ramey Channell The Widow Leeds, AL
2nd Catherine Moran Touching the blackness Little Rock, AR
3rd Steven A. Gillis Last Dress Orange Beach, AL
1HM Lori Lasseter Hamilton Maybe I am Vestavia Hills, AL
2HM Jeanette Willert little black dress Pell City, AL
3HM Barbara Blanks The Effortlessly Elegant LBD Garland, TX
13. "I'LL TAKE THE SHORT FORM, PLEASE!" (Sponsored by New Dawn Unlimited) 30 entries
Form: Any short form, but not free verse, ( ie. couplet, haiku, sijo, quatrain, tanka, cinquain,
limerick, beech, etheree, fibonacci, triolet, rondelet, Lil Ann, octet, oriental octet, etc.). Please
include the name of the form. Any subject, Line limit 10.
1st Beth Sherrill American Sentence Tuscaloosa, AL
1HM Myra Ward Barra Plastic Flowers Pell City, AL
2HM Mike Wahl Progressing Athens, AL
3HM Catherine Moran Of poodles and poems Little Rock, AR
4HM Melissa Wold Boyhood Mobile, AL
ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY 2019 SPRING CONTESTS
2019 Book of the Year was Blood Harmony by Lana K. W. Austin
2019 Poet of the Year was Jessica Temple
Winners' List
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY SPRING CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS)
1st Lana K. W. Austin Consequence Huntsville, AL
2nd Harry Moore The Compulsive Semiologist Decatur, AL
3rd James Matthew Byers Annabel Lee and Zombie Me Odenville, AL
4th Ellaraine Lockie Stepping Over Arizona Sunnyvale, CA
1HM Catherine Moran Stranded Little Rock, AR
2HM Joy Godsey Gentrification Birmingham, AL
3HM Dargan M. Ware Reflections Birmingham, AL
2. THE MARY (MICKEY) CLEVERDON MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Sue Brannon Walker)
$100, $50, $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
1st Dargan M. Ware The Concept of Motion on Lake Birmingham, AL
Okeechobee
2nd Art Thompson Spring NIghts on the River Decatur, AL
3rd Angie Bell Music of Creation Birmingham, AL
1HM Rebecca L. Oxford Super Red Blood Wolf Moon Huntsville, AL
2HM Harry Moore Hunter's Remorse Decatur, AL
3HM LaVern Spencer McCarthy The Winds Of November Blair, OK
4HM Bettye Cannizzo Of a Mississippi Mockingbird Huntsville, AL
5HM Margaret Rush Changing Seasons Pell City, AL
3. A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY (Sponsored by Roger Carlisle)
$100, $50, $25 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any Form, Subject: A spiritual journey.
1st Angie Bell Instructions Birmingham, AL
2nd Dargan M. Ware Pilgrimage to Plains Birmingham, AL
3rd Dr. Virginia Gilbert Nomads Madison, AL
1HM Ellaraine Lockie Guardian Angel Sunnyvale, CA
2HM Rebecca L. Oxford Meeting Spirit Huntsville, AL
3HM Mike Wahl The Line Athens, AL
4HM Harry Moore Advent Decatur, AL
5HM Nick Sweet Barbara, Marian, and the Elder Shepherd, TX
4. WE ARE MADE OF STARSTUFF (Sponsored by Steven and Amanda Gillis)
*Sponsor will judge this category.
$50, $30, $20 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any Form, Subject: Astronomy / Astrophysics. Line limit 60.
1st Sarah E. Morin Princess Di's Rings Fishers, IN
2nd Urainah Glidewell Before the Stars Fell Pell City, AL
3rd Dargan M. Ware The Space Before Your Eyes Birmingham, AL
1HM Myra Ward Barra Cosmic Faces Pell City, AL
2HM Mike Wahl The Confinement Of Infinity Athens, AL
3HM Barbara Blanks Do Not Disturb Garland, TX
5. THE WRITERS ANONYMOUS CONTEST (Sponsored by Writers Anonymous)
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
$50, $25, $15 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form except Narrative, Subject: Words and writing. Line limit one page.
1st Harry Moore Texting Decatur, AL
2nd Sarah E. Morin Half-Tamed Verse Fishers, IN
3rd Urainah Glidewell Lines Pell City, AL
1HM Catherine Moran The chance to choose Little Rock, AR
2HM Charles Kinnaird Word Limit Birmingham, AL
3HM Frank Battles Consider Poetry Altoona, AL
4HM Catherine H. Kiser A Mother's Guide to Happiness - Fairhope, AL
From A to Z and Z to A
5HM Dargan M. Ware Donald Trump and Derrida Birmingham, AL
6. THE POETS' CHOICE AWARD (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert)
$40, $25, $10 and 2 Honorable Mentions.
Any form, Any subject, Line limit 100.
1st Kathleen Duthu Post-Katrina Pass Christian Mobile, AL
Mississippi
2nd Nick Sweet The Preacher and the Paperboy Shepherd, TX
3rd Dr. Emory D. Jones Delta General Iuka, MS
1HM Art Thompson Sweet as Sugar Decatur, AL
2HM Ellaraine Lockie Cutting the Family Tree Sunnyvale, CA
7. HER STORY (Sponsored by Jerri Beck)
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY
$30, $20, $15 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Subject: Tribute to a woman (not a relative).
1st Amanda Gillis Ms. Mackinny Orange Beach, AL
2nd Steven A. Gillis My seat on the bus Orange Beach, AL
3rd Sarah E. Morin Twist Fishers, IN
1HM S. E. B. Detling The Fan Mobile, AL
2HM Jessica Temple Josephine Baker, Circa 1950 Huntsville, AL
3HM Jeanette Willert Lament for Barbara Stevens Pell City, AL
4HM Mike Wahl For Patricia Athens, AL
5HM Rita Aiken Moritz I'm Nobody. Who are You? Pell City, AL
8. THE GOLDEN SHOVEL AWARD (Sponsored by Consuelo Marshall)
Form: Golden Shovel, Any subject.
1st Dargan M. Ware The Black Spade Birmingham, AL
2nd Rita Aiken Moritz You're Too Late Pell City, AL
3rd Terry Miller The Walk Richmond, TX
1HM Barbara Blanks Descent into Dementia Garland, TX
2HM Sarah E. Morin A Rebuttal To Mr. Herrick Fishers, IN
3HM Amanda Gillis My Power Orange Beach, AL
4HM Mike Wahl Innovative Math Athens, AL
5HM Susan Martinello Balancing the Checkbook, Gulf Shores, AL
A Marriage
9. THELASSIC POEM (related to the sea) (Sponsored by Jessica Temple)
*Sponsor will select judge for this category.
