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

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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 Cage "Ghost Who Walks" Leeds, AL
    2nd Place Vincent J. Tomeo "Shoeshine Boy 1960" Flushing, NY
    3rd Place Rita Aiken Moritz "Al the Gator" Pell City, AL

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9 THE "OWED TO A POET" CONTEST (Pun Intended) (Sponsored by P.T. Paul) Any form, Subject: What poem/poet sparked the poet in you? Write an apostrophe -- a poem addressing the poet who inspired you -- telling them how their poem affected you the first time you read it, what kind of poet you've become because of it, and how that poem still inspires you. Poem MUST include two lines -- and only two lines -- from that seminal poem, but those two lines may be repeated. Line limit, at least 14, but no more than 40.
    1st Place Barbara Blanks "Ogden Nash -- Nashurally!" Garland, TX
    2nd Place Sylvia Williams Dodgen "Elysian Fields" Orange Beach, AL
    3rd Place Gail Denham "Tied to the Past" Sunriver, OR
    1st HM Rita Aiken Moritz "Owed" to Emily Dickinson" Pell City, AL
    2nd HM Dalene Stull "To Edna Saint Vincent Millay" Danville, OH
    3rd HM Henry M. Spottswood "An Unfaltering Trust" Cincinnati, OH

10. THE "ITALIAN SONNET" AWARD (Sponsored by Writers' Anonymous) *MUST BE A RESIDENT OF ALABAMA AND A MEMBER OF ASPS TO ENTER. Form: Italian Sonnet (must follow sonnet form, use iambic pentameter, and employ traditional Petrarchan Sonnet rhyme scheme.) Subject: Poet's Choice, Line limit: 14.
    1st Place Jerri Hardesty "Beyond the Physical" Brierfield, AL
    The judge awarded no other prizes in this category, as the other entries did not adhere to the Italian Sonnet form.
 

2015 Morris Memorial Chapbook Competition Winner:

The winner of the 2015 ASPS Morris Memorial Chapbook Competition is Patrick S. Dixo with his manuscript "Arc of Visibility." Congratulations to Patrick! ASPS will be publishing Pat's chapbook over the next few months.
 

2015 ASPS Spring Contest Winners:

ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY 2015 SPRING CONTESTS

1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY SPRING CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS) Any form, any subject.
    1st Place Jeanette Willert Pell City, AL "Resolve"
    2nd Place Susan Martinello Gulf Shores, AL "So Close to Broken"
    3rd Place Lela Ellen Dingler Boaz, AL "Cotton Pickin'"
    4th Place Don K. Mutchler Mobile, AL "Bitter Cup"
    1st HM Charles K. Firmage Boise, ID "Nothing to Say"
    2nd HM Barbara Blanks Garland, TX "Immemorial"
    3rd HM Cona F. Adams De Soto, MO "Death Stick"

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. 
    1st Place Sylvia Williams Dodgen Orange Beach, AL "Show Time"
    2nd Place Debra Self Alexander City, AL "History Repeats"
    3rd Place Myra Ward Barra Pell City, AL "The Man Jesse"
    1st HM Barbara Blanks Garland, TX "Wedding Bell Triumph"
    2nd HM Janet Anderson Huntsville, AL "Suicide's Call to the Homophobic"
    3rd HM Esther Whitman Johnson Roanoke, VA "Said the Pastor to His Flock"
    4th HM Lynn Veach Sadler Pittsboro, NC "First LIne of Defense: Fact Before Art"

3. THE "A BRIDGE TOO FAR" AWARD (Sponsored by Susan Luther)
Any form, Subject: Brooklyn, San Francisco, London, Three No Trump, the swinging bridge at Fall Creek Falls -- Write a poem about bridges, a bridge, the game of bridge, or bridging -- literal or figurative. A bridge might be the setting or the subject of the piece; or it might be about bridging gaps between people, cultures, etc. (or not). (Think "The Hundred Foot Walk") Build, build, build!
    1st Place Catherine Moran Little Rock, AR "The bridge speaks"
    2nd Place Dalene Stull Danville, OH "Bridging the Gap Between Death and Commemoration"
    3rd Place Barbara Blanks Garland, TX "Hospice Volunteer"
    1st HM Jerri Hardesty Brierfield, AL "Progress"
    2nd HM Esther Whitman Johnson Roanoke, VA "Breaking Barriers Off Bali"
    3rd HM Charles K. Firmage Boise, ID "Wee, Small Hours"

4. THE "SPRINGING FORWARD" AWARD (Sponsored by Writers Anonymous) Any form, Subject: Celebrating spring as a time of refreshing or renewing, poets are to take a fresh look at an old memory and write about it from their new perspective. Did pain become profit? Did tears become joy? Do things look different with the passing of time? 
    1st Place Susan Martinello Gulf Shores, AL "Second Chance Shop"
    2nd Place Myra Ward Barra Pell City, AL "Birth of Logan Martin Lake"
    3rd Place Margaret J. Vann Huntsville, AL "signs"
    1st HM Gail Gehlken Irvington, AL "Digging a New Garden"
    2nd HM Janet Anderson Huntsville, AL "With Spring Comes Rain"
    3rd HM Betty Spence Mobile, AL "April Awareness"

5. THE "SPEAK LIKE RAIN" AWARD in memory of Helen Norris Bell. (Sponsored by Kathleen Thompson)Any form: traditional or free verse. Any subject. Strive for the lyricism of falling rain and not the exactness of Dr. Seuss. 
    1 Winner Vivian Brown Fairhope, AL "Enduring"

6. THE "COLLABORATION OF THE ARTS" AWARD (Sponsored by Jodi Adamson)*MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN
Any form, Subject: Based on a song you know. Make sure you tell us what song inspired the poem, and winners be prepared to sing the song as well.
    1st Place Jessica Jones Mobile, AL "Her Name Goes Here"
    2nd Place Jeanette Willert Pell City, AL "Out in the River"
    3rd Place Mike Wahl Athens, AL "First There Is A Mountain, Then There Is No Mountain,Then There Is"

7. THE "DRAGONFLY" AWARD (Sponsored by Susan Luther) Any form, Subject: Utopia. What does the ideal place or dream world look like to you? Iridescent as a dragonfly's wings, multi-faceted like its point of view... create in verse a world you would like to live in, or the world you made up for yourself as a child. Blue trees? Greensky? Or an inter-species Peaceable Kingdom? 
    1st Place Vivian Brown Fairhope, AL "Ergmot and Merigelda"
    2nd Place Bettye K. Cannizzo Hartselle, AL "If"
    3rd Place Margaret J. Vann Huntsville, AL "Can This Be Heaven?"
    1st HM Barbara Blanks Garland, TX haiku
    2nd HM Vincent J. Tomeo Flushing, NY "Angels"
    3rd HM Janet Anderson Huntsville, AL "Joy For the Natural World"

8. THE "OLD HUNDREDTH" MEMORIAL PRIZE (Sponsored by Susan Luther) Any form, Subject: "Make a joyful noise." -- use the verbs "make," "serve," "come," "know," "enter," "give thanks," and "bless," -- NOT in that order. 
    1st Place Mike Wahl Athens, AL "Make a Joyful Noise"
    2nd Place Barbara Brown Montgomery, AL "The Sun and Moon: What A Blessing"
    3rd Place Faye Gaston Union Springs, AL "Make Thanks With A Joyful Noise"
    1st HM Jeanette Willert Pell City, AL "Bless the Stars"
    2nd HM Janet Anderson Huntsville, AL "Fruit of the Spirit"

9. THE "LOVE IS NOT A FOUR LETTER WORD" AWARD (Sponsored by Barry Marks) Any form, Subject: Romantic love in a modern setting. (Two Equal Winners:)
    Winner Urainah Glidewell Pell City, AL "Love is the Easy Part"
    Winner Jerri Hardesty Brierfield, AL "Home"
    1st HM Barbara Blanks Garland, TX "Endless Summer"
    2nd HM Janet Anderson Huntsville, AL "Luvgeeks"

10. THE "FIRST BREATH" AWARD (Sponsored by Emily Grimes-Henderson) Any form, Subject: A poem about a first breath, i.e. the first breath of Spring or a baby's first breath.
    1st Place Janet Anderson Huntsville, AL "How To Climb Life"
    2nd Place Lee Pelham Cotton Locust Hill, VA "The Space Before My Song"
    3rd Place Catherine Moran Little Rock, AR "All the breaths"
    1st HM Beverly Stanislawski Crown Point, IN "Endings and Beginnings"
    2nd HM Faye Gaston Union Springs, AL "The First Breath of Spring"
    3rd HM Urainah Glidewell Pell City, AL "The Spring Swing"
 

2014 ASPS Poet of the Year:

The 2014 ASPS Poet of the Year was P. T. Paul from Spanish Fort, AL.
 

2014 ASPS Spring Contest Winners:

Contest 1 Alabama State Poetry Society Spring Contest
    1st Place "Like Fairy Dust Like Dream" by PT Paul of Spanish Fort, Alabama 
    2nd Place "Dangling" by Robert Lynn of Duluth, Georgia 
    3rd Place "I Think I'm Depressed" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, Alabama 
    4th Place "Spirits of Suwanee" by Bettye K Cannizzo of Hartselle, Alabama 
    1st Honorable Mention "Starting with the Lake" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, Arkansas 
    2nd Honorable Mention "Missing Grandma and Papa" by Grady Sue Saxon of Leeds, Alabama 
    3rd Honorable Mention "For the Children" by Gail Gehlken of Irvinton, Alabama 
    Citation "Old Age" by Taney A. Brazeal of Fairhope, Alabama 