$25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Subject: the sea. Line limit 60.
1st Steven A. Gillis Channel Deep Orange Beach, AL
2nd Dr. Emory D. Jones Moon Streak Iuka, MS
3rd James Matthew Byers Grainne O'Malley Odenville, AL
1HM Mike Wahl Fulgurites Athens, AL
2HM Bettye Cannizzo Scrimshaw Huntsville, AL
3HM Angie Bell Starfish Birmingham, AL
4HM Urainah Glidewell Blue Shore Pell City, AL
5HM Maryella D. Sirmon Unchanging Sea Mobile, AL
10. PRECIOUS PRODIGAL/BUDDY ROBERTS MEMORIAL CONTEST
(Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz)
$25, $15, $10 and Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Subject: Relationships, good, bad, broken, healed, old, new, lost, etc. Line limit 50.
1st Rebecca L. Oxford Aging in Place Huntsville, AL
2nd Susan Martinello Through the Lens of a Wedding Gulf Shores, AL
3rd Lynn Veach Sadler Against "Closing Down" Burlington, NC
1HM Allen Berry Separation Tango Huntsville, AL
2HM Jessica Temple My Mother's Voice Huntsville, AL
3HM Harry Moore About Time Decatur, AL
4HM Steven A. Gillis Palimpsest Orange Beach, AL
5HM Jeanette Willert Triangulation Pell City, AL
11. THE "FILL IN THE BLANKS" AWARD (Sponsored by Barbara Blanks)
*Sponsor will judge this category.
One prize of $25, Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Any subject, Line limit 35.
1st Amanda Gillis The Child and the Challenger Orange Beach, AL
1HM Terry Miller Too Tired to Sleep Richmond, TX
2HM Jeanette Willert Listening to Elvis in a parked Pell City, AL
Chevrolet
3HM Jessica Temple Whisper Work Huntsville, AL
4HM Ellaraine Lockie Survival Guide Sunnyvale, CA
5HM Urainah Glidewell Mid-Life Crisis Pell City, AL
12. THE NEW DAWN UNLIMITED AWARD (Sponsored by New Dawn Unlimited, Inc.)
*NDU editorial staff will judge this category.
Entries will be considered for publication in upcoming anthology with poets' permission.
One prize of $25, Honorable Mentions at judge's discretion.
Any form, Subject: Speculative Poetry (SciFi, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Alt. History, etc.)
No line limit.
1st Charles Kinnaird Curiosity Takes a Turn Birmingham, AL
1HM Jeanette Willert The idea of parallel universes Pell City, AL
2HM Nick Sweet The Cobbler Shepherd, TX
3HM Urainah Glidewell Infinite Possibilities Pell City, AL
2018 Alabama State Poetry Society Fall Contest
October 27th, Birmingham, Alabama
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST 49 entries
(Sponsored by ASPS) Open to PAID MEMBERS ONLY.
Any form and topic; no line limit.
Awards:
1ST PLACE $75, Ramey Channell
2ND PLACE $50, Barbara Blanks
3RD PLACE $25, Susan Martinello
4TH PLACE $10 Rita Aiken Moritz
1st HM Joseph L. Whitten
2. POET’S CHOICE 52 entries
Sponsored by Jeanette Willert ASPS members only.
You choose topic and form. Line limit: 200 lines.
Awards:
1ST PLACE $50 SUSAN MARTINELLO
2ND PLACE, $25 JESSICA TEMPLE
3RD PLACE, $15. URAINAH GLIDEWELL
Honorable Mention #1 CATHERINE MORAN
Honorable Mention #2 RANDY HALE
3. A WILD ANIMAL THAT INSPIRES YOU 22 entries
Sponsored by Roger Carlisle. Any style..No line limit.
Awards
1ST PLACE$50, DR. VIRGINIA GILBERT
2ND PLACE$30, C.I. MARSHALL
3RD PLACE$25, CATHERINE MORAN
1st honorable mention LINDSEY HANNAHAN
2nd honorable mention VINCENT J. TOMEO
4. SWEET HOME ALABAMA 27 entries
Sponsored by Jessica Temple
Any form; any length. About people, places, and things in Alabama.
Awards:
1ST PLACE $30, JOSEPH WHITTEN
2ND PLACE $20, DARGAN WARE
3RD PLACE$10, LINDSAY HANAHAN
Honorable mention.
1) BARBARA BLANKS
2) JAMES MATTHEW BYERS
3) RITA MORITZ
4) STEVEN GILLIS
5) HARRY MORITZ
5. THE JOYS OF LEMONADE 15 entries
Sponsored by Bettye Cannizzo Subject: Lemonade.
Any form; 40 line limit.
Awards:
1st PLACE $15, STEVEN A. GILLIS
2ND PLACE$10. RITA MORITZ
6. GENERATIONS AWARD `~ No Eligible Submissions
7. THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP 11 entries
Sponsored by Susan Luther Must be a resident of Alabama.
Subject: Road trip in Central, North and/or South America.
Any kind of road trip- for business, health, education,
pleasure, family reunion, escape, etc.
Free verse or any form you choose.
Awards: Three equal winners- $30 each
1. SUSAN MARTINELLO
2. JERRI HARDESTY
3. MIKE WAHL
Honorable Mentions – up to three
1. JESSICA TEMPLE
2. AMANDA GILLIS
3. JOSEPH WHITTEN
8. WRITERS ANONYMOUS CONTEST 40 entries
Sponsored by the WA group in Pell City. Subject: A Significant Memory
Form: Any; 100 line limit.
Awards:
1ST PLACE $50, JAMES MATTHEW BYERS
2ND PLACE $25, SUSAN MARTINELLO
3RD PLACE $15, VIRGINIA GILBERT
4TH PLACE $10 SARA GIPSON
1ST Honorable Mention JANIE GOUGE
2ND Honorable Mention. DIANA DAVIDSON
9. PRECIOUS PRODIGAL CONTEST 18 entries
Sponsored by Rita and Harry Moritz Subject: The Future
Form: Any, 50 line limit
Awards:
1ST PLACE $50, JESSICA TEMPLE
2ND PLACE $25 BARBARA BLANKS
3RD PLACE $15, RAIMY CHANNELL
4TH PLACE $10 STEVEN GILLIS
10. A Country Song! 19 entries
Sponsored by Joe Whitten Subject: Write a country song
in the spirit of Hank Williams’ “Your Cold, Cold Heart”.
Awards:
1ST PLACE $30, DARGAN WARE
2ND PLACE $20, RITA MORITZ
3RD PLACE $10 BARBARA BLANKS
2018 Alabama State Poetry Society Spring Contest Winners
April 28, 2018, Orange Beach, Alabama
40 poets ~ 340 submissions ~ 10 judges
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST 46 submissions
(Sponsored by ASPS) Open to PAID MEMBERS ONLY.
Any form and topic; no line limit.
Awards: 1st, $75 Jerri Hardesty “My Addiction” AL
2nd, $50 Alina Stefanescu “Pinprick Aubade AL
3rd, $25 Adwiti Subba Haffner “When Green Apples Speak”, AL
4th, $10 Joshua Baker “the house” AL
HM Barbara Blanks “At Close of Day” TX
2. POET’S CHOICE 41 submissions
Sponsored by Jeanette Willert.
ASPS members only.
You choose topic and form. Line limit: 200 lines.
Awards: 1st, $50, Roger Carlisle “Frozen Ground” - AL
2nd, $25, Joseph Whitten “Look away, look away, Dixieland” - AL
3rd, $15. Adwiti Subba Haffner
“Shhh: The Bluebruisepurple Shades of #metoo” - AL
1st HM Jessica Temple “Elegy”- AL
2nd HM Dr. Emory D. Jones “Magic Medicine Show” - MS
3rd HM Susan Martinello “Goodwill Kitchen Table” - AL
3. MEMORIES 51 submissions
Sponsored by Roger Carlisle.
A poem about any significant memories or events in your own life.
Any style. Up to 42 lines or 500 words if a prose poem.
Awards 1st, $75 Alina Stefanescu “In My Green Girl Scout Uniform” - AL
, 2nd,$50 Jessica Temple “First Christmas”- AL
3rd, $25 Susan Martinello “Barcelona Apollo, July 21, 1969” - AL
HM. Myra Ward Barra “At the Screen Door” - AL
4. THALASSIC POEM (related to the sea) 20 submissions
Sponsored by Jessica Temple.
Any form; line limit 60.
Awards: 1st, $25, James Matthew Byers “Thalassic” - AL
2nd, $15 Janet Lombard “Drought”- GA
3rd , $10 Emory Jones “Night Tides”- MS
HM Lindsay Hannahan “As Eventide Approaches” -AL
5. SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT 10 submissions
Sponsored by Mavis Jarrell
Poem should educate and encourage any age reader the importance
of recycling or other ways to save our environment.
Any form. Maximum 60 lines.
Must be an ASPS member.
Awards:1st, $25 Barbara Blanks “Our Deadly Oceans”- TX
2nd, $15 Jerri Hardesty “The Three R’s - AL”
3rd, $10. Sara Gipson “Recycle to Reduce”- AZ
1st HM Peggy East “Pavanne for an Albatross - AL”
2nd HM Dargan Ware “River Elegy”- AL
6. LYDIA STEFANESCU MEMORIAL CONTEST 32 submissions
Sponsored by Alina Stefanescu.
Form requirement is open, limited to one page of text, whether lineated or
block prose poetry.
Awards: 1st, $50 Joanne Ramey Cage
“Saturday Morning with a Stack of Old New Yorkers”, AL
HM $25 Rita Aiken Moritz “The Birds All Hushed” - AL
7. SANDCASTLES 16 submissions
Sponsored by Myra Ward Barra.
Any form; any length.
Awards: 1st $20 Steven Gillis “Here We Know Permanence” AL
2nd $15 Mike Wahl “”Shoreline Antics” AL
3rd $10 James Matthew Byers “Life on a Beach” AL
HM Susan Martinello “Finding William” AL
8. THE DODIE WALTON HORNE MEMORIAL PRIZE 29 submissions
Sponsored by Jennifer Horne, Poet Laureate of Alabama.
Subject: An experience of change or growth.
Any length, any form.
Awards: 1st - $50 Susan Martinello “Coming Back” AL
2nd - $25 Joseph Whitten “Drought’s End—Journal Notes” AL
3rd - $15 Roger Carlisle
“A Father Learns from His Son’s Tattoos” AL
4th - $10 Mike Wahl “Witness” AL
HM Catherine Moran “In vino veritas” AR
9. A-MUSE ME! 14 submissions
Sponsored by P.T. Paul.
Choose an animal - real or imaginary - to be your muse. Then,
let that animal tell us - in their own voice – how they inspire,
comfort, console, and rejoice with you in your poetic endeavors!
Remember: it is your Muse who is speaking, not you!
Any form, any style, minimum 20 lines, limit one page.
Awards:: 1st, $25 Roger Carlisle “My Dog the Muse” - AL
2nd, $15 Jessica Temple “Field Work” - AL
3rd, $10. James Matthew Byers “The Vulture Muse” - AL
10. HUMOR ME! 31 submissions
Sponsored by Brianna and Paula Hicks Smith.
No form restrictions. No more than 60 lines.
Topic: Anything that brings joy or a smile.
Awards: 1st, $25, Marjorie Littleton “A Day in the Life of a Mom” AL
2nd, $15 Sally Clark “How to Make It Rain” TX
3rd, $10. Jessica Temple
“A Collection of Small, Blue Things” AL
HM Joanne Cage “Marsupial Strabismus” AL
11. ODE TO MY PET ROCK 10 submissions
Sponsored by Vincent Tomeo .
Humorous, Free Verse, Line Limit: 25.
Awards: 1st, $25 Mike Wahl “Ode to a Geode” AL
2nd, $15 James Matthew Byers “Stony” AL
3rd, $10 Steven Gillis
“An Ode-TypeThing to My Pet Rock”, AL
4th, $5 Jerri Hardesty “Solid” AL
12. WRITERS ANONYMOUS CONTEST 14 submissions
Sponsored by the Writers Anonymous group in Pell City.
Must Be a Member of ASPS.
Form: Villanelle Subject: Any. Line Limit: As dictated by form.
Awards:: 1st, $50, Dargan Ware
“Aftermath of a Fiery Crash Inside My Head” AL
2nd, $25 Catherine Moran
“Watching the Asteroid Belt Twist By” AR
3rd, $15 Jerri Hardesty “A Matter of Time” AL
4th, $10. Sara Gipson “Is Spring Here?” AR
1st HM Mike Wahl “Persistence” AL
2nd HM James M. Byers “The Spring’s Parade”. AL
13. PRECIOUS PRODIGAL CONTEST 18 submissions
Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz.
Must Be a Member of ASPS.
Form: Any. Line Limit: 50.
Subject: “There’s a New Day Dawning” (literal or symbolic).
Awards: 1st, $30 Jessica Temple “In the Parking Lot, Waiting” AL
2nd, $20 Barbara Blanks “After the Rain” TX
3rd, $15 Ramey Channell “City Sanctus” AL
4th, $10 Bettye Cannizzo “A Gentle Reminder” AL
HM Steven Gillis “For the Shortest Day Shines” AL
14. The Horace Ray (Buddy) Roberts, Jr. MEMORIAL 8 submissions
Sponsor: Harry & Rita Moritz (ritamoritz.com).