Contest 2 Sequoyah Writes Sponsored by Jerri Beck 
    1st Place "Hike to Sweetleehachu" by Mavis M. Jarrell of Mobile, Alabama 
    2nd Place "Anna" by Grady Sue Saxon of Leeds, Alabama 
    3rd Place " Grave Island" by Bettye K Cannizzo of Hartselle, Alabama 
    Honorable Mention "Young Pups" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama 

Contest 3 The Prose Knows Contest in honor of Sue Walker sponsored by Barry Marks
    1st Place "Higher Education" by Susan Martinello of Gulf Shores, Alabama 
    2nd Place "An Ill Romance" by Jodi Adamson of Deatsville, Alabama 
    3rd Place "Black Friday" by Jennifer Grant of Gainesville ,Florida 
    Honorable Mention "Submerged" by Lee Pelham Cotton of Locust Hill, Virginia 

Contest 4 "Sisters Contest" Sponsored by Sue Walker in honor of her sister Jean Ruben
    1st Place ? To My Older Sister Now Gone? by Barbara Blanks of Garland ,Texas 
    2nd Place ?First Order Friend? by Catherine Moran of Little Rock ,Arkansas 
    3rd Place ?Conversation with Manticore? by P.T. Paul of Spanish Fort, Alabama 

Contest 5 Winklebleck's Challenge Award sponsored by Barbara Blanks in memory of Mary Winklebleck
    1st Place "Thoughts on being Picked Up in a Bar" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, Arkansas 
    2nd Place "Late October" by Dalene Stull of Danville, Ohio 
    3rd Place "Alabama Birds Celebrated" by Vivian Brown of Fairhope, Alabama 
    1st Honorable Mention "Water Shadows" by Vera Ogden Bakker of West Bountiful, Utah 
    2nd Honorable Mention "Little Princess" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama 
    3rd Honorable Mention " Hair Haiku" by Jodi Adamson of Deatsville Alabama 

Contest 6 Parody Contest sponsored by Jodi Adamson
    1st Place "ConJockey" by Sara Gipson of Scott, Arkansas 
    2nd Place " The Cats on the White Brocade" by Lee Pelham Cotton of Locust Hill, Virginia 
    3rd Place "Graduate Rest!" by Joanne Ramey Cage of Leeds Alabama 

Contest 7 "The Edwin Arlington Robinson Memorial Award" sponsored by Ramey Chanell
    1st Place "Evening Routine on the Farm" by Aroline Walton of Crystal River, Florida 
    2nd Place "On a clam Summer Evening" by Gail Denham of Sunriver ,Oregon 
    3rd Place "A Calm Summer Night" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, Alabama 
    Honorable Mention "In-between" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock Arkansas 

Contest 8 Frost's Spring Award sponsored by P.T. Paul
    1st Place "Progress" by Jessica Jones of Daphne, Alabama 
    2nd Place "As Robert Frost said "Nothing gold can stay"" by Gail Gehlken of Irvington, Alabama 
    3rd Place "Riposte to Frost" by Barbara Blanks of Garland, Texas 

Contest 9 "Kathryn Windham Tucker Award" sponsored by Betty Spence
    1st Place "Dear Papa" by Susan Martinello of Gulf Shores Alabama 
    2nd Place "Golden Mouth" by Robert Lynn of Duluth, Georgia 
    3rd Place "The Battle" by Shawnette Richey of Pell City, Alabama 
    1st Honorable Mention "Still Life" by Catherine Moore of Franklin Tennessee 
    2nd Honorable Mention "After He Slams Out the Door" by Madelyn Eastlund of Beverly Hills, Florida 

Contest 10 "The Helen Norris Memorial; Prize " sponsored by Barry Marks
    1st place "Conduit" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama 
    2nd Place "Forest Visitor" by Robert Lynn of Duluth, Georgia 
    3rd Place "Last Days" by Dalene Stull of Danville,Ohio 
    1st Honorable Mention "Winter's Saving Grace" by Faye Adams of DeSoto, Missouri 
    2nd Honorable Mention "A Shower of Stones" by Lee Pelham Cotton of Locust Hill, Virginia 
    3rd Honorable Mention "Response to Shakespeare's Sonnet 50" by Vivian Brown of Fairhope, Alabama 

Contest 11 "Conciousness Award" sponsored by Emily Grimes-Henderson
    1st Place "Auschwitz Birkenau 2003" by Vincent J. Tomeo of Flushing, New York 
    2nd Place "Postcard from America to Allen Ginsberg (Returned, Forwarding order Expired)" by P.T. Paul of Spanish Fort, Alabama 
    3rd Place "The Poetry Connection" by Barbara Blanks of Garland ,Texas 
    Honorable Mention "Field Hand" by Taney A. Brazeal of Fairhope, Alabama 

Contest 12 The David Kato Prize in honor of murdered Ugandan Gay Activist David Kato sponsored by Jendi Reiter 
    1st Place "Before" by Catherine Moore of Franklin, Tennessee 
    2nd Place "To Kill a Mockingbird- LGBT Style" by Lynn Veach Sadler of Pittsboro, North Carolina 
    3rd Place "I Love Differently" by Debra Self of Alexander City, Alabama 
 

2014 ASPS Fall Contest Winners:

Contest 1: The Alabama State Poetry Society 2014 Fall Contest (Sponsored by the ASPS) Any Theme, Any form, 60 line limit.
    1st Place "Feel of Sorrow" by Taney A Brazeel of Fairhope, Alabama 
    2nd Place "Jew as Noun" by Ellaraine Lockie of Sunnyvale, California 
    3rd Place "Stoneware Mug" by Barbara Blanks of Garland , Texas 
    4th Place "Silk Ribbon Roses" Gail Gehlken of Irvington, Alabama 
    1st Honorable Mention "Burying my Father" by Jeanette Willert of Pell City, Alabama 
    2nd Honorable Mention "Allegheny County ,1888: Ava Remembers Her Canaries" by Emily Rose Cole of Carbondale, IL
    3rd Honorable Mention "Uninvited Guests" by Margaret J Vann of Huntsville, Alabama 
    4th Honorable Mention "Remembering Hiroshima" by Steven A Gillis of Orange Beach, Alabama 

Contest 2: The Helen Norris Memorial Contest A Eulogy Written in honor of Helen Norris Sponsored by Debbie Parvin Poems should be an eulogy about Helen or should be a poem on any subject in which a line or a phrase from one of Helen's poems is used either in the body or as an epigraph.
    1st Place "I Celebrate People Past Their Prime" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, Alabama 
    1st Honorable Mention "Burn Beautiful" Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama 
    2nd Honorable Mention "It Takes One" by Kathy Larson of Salt Lake City, Utah 

Contest 3: The Yellow Brick Road Award Sponsored by Susan Luther Write a dramatic monologue in the voice of a character from "The Wizard of Oz" ( except Dorothy), tell the rest of the story, ,i.e., what your life has been like after knowing Dorothy or after Oz. Line Limit 50 lines blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) or free verse see Robert Brownings for classic examples: "My Last Duchess," or "The Bishop". Must be ASPS member to win 
    1st Place "The Wiz Back in Kansas" by Joanne Ramey Cage of Leeds, Alabama 
    2nd Place "The Scarecrow Uses His Brain" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, Alabama 
    3rd Place "Yellow Brick Road-(50 Years Later)" by Bev Gattis of Odenville, Alabama 
    Honorable Mention "Guardian of Nothing Now" by Barbara Blanks of Garland Texas 

Contest 4: The Cinderella Great Pumpkin Award Sponsored by Susan Luther Ever Taken a ride in a fairy coach and it turned into a pumpkin, metaphorically speaking i.e. a dream job, love affair 401- k etc., And was this necessarily a bad thing? Write it in 40 lines or less Must be a resident of Alabama to enter.
    "New Beginnings" by Rita Aiken Moritz of Pell City, Alabama
    "At Ninety I Write to my Fairy Godmother" by Bettye Connazzio of Hartselle Alabama 

Contest 5: The Dylan Thomas Award in honor of Dylan Thomas who died too young Sponsored by Writers Anonymous form Villanelle topic: seasons of life or life changes. 
    1st Place " Living On the Edge" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama
    2nd Place" Moving Forward" by Barbara Blanks of Garland, Texas
    3rd Place "Peace " by Margaret Rush of Pell City, Alabama 
    Honorable Mention "The Journey" by Faye Hall of Talledega, Alabama 

Contest 6: My Pet Speaks to Me sponsored by Jodi Adamson Write a Poem about what your pet would tell you if he/she could talk.
    1st Place "A Dog's Lament" by Barbara Wiedermann of Montgomery, Alabama
    2nd Place "A Dog Says Goodbye" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, Alabama
    3rd Place "Airedale Memories" by Bettye Connizio of Hartselle, Alabama 

Contest 7: The Lula Mae Award sponsored by Taney Brazeal any subject, free verse, line limit 30. 
    1st Place "A Place To Hide" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, Arkansas 
    2nd Place " Dragonslayer" by Glynn Gattis of Odenville Alabama 
    3rd Place "Friday Night Pint" by Jeanette Willert of Pell City, Alabama