Open to Non-Members of ASPS. Must Be Present to Win.
For Buddy, who loved words and books more than anyone else we’ve
ever known.
Subject: Words and/or the People Who Read or Write Them.
Form: Any. If you use a form, name the form.
Line Limit: No less than 30, no more than 80.
Award: 1st, $100 - Jessica Temple “In the Studio” AL
Judges for the 2018 ASPS Spring Contest were from Georgia, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.
FALL 2017 AWARDS:
.
The Andy Smith Memorial Poetry Award – 22 entries
Sponsora: Paula and Brianna Smith``~~~ $250 Award won by JAMES MATTHEW BYERS
for his poem, The Questing Beast of Camelot
THE 17 ASPS CONTESTS: 39 poets participated ~ 15 judges
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST – 39 entries
(Sponsored by ASPS) Open to PAID MEMBERS ONLY.
Any form and topic; no line limit.
$75, JAMES MATTHEW BYERS Amaranth Wellington, AL
$50 JOE WHITTEN But God! Odenville, AL
$25 RANDY HALE Strawberries Oneonta, AL
$10 ELIZABETH BUTTIMER No Cars or Crows in Heaven Bowdon, GA
1ST HM RITA MORITZ The Day Will Come Pell City, AL
2. THE DAVID KATO PRIZE - 17 entries
In honor of murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato (1964-2011).
Subject: Human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.
Any form, no line limit.
$50 BARBARA BLANKS Between the Covers Garland, TX
$30, CATHERINE MORAN Watching Out for Others Little Rock, AR
$20 JANET ANDERSON Coming of Age Huntsville, AL
Sponsored byJendi Recter.
3. POET’S CHOICE - 44 entries
ASPS members only.
You choose topic and form. Line limit: 60 lines.
$50 SUE BRANNAN WALKER Tuning in to Thomas Mobile, AL
$25 PEGGY BROSIUS EAST Chrysalis Huntsville, AL
$15. ELIZABETH BUTTIMER The Man with the Red Sail Boat Bowdon, GA
1ST HM MAVIS JARRELL Under the Pumpkin Moon Mobile, AL
2ND HM DARGAN WARE Nocturne
Sponsored by Jeanette Willert
4. The BKC AWARD (in honor of Betttye Kramer Cannizzo). -25 entries
Must be a resident of Alabama to enter.
Any form and/or topic, 50 line limit..
$50 VIRGINIA GILBERT Photographs Madison, AL
$30 SATCH SAMPSON The Afterspat Spanish Fort, AL
$20 JANET ANDERSON Irises Huntsville, AL
1st HM RITA MORITZ Why I speak to Strangers
at the Mall Pell City, AL
2nd HM BRENDA THORNTON Taize Service
Montgomery, AL
3rd HM WORTH BARHAM Visit to the Past Pell City, AL
Sponsored by Susan Luther
5. THE “WINNER TAKE ALL” AWARD -16 entries
Must be a resident of Alabama to enter.
Theme: Taking a Chance. Any form. 50 line limit.
1st Place award only: $50. JOE WHITTEN Odenville, AL
Old Memories, and Poetry
At the Blind Mule Bar and Grill, Mobile, AL
Sponsored by Susan Luther
6. GENERATION GAPS IN AMERICAN FAMILIES -13 entries
ASPS Members Only. Any form. 40 line limit. Extra points for humor!
$25 JAMES MATTHEW BYERS An Outcast in the Land Wellington, AL
of Digital Natives
$15 JERRI HARDESTY Crossed Wires Brierfield, AL
$10 SYLVIA DODGEN What Matters Orange Beach, AL
Sponsored by Mavis Jarrell
7. F0RMALISM AWARD -23 entries
Any traditional poetic form may be used. Modification of meter is allowed.
ANY LENGTH! State the form being used on the submission
$50 -CATHERINE MORAN The Master is Served Little Rock, AR
$30 - RITA MORITZ Colors We Can’t See Pell City, AL
$20 - BARBARA BLANKS Hot Air Garland, TX
Sponsored by Steven A. Gillis.
8. WHO AM I? - 19 entries
“Show” us an animal or plant without naming it. Rhymed and metered—or not!
Maximum length 30 lines
$15 CATHERINE MORAN Across the asphalt Little Rock, AR
$10 JAMES MATTHEW BYERS Social Etiquette Wellington, AL
$5 BARBARA BLANKS Scavenger Hunt Garland, TX
1st HM SYLVIA DODGEN Shiny Gifts Orange Beach, AL
2ndHM MARGARET RUSH Ode to ??? Pell City, AL
Sponsored by P.T. Paul.
9. I AM AN INANIMATE OBJECT -17 entries
Write a poem from the point of view of an inanimate object.
Do not reveal what the object is until the end.
No form limit. 40 line limit.
$50 BARBARA BLANKS Transfiguaration Garland, TX
$25 CHRISTINE RIDDLE HOMES Foley, AL
$10. JANE E. ALLEN The Traveler Arab, AL
1st HM RITA MORITZ From the Palace to the Hovel Pell City, AL
2nd HM FRANKLIN BATTLES Old Red Barn Altoona, AL
Sponsored by Dargan Ware..
10. THE SCARIEST HALLOWEEN YOU EVER HAD! - 5 entries
Any style. 40 lines or less. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!
Sponsored by Margaret Rush.
$25 JAMES MATTHEW BYERS The Terror Trail Wellington, AL
$15 JERRI HARDESTY Trespassers Brierfield, AL
$10 MIKE WAHL The Ultimate Halloween Trick Athens, AL
11. PRECIOUS PRODIGAL AWARD -14 entries
Topic: Extended metaphor with poetry as the subject. Compare poetry to one specific thing and then build your metaphor around that one thing. What is the good, the bad, the sweet and bittersweet, the cost and the payoff of
writing poetry? Form: poet’s choice.
$30 ELIZABETH BUTTIMER Ars Poetica: How to Wear a Scarf Bowdon, GA
$20 BARBARA BLANKS Tapestry Garland, TX
$15, JOANNE CAGE On Diving into Poetry Leeds, AL
Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz.
12. CHOOSE YOUR OWN TOPIC - 35 entries
Length 40 lines.
$25, GEORGETTE PERRY
$15 JOE WHITTEN Blueberries Odenville, AL
$10. JANET ANDERSON The Homeless Huntsville, AL
HM SUE BRANNAN WALKER No Telling But Annie Doesn’t Mobile, AL
Live Here
Sponsored by Joanne Cage.
13. VILANELLE ~ POET’S CHOICE OF TOPIC -12 entries
line limit: 19 (as required by the villanelle form).
$40 DARGAN WARE Downstream Birmingham, Al
$30 SYLVIA DODGEN I Cannot Bear the Light Orange Beach, AL
$20 JOE WHITTEN Villanelle to Night Odenville, AL
$10.BARBARA BLANKS. Needing My Glasses & a Garland, TX
Shower After Working in the Garden
Sponsored by Writers Anonymous
14. REJECTION REFLECTION (A “contestivus for the rest of us”). -17 entries
Submit a poem (only one please) that you believe is a keeper but which you have submitted for publication only to be rejected by one or more publishers (or contests). So as to not tax the patience of the judge(s), poems must consist of 30 lines or less. In brackets below the poem (or above if you prefer) please name one (or more) publication(s) or contest(s) which rejected your pride and joy. Meter & or rhyme: Poems must be in verse, rhymed or unrhymed, metered or not, as opposed to prose (i.e., no prose poems, flash fiction, etc.).
$ 25 - CHRISTINE RIDDLE Solstice Song Foley, AL
$10 - CATHERINE MORAN All the Silent Marks Little Rock, AR
$5 - VINCENT TOMEO Paper Clip Exchange—Strip 4 Flushing NY
Sponsored by Jim Ferguson
15. HOME SWEET HOME CONTEST -24 entries
Write a poem about the people, places, or things of Alabama.
No form or rhyme scheme specified. 40 line limit.
$25 SYLVIA DODGEN The Estuary: Weeks Bay AL Orange Beach, AL
$15 JOE WHITTEN Their Home—Our Home Odenville, AL
$10. ELIZABETH BUTTIMER Fresh Coat for an Alabama Bowdon, GA
Farm House
1st HM. JANET ANDERSON Selma Hutsville, AL
2nd HM ROSANNE GULISANO Bicycle Joe Fairhope, AL
Sponsored by Jessica Temple.
16. THE TIME YOU "BARRA-LI-MADE-IT" -5 entries
No line limit. Must be present to win.
$25 SUE WALKER Find…Finding…Found…Freud Mobile, AL
…Fliess
$15 MIKE WAHL Like Being Dead Athens AL
$10. WORTH BARHAM One Road I Took Pell City, AL
Sponsored by Myra Barra
17. NO LIMITS - In memory of Debra Self. -20 entries
Any subject; any form. Must be an ASPS member to win an award.
$15 ADWITI HAFFNER Tonight…Let me not cry Gulf Shores, AL
$10 URAINAH GLIDEWELL Butterflies Pell City, AL
$5. MARGARET RUSH The River Pell City, AL
Sponsored by Jerri Beck
2017 Spring Contest Winners:
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS) Open to ASPS PAID MEMBERS ONLY. Any form, no line limit.
1st Place Steven Gillis -"Father's War, Pictures"
2nd Place Adrienne Welch
3rd Place Susan Martinello
4th Place Urainah Glidewell
1st HM Mike Wahl
2nd HM Randy Hale
2. THE DAVID KATO PRIZE - In honor of murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato (1964-2011). Subject: Human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Any form, no line limit.
1st Place Jessica Temple
2nd Place Lynn Veach Sadler
3rd Place Catherine Moran
1st HM Barbara Blanks
2nd HM James Matthew Byers
3. EXTENDED METAPHOR AWARD Write a poem about poetry, writing, or any other artistic endeavor as an extended metaphor with something that isn't readily apparent. Example "Poems are a romantic relationship." Any form. Line limit 16. Sponsored by Jodi Adamson.
1st Place Rita Aiken Moritz
2nd Place Karen McAferty Morris
3rd Place Faye Gaston
4. NEW DAWN UNLIMITED AWARD Topic: Tell Me Something Beautiful Any form, 50 line limit. Sponsored by Jerri and Kirk Hardesty
1st Place Shawnette Daniel
2nd Place Barbara Blanks
3rd Place Charles Firmage
1st HM Catherine Moran
2nd HM LaVern Spencer McCarthy
5. Topic: SOWING SEEDS Related to gardening, landscaping, etc. or sowing seeds of kindness. Any form, 40 line limit. Sponsored by Margaret Rush
1st Place Catherine Moran
2nd Place Jessica Temple
3rd Place Becky Alexander
1st HM Faye Adams
6 POET'S CHOICE - ASPS members only. You choose topic and form. Line limit: 60 lines. Sponsored by Jeanette Willert
1st Place Jessica Temple
2nd Place Vincent Tomeo
3rd Place Randy Hale
1st HM Bev Gattis
2nd HM Sue Scalf
7. IT'S UP TO YOU Sponsored by Faye Hall Any subject, any form. 40 line limit.
1st Place Steven Gillis -"Eye and Lightning, Hourglass Reflections"
2nd Place Ellararne Lockie
3rd Place Cartherine Moran
1st HM Becky Alexander
2nd HM Barbara Blanks
3rd HM Sally Clark
8. Topic: MOUNTAINS (real, metaphorical or otherwise) Length and form up to the poet. Sponsored by Dargan Ware
1st Place Barbara Blanks
2nd Place Sally Clark
3rd Place Mike Wahl
Judge noted that some poems were disqualified because they exceeded 40 line limit.
9. Topic: A FRAGRANCE OR FLOWER OF RURAL ALABAMA Any form, 8-10 lines*. Must be present to win. Sponsored by Myra Ward Barra.
1st Place James Matthew Byers
2nd Place Rita Aiken Moritz
*Several entries exceeded the specified line limit for this contest.
10. Topic: POETRY or WRITING POETRY - ASPS members only. Any form. No more than 45 lines. Sponsored by Writers Anonymous (Pell City).
1st Place Catherine Moran
2nd Place Christine Riddle
3rd Place Jessica Temple
4th Place Vincent Tomeo
1st HM Mike Wahl
2nd HM Faye Adams
11. Topic: FALLING IN LOVE or STAYING IN LOVE - ASPS members only. Choose a form that uses meter and/or a set rhyme scheme. (Identify the form you have chosen to use on your submitted poem.**) 40 line limit Sponsored by Precious Prodigal (Harry and Rita Moritz)
1st Place Barbara Blanks
2nd Place Jerri Hardesty
3rd Place James Matthew Byers
4th Place Karen McAferty Morris
1st HM Mike Wahl
**Some entries in this contest did not qualify ~ failed to use or identify a metered/rhymed FORM of poetry.
12. Topic: WRITE A POEM ABOUT YOUR DEATH Extra points for funny! Any form. 30 line limit. Must be present to win. Sponsored by Debra Self.