Contest 8: Call and Response Sponsored by PT Paul What brings the poem out in you? 14 lines to one page
    1st Place "Haven" by Hannah Bray of Birmingham, Alabama 
    2nd Place "I followed the Path"- A Tribute to Robert Frost by Kathy Larson of Salt Lake City, Utah 
    3rd Place "Snow Angels" Cona F Adams of De Soto ,Missouri 
    1st Honorable Mention "I Am a Daughter of the Midwest" by Roseanne Gulisano of Fairhope, Alabama 
    2nd Honorable Mention "Mulberry Tree in Autumn" Betty Spence of Mobile Alabama 
    3rd Honorable Mention "She Calls" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama 

Contest 9: The David Kato Prize in Honor of Murdered Ugandan Gay Rights Activist, David Kato Sponsored by Jendi Reiter Any Subject or form Human rights of gay lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people no line limit. 
    1st Place "I Want to be a Dragqueen Diva" by Steven A Gillis Orange Beach, Alabama 
    2nd Place " Forgive Us Our Tresspasses by Emily Rose Cole of Carbondale, Illinois 
    3rd Place " Eulogy For Her" by Linda Baldanzi of Fort Lee, New Jersey 

Contest 10: The Lyric Award Sponsored by Emily Grimes-Henderson Write a poem about the interaction of electronic and nature ,how they relate, conflict or compliment. Any form line limit 60
    1st Place" Computerized Vehicles Versus Natures Creatures" by Dalene Stull of Danville, Ohio 
    2nd Place "Cutting Edge Research" by Barbara Wiedermann of Montgomery, Alabama 
    3rd Place "Second Tear" by Steven Gillis Of Orange Beach, Alabama 

Contest 11: A Quatrain Contest Sponsored by Jean Purcell Any Rhyme Scheme with at least 2 lines rhyming: example: Rubaiyat aaba, Length 4 or 8 line Stanzas.
    1st Place Confessions of a Homebody" by Dalene Stull of Danville, Ohio 
    2nd Place "Small" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, Alabama 
    3rd Place "The Country Store" by Cleveland Brown of Evergreen, Alabama
 

2013 ASPS Book of the Year:

The winner of the 2013 ASPS Book of the Year was Tribal Markings, written by Jerri Beck. The judge wrote the following about the book. " This is the kind of poetry for which poetry was invented; to communicate. Word pictures painted with great skill and feeling. Each poem tells a story and keeps you turning the pages looking forward to the next one." We wish to congratulate Jerri on a job well done!
 

2013 ASPS Fall Contest Winners:

Contest 1-ASPS Fall Contest
    1st "Lost Civilizations" by Jodi Adamson of Deatsville, AL
    2nd "A Prairie Mother's Life" by Dalene Stull of Danville, OH
    3rd "Templeton Library" by Virginia Gilbert of Madison, AL
    4th "The Widow of Methuselah" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, AL
    1st HM "Boring Me to Death" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, AR
    2nd HM "First Love Letter" by Robert L Lynn of Duluth, GA
    3rd HM "The Woman Who Always Walked" by Betty Spence of Mobile, AL
    4th HM "Zero at the Bone" by Joanne Ramey Cage of Leeds, AL

Contest 2-"The Wide Open Contest" sponsored by Barry Marks
    1st "Old Town" by Henry Spottswood of Cinncinatti, OH
    2nd "Bittersweet" by Evelyn Hurley of Gaylesville, AL
    3rd "Blast From the Past" by Nick Sweet of Shepherd, TX

Contest 3-"Wish I'd Written It Contest" sponsored by Henry Spottswood
    1st "Conrad Aiken's Immortal Line" by Joanne Ramey Cage of Leeds, AL
    2nd "The Eastern Phoebe" by Faye Adams of Desoto, MO
    3rd "A Poet of the Night" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, AR
    1st HM "True Poems Flee" by Becky Alexander of Cambridge, Ontario
    2nd HM "The Bliss of Solitude" by Vera Ogden Bakker of West Bountiful, UT

Contest 4-sponsored by Joanne Cage
    1st "Stretching for the Light" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, AR
    2nd "Picking Hands" by Cleveland Brown of Evergreen, AL
    3rd "Stand Down" by Beth Sherrill of Tuscaloosa, AL
    1st HM "Southern Summers" by Faye Adams of Desoto, MO
    2nd HM "The Watchkeepers" by Jane E Allen of Arab, AL
    3rd HM "Sunday: May 23, 1999" by Evelyn Hurley of Gaylesville, AL

Contest 5-"The Pushing Forward Award" sponsored by Janet Anderson
    1st "Finding Another Breath" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, AR
    2nd "My Father's Woodpile" by Nick Sweet of Shepherd, TX
    3rd "Start Over" by Vera Ogden Bakker of West Bountiful, UT
    HM "Go Away Black Cat" by Joanne Ramey Cage of Leeds, AL

Contest 6-"Winkelbeck's Challenge Award" sponsored by Barbara Blanks
    1st "The Last Flight" by Evelyn Hurley of Gaylesville, AL
    2nd "Long Distance Kisses" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, AL
    3rd "Auburn, Topaz, Garnet, Brick" by Dalene Stull of Danville, OH