1st Place Mavis Jarrell
2nd Place Randy Hale
1st HM Mike Wahl
13. Topic: WINTER Any form, 30 lines or less. Sponsored by Joanne Cage.
1st Place Virginia Gilbert
2nd Place Dargan Ware
1st HM Urainah Glidewell
2nd HM Ellararne Lockie
14. FILL IN THE BLANKS AWARD Any form, any subject. Sponsored by Barb Blanks
1st Place Catherine Moran
2nd Place Sara Gipson
1st HM Kimberly Wright
15. A PERSONAL HERO Think along the lines of "The Truly Great" by Stephen Spender. Any format and length. Sponsored by Jerri Beck
1st Place Jessica Temple
2nd Place Grady Sue Loftin Saxon
3rd Place Gail Denham
1st HM Jerri Hardesty
2nd HM Dr. Emory D. Jones
3rd HM Mike Wahl
2016 Book of the Year:
The winner of the 2016 ASPS Book of the Year was Objects in Vases, written by Alina Stefanescu, of Tuscaloosa, AL.
2nd Place in this category for 2016 went to Carey Link for Awakening to Holes in the Arc of Sun
2016 ASPS Fall Contest Winners:
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY FALL CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS)
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID ASPS MEMBERS ONLY
Any form, Any subject, Line limit 60.
1st Place Dargan Ware, Anchors, Far Away, Moody, AL
2nd Place Catherine Moran, Those parting comments, Little Rock, AR
3rd Place Shawnette Daniel, Pecan Pickin', Cropwell, AL
4th Place Janet Anderson, After the tornadoes, Huntsville, AL
1st HM Jeanette Willert, Consolation, Pell City, AL
2nd HM Gail Gehlken, For the Children, Irvington, AL
3rd HM Bettye K. Cannizzo, Westward the Wagons, Hartselle, AL
2. THE ALABAMA ANIMAL ADVOCACY AWARD (Sponsored by Alabama Animal Advocacy)
*WINNING POEMS WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE WITH AUTHORS' PERMISSION.
Any form, Subject: Wild or domestic animals
1st Place Karen Morris, The Blessing, Pensacola, FL
2nd Place Barbara Blanks, Of Mice and Music, Garland, TX
3rd Place Joanne R. Cage, The Ghost of Little Bear, Leeds, AL
1st HM Lori Anne Goetz, Tiny Defender, Germantown, TN
2nd HM Ellaraine Lockie, Rebellion, Sunnyvale, CA
3rd HM Randy C. Hale, My Cat The Poet, Oneonta, AL
4th HM Gail Gehlken, Oliver Steps Down, Irvington, AL
3. "THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BIRDS" AWARD (Sponsored by Bettye Cannizzo)
Any form, Subject: Birds
1st Place Rita Aiken Moritz, Each Hummingbird a Gift, Pell City, AL
2nd Place Joanne R. Cage, Haiku (Two hawks in Maytime), Leeds, AL
3rd Place Janet Anderson, Through the Storm, Huntsville, AL
1st HM Charles K. Firmage, Crimson Feathers, Boise, ID
2nd HM Myra Ward Barra, The Caribbean Grackle, Pell City, AL
3rd HM Ruth Hill Pine Siskin, Chetwynd, BC Canada
4th HM Ellaraine Lockie, Encounters with Crows, Sunnyvale, CA
5th HM Catherine Moran, Gifts from crows, Little Rock, AR
4. THE DAVID KATO PRIZE, in honor of murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato.
(Sponsored by Jendi Reiter) *WINNING POEMS WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE WITH AUTHORS' PERMISSION.
Any form, Subject: Human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people.
No line limit.
1st Place Seth Cortland Tanner, Shepard, Talladega, AL
2nd Place Dargan Ware, The Funeral, Moody, AL
3rd Place Barbara Blanks, Heart Strings, Garland, TX
1st HM Janet Anderson, moons under wing, Huntsville, AL
2nd HM Jerri Hardesty, Chrysanthemum, Brierfield, AL
5. THE "WRITERS ANONYMOUS" AWARD (Sponsored by Writers Anonymous)
Form: Villanelle, Subject: Change is a part of life, but it isn't always comfortable, is it? Put together your best words and write a villanelle about that topic.
1st Place LaVern Spencer McCarthy, In Hindsight, Blair, OK
2nd Place Jerri Hardesty, Change Will Come, Brierfield, AL
3rd Place Evelyn M. Hurley, While Blooms of August Sing, Gaylesville, AL
4th Place Catherine Moran, Growing with change, Little Rock, AR
1st HM Georgette Perry, Riverie, Huntsville, AL
2nd HM Charles K. Firmage, Lips That Speak Truth, Boise, ID
3rd HM Dalene Stull, Human Plans, Danville, OH
6. THE "POET'S CHOICE" AWARD (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert)
Any form, any subject, line limit 50.
1st Place Ellaraine Lockie ,Sexed on a Kona Balcony, Sunnyvale, CA
2nd Place Evelyn M. Hurley, Consolation, Gaylesville, AL
3rd Place Ramey Channell, Calling Up Magic, Leeds, AL
1st HM Christine Riddle, The Weaver, Foley, AL
2nd HM Jessica Temple, Ghosts Floated Through My Childhood, Madison, AL
3rd HM Ruth Hill, Harbor of Rainbows, Chetwynd, BC Canada
7. THE "PRECIOUS PRODIGAL" AWARD (Sponsored by Precious Prodigal, Harry and Rita Moritz)
Any form, Subject: With the passing of time, people and things age. That's sometimes a good thing, and sometimes it's not. Write a poem in any form about aging.
1st Place Seth Cortland Tanner, Sweet Tea, Talladega, AL
2nd Place Evelyn M. Hurley, Shelter, Gaylesville, AL
3rd Place Sylvia Williams Dodgen, If You Were Here, Orange Beach, AL
4th Place Christine Riddle, The Folksinger at 58, Foley, AL
1st HM Jerri Hardesty, Visible Markers, Brierfield, AL
2nd HM Janet Anderson, Entering In, Huntsville, AL
3rd HM Dalene Stull, Poetry of Love, Danville, OH
8. "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS" AWARD (Sponsored by Myra Ward Barra)
Any form, Subject: Bus rides, public transportation, school buses, behavior on buses, prisoners on buses, bus drivers, bus accidents, yellow buses, greyhound buses, buses that run late or are too full...