Contest 7-"The Purse or Glovebox Award" sponsored by Jodi Adamson
    1st "Bag of Holding" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, AL
    2nd "Her Lifeline" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, AL
    3rd "Accumulations" by Evelyn Hurley of Gaylesville, AL 

Contest 8-" What Writing Means to Me" sponsored by Writers Anonymous
    1st "On the Tip of My Pen" by Evelyn Hurley of Gaylesville, AL
    2nd "The Birth of a Poem" by Joanne Ramey Cage of Leeds, AL
    3rd "All the Reasons Why" by Catherine Moran of Little Rock, AR
    1st HM "What I Am" by Barbara Blanks of Garland, TX
    2nd HM "Poetry Won't Keep Us Alive" by Dalene Stull of Danville, OH
    3rd HM "The Birth of a Poem" by Faye Gaston of Union Springs, AL

Contest 9-"The David Kato Prize" sponsored by Jendi Reiter
    1st "Diversity and Justice" by Debra Self of Alexander City, AL
    2nd "Things My Sisters Taught Me" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, AL
    3rd "Who We Are" by Barbara Blanks of Garland, TX
    HM "Back in the Day Before the Word Gay" by Jean Marie Purcell of Eugene, OR

Contest 10-"Southern and Proud of It Award" sponsored by Grady Sue Saxon
    1st "The Night Does Not Fall" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, AL
    2nd "Seasons of Gold" by Evelyn Hurley of Gaylesville, AL
    3rd "Kentucky Lake This Morning" by Becky Alexander of Cambridge, OH
    1st HM "Alabama Spring" by Vincent Tomeo of Flushing, NY
    2nd HM "Genus Mirabilis" by Georgette Perry of Huntsville, AL

Contest 11-"Fall From Grace Award" sponsored by Emily Grimes-Henderson
    1st "Awkward" by Jerri Hardesty of Brierfield, AL
    2nd "To Randa" by Laurie Jean Weil of Montgomery, AL
    3rd "They Shoot Horses" by Barbara Blanks of Garland, TX
 

2013 ASPS Spring Contest Winners:

1. ASPS Spring Contest
    1st place: "Fiber Artist," Dalene Stull, Danville ,OH
    2nd place: "Behind Every Cloud is a Cloud,"Virginia Gilbert, Madison, AL
    3rd place: "Pretty Boy's Sister," Robert L. Lynn, Duluth, GA
    1st HM: "Lunch Break from the Bookstore on the Steps of the Met Midday Monday," Leslie Nicole Thomas, Huntsville, AL
    2nd HM:" Dropped on the Doorstep," Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
    3rd HM: "Mornings on Moon River" Ramey Channell, Leeds, AL

2. Anything Goes Award
    1st place: "Downsizin Blues," Robert L Lynn, Duluth, GA
    2nd Place: "Advanced Composition," Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
    3rd place: "A Tiny Knight," Cleveland Brown, Evergreen, AL
    HM: "Civil War Potraits at the Southern Museum," Virginia Gilbert, Madison, AL

3. Humorous Rhyming Animal Poem Awards 
    1st place: "Retirement Party," Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX
    2nd place: "Squirrel Show." Dalene Stull, Danville,OH
    3rd place: "Barnyard Arithmetic," Robert L Lynn, Duluth, GA
    1st HM: "Just One Little Kitten." Grady Sue Saxon, Leeds, AL
    2nd HM: "Trouble on the Farm," Faye Gaston, Union Springs, AL

4. The Spring Award
    1st place: "Spring Comes To AL, "Faye Gaston, Union Springs Al
    2nd place : "AL Spring Floral Haiku Series," Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
    3rd place: "Birdseye View" Claire W. Mikkelsen, Huntsville, AL
    1st HM: "Spring 1," Margaret Vann, Huntsville, AL
    2nd HM: "Spring is in the Air," Debra Self, Alexander City, AL

5. Creative Formalities Award
    1st place: "Predator," Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL 
    2nd place: "Spanish Moss Night," Margaret J. Vann, Huntsville, AL
    3rd place: "What Would Miss Manners Say"" Grady Sue Saxon, Leeds, AL
    HM: "This is Just to Say," Virginia Gilbert, Madison, AL

6. Gail Whitten Memorial Award
    1st place: "Drama of the Moment," Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
    2nd place: "Autumn Compass," Robert L. Lynn, Duluth, GA

7. I'll Take The Short Form Please Award
    1st place: "Wisteria Cascade," Claire Mikkelson, Huntsville, AL
    2nd place: "My Mother"s Mink," Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
    3rd Place: A Haiku from his "Space" series, Sam Tumminello, Huntsville, AL
    1st HM: "Oh for Pete's Sake," Debra Self, Alexander City, AL
    2nd HM: "The Sound," Robert L. Lynn, Duluth, GA
 

2011 ASPS Poet of the Year:

The 2011 ASPS Poet of the Year was John Chambers .
 

2010 ASPS Spring Contest Winners:

1. The ASPS Spring Contest. Sponsor ASPS. Category open to paid members only.
    1st Place. "Inheritance" " Ellaraine Lockie " Sunnyvale, CA
    2nd Place. "Clementine" " Caroline Drew " Birmingham, AL
    3rd Place. "Winter Kill" " Jane E. Allen " Arab, AL
    4th Place. "I Went Back fo Tell Them" " Henry M. Spottswood " Maineville, OH
    1st HM. "The Window" " Charles K. Firmage " Boise, ID
    2nd HM. "Buying Breadat Sadie's Flea Market" " T.L. Hensel " Alpharetta, GA
    3rd HM. "The Builder" " Donna Jean Tennis " Montgomery, AL

2. The Dana Wichern Contest. Sponsored by Peter and Sarah Meister. Four Winners. No line limit. 
    Winner. "Wellspring" " Ellaraine Lockie " Sunnyvale, CA
    Winner. "Dog Time" " Nedra Rogers " Lawrence, KS
    Winner. "The Noise Inside My Head" " Grant Posey " Town Creek, AL
    Winner. "I Stopped Today" " Mary E. Halliburton " Hope Hull, AL

3. Spring Forward: the Innovation Award. Sponsor Susan Luther. Either invent and name a new form or stanza, or create a variation on an existing form. In addition to the poem itself, entries must include the name and rules of the form. Stanza length, if you are creating a new stanza form: 3 lines minimum, 14 lines max. Overall poem length, 14 lines minimum, 50 lines max.
Any subject, humorous or serious.
    Winner. "Dance of Love" - Beverly Stanislawski - Crown Point, IN - 
         Name of form: Octetra
    Winner. "The Pace of Love" - Catherine Moran - Little Rock, AR - 
         Name of form: Three-Plex
    HM. "Symbols at Parting" - Dalene Stull - Danville, OH - 
         Name of form: Innova
    HM. "ABC's of Appellate Injustice" - Robert Leslie Palmer - Birmingham, AL - 
         Name of form: Alliterative Alphabetical Bulletin

4. Angels Among Us. Sponsor Jan Martin Harris. Any form; subject "Honoring past members who have moved away or passed on." line limit 40
    1st Place. "Choosing a Casket" - Kolette Montague - Cartersville, UT
    2nd Place. "Her Sleeping Face" - Janet Johnson Anderson - Huntsville, AL
    3rd Place. "The Birds Who Remain on Shore" - Jim Barton - Huttig, AK
    1st HM. "My Favorite Poems by Those no Longer Here" - Dalene Stull - Danville, OH
    2nd HM. "Sunset Bridge" - Janet Lombard - Athens, GA
    3rd HM. "Helen Blackshear" - Mary E. Halliburton - Hope Hull, AL

5. Haiku Series Award. Sponsor New Dawn Unlimited. A series of 3 or 4 Haiku, subject appropriate to form.
    1st Place. "gray clouds dull the sky" - Sally Clark - Fredericksburg, TX
    2nd Place. "in the hospital" - Faye Williams Jones - North Little Rock, AR
    3rd Place. "wood ducks overhead" - Jim Barton - Huttig, AR
    1st HM. "lopsided grin" - Donna Jean Tennis - Montgomery, AL
    2nd HM. "Autumn leaf floats down" - Beverly Stanislawski - Crown Point, IN
    3rd HM. "feathers tinted rose" - Lee Pelham Cotton - Locust Hill, VA

6. No contest stated.

7. The Sport Award"in Honor of John Curbow. Sponsors Tommy Willis and Donna Jean Tennis. Any form; subject "any sport or sports figure," line limit 40
    1st Place. "In Tune" - T. L. Hensel - Alpharetta, GA
    2nd Place. "Tara Lipinsky" - Dalene Stull - Danville, OH
    3rd Place. "Watching Greg Louganis" - Catherine Moran - Little Rock, AR
    1st HM. "Also Ran" - Jim Barton - Huttig, AR
    2nd HM. "Tee for Four" - Henry N. Goldman - Augusta, GA
    3rd HM. "Whale Wounded by Machine Gun" - Vivian Brown - Gulf Shores, AL

8. "For Those Who Care: Award. Sponsor Sarah Fechter. Any form, subject "Compassion and/or Justice," line limit 42
    Winner. "The Antique China Cabinet" - Mary E. Halliburton - Hope Hull, AL
    Winner. "Regular Strangers" - Jerri Hardesty - Brierfield, AL
    Winner. None awarded