1st Place LaVern Spencer McCarthy, The Old, Yellow School Bus, Blair, OK
2nd Place Faye Adams, Slice of Life, De Soto, MO
3rd Place Rita Aiken Moritz, The Yellow Chrysalis, Pell City, AL
9. THE "MAKE THEM LAUGH" AWARD (Sponsored by Jodi Adamson)
Any form, Theme: A poem that makes us laugh; no depressing stuff. Line limit: 20
1st Place Rita Aiken Moritz, The Dutiful Wife, Pell City, AL
2nd Place Ramey Channell, Flea, Leeds, AL
3rd Place Joanne R. Cage, Marsupial Strabismus, Leeds, AL
10. THE "I'LL TAKE THE SHORT FORM, PLEASE!" AWARD (Sponsored by Kirk and Jerri Hardesty and NewDawnUnlimited.com) Form: Any short form, but not free verse, ( i.e. couplet, haiku, sijo, quatrain, tanka, cinquain, limerick, beech, etheree, fibonacci, jaleen, triolet, rondelet, Lil Ann, octet, oriental octet, etc.),
Subject: Any. Line limit 8.
1st Place Michael Johnson, Turnip, Russellville, AL
1st HM Charles K. Firmage, Last Stand, Boise, ID
2nd HM Faye Adams, The Last Rosebud, De Soto, MO
2016 ASPS Spring Contest Winners:
ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY 2016 SPRING CONTESTS WINNERS' LIST
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY SPRING CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS)
Any form, Any subject, line limit 60.
1st Place Susan Martinello Portrait of My Husband as Rome, the Sacred City Gulf Shores, AL
2nd Place Jeanette Willert Awaking Pell City, AL
3rd Place Barbara Blanks Four letters, meaning gone Garland, TX
4th Place Jessica Jones Naked Woman in front of the Mirror Orange Beach, AL
1st HM Alina Stefanescu Letter to a Little Girl Named After an Existentialist Tuscaloosa, AL
2nd HM Rita Aiken Moritz The Day Will Come Pell City, AL
3rd HM Dr. Virginia Gilbert Getting the Bones Right, Reunion '65 Madison, AL
2. THE DAVID KATO PRIZE, in honor of murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato (Sponsored by Jendi Reiter) Any form: Subject: Human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. No line limit
1st Place Christine Riddle Defixio in the Heartland Foley, AL
2nd Place Barbara Blanks Aspiring to Pansies Garland, TX
3rd Place Lynn Veach Sadler He/She Burlington, NC
1st HM Renee Palmer Coming Out at 50 Montevallo, AL
3. THE "BEAT PLUS" HUMAN CONDITION AWARD (Sponsored by Dick Teal -Platosgroove.com)
Any form, Subject: The 1950's "Beat Generation" of poets lamented our spiritually empty culture. Poets are to take it one step further by writing about the search for answers and meaning. Line limit 40.
1st Place Stacey Balkun Tourists Apparently Film a Porno at the Pyramids New Orleans, LA
2nd Place Janet Anderson We Are Called Huntsville, AL
3rd Place Kimberly Wright Living tombstone Prattville, AL
1st HM Taney A. Brazeal As They Are Fairhope, AL
2nd HM Renee Palmer Moses at the End Montevallo, AL
3rd HM Jerri Hardesty Label Me Brierfield, AL
4. THE "POET'S CHOICE" AWARD (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert) any form, any subject, line limit 50.
1st Place Rita Aiken Moritz You Are Pell City, AL
2nd Place Lee Pelham Cotton Jasper and Lloyd Go Over the Top Locust Hill, VA
3rd Place Becky Alexander Waking Dad: Life with an Old Soldier Ontario, Canada
1st HM Christine Riddle Two something a.m. Foley, AL
2nd HM Henry Spottswood Letters From a Yard Sale Cincinnati, OH
3rd HM Myra Ward Barra My Husband's Spaghetti Pell City, AL
5. THE "BUGS FUNNY" AWARD (Sponsored by Barbara Blanks)
Any form, Subject: About bugs - bugs in nature - or what bugs you. No rants, please. And if you choose to write about what bugs you (even if what bugs you are actual bugs), please write poetically: No lectures, no sermons.
1st Place Dalene Stull Preserved In Amber Danville, OH
2nd Place Jeanette Willert Waiting for Him Pell City, AL
3rd Place Lee Pelham Cotton Beetle Juice Locust Hill, VA
1st HM Catherine Moran Afternoon waltz Little Rock, AR
2nd HM Janet Anderson The Great Outdoors Huntsville, AL
3rd HM Grady Sue Saxon The Bug Leeds, AL
6. THE "GOOD AND BAD CHANGE" AWARD (Sponsored by Jodi Adamson) Any form, Subject: Change
1st Place Stacey Balkun Terra Incognita New Orleans, LA
2nd Place Jeanette Willert World Gone By Pell City, AL
3rd Place Gail Denham To A Mom Who's Missing The Good Parts Survivor, OR
1st HM Renee Palmer In Paris, I Am Changing Planes and More Montevallo, AL
7. THE "MY PARENT'S STORY" AWARD (Sponsored by Myra Ward Barra)
Any form, Subject: Write a poem about a story your parent (Mother or Father) told about their childhood. Include some emotional detail about your own reaction.
1st Place Jerri Hardesty Udderly Ridiculous Brierfield, AL
2nd Place Henry Spottswood Memories of the Fathers Cincinnati, OH
3rd Place Mike Wahl One Day in May Athens, AL
1st HM Betty Ivy Dreams Fairhope, AL
2nd HM Janet Anderson Spain Huntsville, AL
8. THE "S'IL VOUS PLAIT" AWARD (IF YOU PLEASE) (Sponsored by Beth Hoyle Waggoner)
Any French form, Subject: French, they say, is the language of love. Write a love poem about old love, new love, lost love, or unrequited love. Please identify the poetry form you have used.
1st Place Lee Pelham Cotton Fate (Dom Claude's Villanelle) Locust Hill, VA
2nd Place Karen McAferty Morris Aubade Pensacola, FL
3rd Place LaVern Spencer McCarthy My Lost Love Blair, OK
1st HM Barbara Blanks To My One and Only Valentine Garland, TX
2nd HM Rita Aiken Moritz I Don't Need You Pell City, AL
3rd HM Jeanette Willert Chanson Pell City, AL
9. "THE SKY'S THE LIMIT" AWARD (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz -- Precious Prodigal)
*THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO ALABAMA RESIDENTS ONLY
Any form, Subject: The sun, the moon, the stars, galaxies, and universes. Line limit 32
1st Place Renee Palmer Moon-glow Montevallo, AL
2nd Place Jane Allen haiku (Moonlight slivers creep) Arab, AL
3rd Place Kimberly Wright The condoms we'll use on Mars Prattville, AL
1st HM Janet Anderson Moons Under Wing Huntsville, AL
2nd HM Jeanette Willert Stardust Pell City, AL
3rd HM Susan Martinello New York, 1906 Gulf Shores, AL
4th HM Dr. Virginia Gilbert Earth is a Nice Word Madison, AL
10. THE TRIMERIC AWARD (Sponsored by Writers Anonymous)
Form: Trimeric Any subject, line limit 13
1st Place Lee Pelham Cotton Flotsam Locust Hill, VA
2nd Place Karen McAferty Morris My Father's Flight Pensacola, FL
3rd Place Barbara Blanks Like His Ancestors Garland, TX
1st HM Sara Gipson A Sense of Summer Scents Scott, AR
2nd HM Myra Ward Barra The Captain's Promise Pell City, AL
3rd HM Margaret Rush Evening Marvel Pell City, AL
11. THE "OVERCOMING ADVERSITY" AWARD (Sponsored by Ellen Sallas)
Any form, Subject: Overcoming adversity.