9. The Jonathan Smith Memorial Award. Sponsors Joe and Gail Whitten. Any form, subject "Springtime in your home state," MUST by rhymed.
    1st Place. "Alabama Spring Sonnet" - Mary E. Halliburton - Hope Hull, AL
    2nd Place. ""Arkansas spring" - Catherine Moran - Little Rock, AR
    3rd Place. "Spring Storm in Eureka Springs" - Sara Gipson - North Little Rock, AR
    1st HM. "Spring Freeze in Ohio" - Dalene Stull - Danville, OH
    2nd HM. "The Announcement Party" - Jane E. Allen - Arab, AL
    3rd HM. "Spring Parade" - Robert L. Lynn - Duluth, GA

10. Sonnet award. Sponsored by Joe and Gail Whitten Any subject, Shakespearean or Terza Rima sonnet
    1st Place. "Making love in a pick-up" " Catherine Moran " Little Rock, AR
    2nd Place. "My Father"s Retreat" " Dale Massey " Birmingham, AL
    3rd Place. "To Stand With Trees" " Kolette Montague " Centerville, UT
    1st HM. "Alabama Wedding" " Donna Jean Tennis " Montgomery, AL
    2nd HM. "On Foot, a Little Lost" " Vivian Brown " Gulf Shores, AL
    3rd HM. "After Seven Years" " Dalene Stull " Danville, OH

 

The 2009 ASPS Poet of the Year was Jerri Hardesty.

The 2008 ASPS Poet of the Year was Sarah Fechter
 

The 2004 ASPS Poet of the Year was Debbie W. Parvin .
 

2003 ASPS Book of the Year:

The ASPS Book of the Year for 2003 was WHAT THE MOON KNOWS by SUE SCALF of PRATTVILLE, AL. 

    The 2003 Book of the Year judge was Jo Ann Yeager Adkins, a founding officer of the Georgia State Poetry Society and editor of "The Reach of Song" for a number of yaers. Her prize-winning chapbook, "A Far Garden," was published by Georgia State Poetry Society in 1992. She is at present the managing editor of "The Chattahoochee Review," the literary magazine of Georgia Perimeter College in Athens.
    Adkins said of Sue Scalf's book: "There is a richness and a mix that evokes time lost and provides us with one last chance to recapture things of great value. This poet brings the reader a little closer in, shares more intimately, whether it be simply one fallen leaf or all of the leaves of an autumn in full swing." She added that she was particularly moved by "Orion: For my Father," which she stated was a truly fine poem.
 

2003 ASPS Poet of the Year:
 

The 2003 ASPS Poet of the Year was Susan Luther .
 

2002 ASPS Book of the Year:

The ASPS Book of the Year for 2002 was Blood Must Bear Your Name by Sue Walker from Mobile, Alabama. The 2002 Book of the Year judge was Ricks Carson. He said of Sue Walker's book- The winning book displays great variety while never lifting its share from the row it is plowing: the rich earth of responsibility to family and non-family alike. The book's structure moves the reader from the complexities of "personal blood" that challenge the definition of kin, through the middle ground of what I call "a woman's human blood," to a final convergence of the speaker and her "blood relation" with all sufferers. This is a very generous book. . . . to tell a story of bitterness, growth, and reconciliation helps the reader understand the ambiguous word "family.". . . the poet's sympathies with such diverse people as Van Gogh, Herbert Lee Richardson, and Zelda Fitzgerald confirm her allegiance to the world.
 

2002 ASPS Poet Of The Year:
 

The 2002 ASPS Poet of the Year was Joseph Whitten .
 

2001 ASPS Book Of The Year:

The 2001 ASPS BOOK OF THE YEAR for 2001 was When Stones Speak by Debbie W. Parvinfrom Montgomery, AL. Judge Janeen Lepp holds a Ph.D. in English and has taught for years in the Ohio state education system. She is active in the Ohio State Poetry Society and for at least three years has served on that Society's committee for selecting the Book of the Year. Dr. Lepp said this about When Stones Speak by Debbie Parvin: "I feel that this is the most consistently even book in quality and one with the widest range of themes and styles. The poems are finely crafted and often compelling. Overall the book has a distinct professional quality."
 

PREVIOUS "POET OF THE YEAR" WINNERS:

Because records are slippery rascals, and members can only be nominated for Poet of the Year once in ten years; this list will help us keep track:
 

The 2001 ASPS Poet of the Year was Virginia Gilbert .

The 2000 ASPS Poet of the Year was Evelyn Hurley .

The 1999 ASPS Poet of the Year was Barry Marks .

The 1998 ASPS Poet of the Year was Betty Spence .

The 1997 ASPS Poet of the Year was Donna Jean Tennis .

The 1996 ASPS Poet of the Year was Miriam Morris .

The 1995 ASPS Poet of the Year was John Morris .

The 1991 ASPS Poet of the Year was Frances Howell Williams .

The 1988 ASPS Poet of the Year was Ruth Halbrooks .