1st Place Lee Pelham Cotton Mas Cornadas da el Habre Locust Hill, VA
2nd Place Ruth Hill Spirit of Iron, Heart of Gold British Columbia
3rd Place Janet Anderson Into the Garden of Sisterhood Huntsville, AL
1st HM LaVern Spencer McCarthy An Unexpected Blessing Blair, OK
2nd HM Jessica Jones You + Me Orange Beach, AL
2015 ASPS Poet of the Year:
The 2015 ASPS Poet of the Year was Jodi Adamson from Deatsville, AL.
2015 ASPS Fall Contest Winners:
ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY 2015 FALL CONTESTS WINNERS' LIST
1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY FALL CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS) *THIS CATEGORY IS OPEN TO PAID MEMBERS ONLY Any form, Any subject, Line limit 60
1st Place Rita Aiken Moritz "Who's That Knocking On My Door?" Pell City, AL
2nd Place Janet Anderson "The First and The Last" Huntsville, AL
3rd Place Jeanette Willert "The Life Lie" Pell City, AL
4th Place Randy C. Hale " Nothing Stored" Oneonta, AL
1st HM Faye Adams "The Persistence of Wind" DeSoto, MO
2nd HM Catherine Moran "Designs and destinations" Little Rock, AR
3rd HM Gail Gehlken "Ella Mae's House" Irvington, AL
2. THE "AWKWARD MOMENT" AWARD (Sponsored by Myra Ward) *MUST BE A MEMBER OF ASPS TO ENTER
Any form, Subject: Write a poem describing an awkward moment. Line limit 16.
1st Place Jeanette Willert "At the Daniel Boone Hotel" Pell City, AL
2nd Place Mike Wahl "The Fly" Athens, AL
3rd Place Janet Anderson "Diving Into the Unknown" Huntsville, AL
1st HM Faye Gaston "That Awful Awkward Moment" Union Springs, AL
3. THE DAVID KATO PRIZE, in honor of murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato (Sponsored by Jendi Reiter) *WINNING POEMS WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE WITH AUTHORS' PERMISSION. Any form, Subject: Human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. No line limit.
1st Place Jerri Hardesty "Human" Brierfield, AL
2nd Place Barbara Blanks "Transfiguration" Garland, TX
3rd Place Joanne Ramey Cage "Wayne and Walt: A Parting" Leeds, AL
4. THE "FAILING PUBLICLY" AWARD (Sponsored by Susan Luther) *MUST BE A RESIDENT OF ALABAMA AND A MEMBER OF ASPS TO ENTER. Any form, Subject: Have you ever failed, spectacularly or otherwise, in a public setting? Forgotten your lines in a play, perhaps? Or begun your piece for a piano recital and couldn't get past the first bar? Told a joke and no one laughed? Write about your most embarrassing public failure, and how it opened up new possibilities for you.
1st Place Bev Gattis "Failing Publicly" Odenville, AL
2nd Place Rita Aiken Moritz "Boy, did I blow that!" Pell City, AL
3rd Place Myra Ward Barra "The Basketball Game" Pell City, AL
1st HM Jerri Hardesty "Misunderstanding" Brierfield, AL
2nd HM Faye Gaston "The Ghost of Embarrassment" ntion Springs, AL
3rd HM Taney A. Brazeal "Politics" Fairhope, AL
5. THE "I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN" AWARD (Sponsored by Mavis M. Jarrell) Any form, except prose poetry, Subject: The joys of American freedom, and/or the costs for our freedom. No line limit.
1st Place Rita Aiken Moritz "America's Still Beautiful to Me" Pell City, AL
2nd Place Margaret Rush "The Knock On The Door" Pell City, AL
3rd Place Janet Anderson "Nine Eleven World View" Huntsville, AL
1st HM Catherine Moran "That right word" Little Rock, AR
2nd HM Faye Adams "A Soldier Returns" DeSoto, MO
3rd HM Barbara Blanks "Cheers to America!" Garland, TX
6. THE "CELEBRATE e. e. cummings" AWARD (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert) Form: Free Verse, Any subject, Line limit 4-40 lines.
1st Place Catherine Moran "in the aura of you" Little Rock, AR
2nd Place Barbara Blanks "cat egoric" Garland, TX
3rd Place Janet Anderson "churning the fragments" Huntsville, AL
1st HM Joanne Ramey Cage "Amadeus" Leeds, AL
2nd HM Sylvia Williams Dodgen "I Will Wait" Orange Beach, AL
3rd HM Myra Ward Barra "Hurricane" Pell City, AL
4th HM Gail Denham "take this path, friend" Sunriver, OR
5th HM Gail Gehlken "As I grow older" Irvington, AL
7. THE "I CAN DO THIS" AWARD (Sponsored by Precious Prodigal and Harry & Rita Moritz) *MUST BE A RESIDENT OF ALABAMA AND A MEMBER OF ASPS TO ENTER. Form: Poet's Choice, Subject: Have you faced a challenge and overcome it or tried again after failure and succeeded? Take your best moment, combine it with your best words and write a poem about it. Line limit: 40
1st Place Bev Gattis "Cope, Or Conquer" Odenville, AL
2nd Place Jerri Hardesty "Ceramics Class" Brierfield, AL
3rd Place Mike Wahl "Of Silver Spoons and Bravado" Athens, AL
1st HM Janet Anderson "The First Day of School" Huntsville, AL
8. THE "CHARACTER BUILDING" AWARD (Sponsored by Jodi Adamson) *MUST BE A PRESENT TO WIN.
Any form, Subject: In the spirit of Halloween and storytelling, build a character based on
something you own, and write a poem about this person. Remember to include the object you chose. Be prepared, if you win, you will need to become your character. Costumes and props are encouraged. Line limit 40.
1st Place Joanne Ramey