SPECIAL CONTESTS
Special contests are sponsored by Austin Poetry Society patrons at different times throughout the year. The winners are announced at the following meeting. Please contact us if you'd like to sponsor a special contest.
Here was the special contest in November:
THE GRATITUDE AWARD
Any form, 5 to 20 lines (including spaces between the title and/or stanzas) on the theme of gratitude or appreciation. Sponsor: Anonymous, Judge: George R Leake, III
1st Prize - "A Contentful Welcome" by Girly Bennett
2nd Prize - "Song for my Father (Frank Strahan 2013-2003)" by Bradley R Strahan
3rd Prize - "Dinnertime Thankfuls" by Thomas Smith
Honorable Mentions include:
"Imagine This Rapid-Fire Response of Sweet Thanks and Praise " by Nancy Fierstein
"Galveston, Grateful" by Amy Greenspan
"A far a small glimmer of light" by Betty Mason-Mazzu
"So Much to be Grateful For" by Jerri Hardesty
The winners were announced at our December meeting.
ANNUAL CONTESTS
These contests were sponsored by the Austin Poetry Society members and patrons. The Annual Contests were open in August 2022. The winners were announced and honored at our Annual Awards program in November 2022.
1. The Austin Poetry Society Award
Sponsor: The Austin Poetry Society
Any subject, any form, 28 line limit.
Judge: Preston Tyree
1st Prize: “Barber” by Bradley R Strahan
2nd Prize: “Could There Be Such A New Creation?” by Nancy Fierstein
3rd Prize: “Down The Hall” by Thomas Smith
4th Prize: “Aggregate Data” by Mary-Jane Philpy-Dollins
2. The President's Award
Sponsor: Garrison Martt
Subject: Courage. Any form, 20 line limit.
Judge: Garrison Martt
1st Prize: “Discarding the Grammar of War” by Jeffrey Tayor
2nd Prize: “Take The Courage To Heal On A Fresh Bed Of Roses” by Nancy Fierstein
3rd Prize: “Journey From the Start” by Thomas Smith
Honorable Mention: “Underground” by Jerri Hardesty
3. The Dillon McKinsey Award
Sponsor: Anonymous
Subject: Spirituality. Any rhyming form, 30 line limit.
Judge: Lily Luminous
1st Prize: “Aspen” by Thomas Smith
2nd Prize: “”Let Me Wait ‘Til The Next Breath Is Taken” by Nancy Fierstein
3rd Prize: “Abide” by Bradley R Strahan
Honorable Mention: “Her Dancing on the Church Roof” by Richard Jonathon Carlson
4. The Hope Award
Sponsor: Benjamin Nash
Subject: Hope. Any form, 36 line limit.
Judge: Gordon Magill
1st Prize: “Burn Beautiful” by Jerri Hardesty
2nd Prize: “Hope is not Saleable” by Bradley R Strahan
3rd Prize: “My Birthday” by Thomas Smith
Honorable Mention: “Keeping Hope Alive” by Nancy Fierstein
5. The Light and Darkness Award
Sponsor: Benjamin Nash
Subject: Light and Darkness. Any form, 36 line limit.
Judge: George R. Leake III
1st Prize: “Going Beyond” by Girly Bennett
2nd Prize: “Seasonal Sequence” by Ailanna Larson
3rd Prize: “True Enlightenment (for Barak)” by Bradley R Strahan
Honorable Mention: “Shifting Boundaries” by Jerri Hardesty
6. The Writers Award
Sponsor: Randy Lusk
Subject: Poets. Any form, 20 line limit.
Judge: David Sharpe
1st Prize: “Haiku If I Could” by Thomas Smith
2nd Prize: “One Poet Sits, Thinking Such Thinkable Things” by Nancy Fierstein
3rd Prize: “Poet Weaver” by Bradley R. Strahan
7. The Patrons Prize
Sponsor: The Austin Poetry Society
For anyone who has sponsored an APS contest this year or in the past
(include the contest name and year with your entry).
Any subject, any form, 25 line limit.
Judge: Garrison Martt
1st Prize: “The Arizona Baptism” by Sergio Elizondo-Gongora (patron 2021 & 2022)
2nd Prize: “Gray” by Benjamin Nash (patron in 2021 and 2022)
3rd Prize: “We Who Are Here” by Jeffrey Taylor (patron in 2019, 2020 and 2021)
Honorable Mention: “The Large Cardboard Box” by Thomas Smith (patron 2022)
8. Poetry in Trade
Sponsor: Sergio Elizondo
Subject: From ancient barter systems and country markets to the modern stock exchange and all manner of commerce between, people have traded goods and services for money and other items of value. Any form, 30 line limit best expressing such activities.
Judge: Lily Luminous
1st Prize: “The Doctor” by Thomas Smith
2nd Prize: “Another Gun Show Is Coming To Town
– Kids 12 And Under Get In Free!” by Nancy Fierstein
3rd Prize: “The Rover” by Jerri Hardesty
Honorable Mention: “Nightmare” by Mary-Jane Philpy-Dollins
9. World of Poetry
Sponsor: Sergio Elizondo
Subject: Journeys and Destinations. Any form, 30 line limit.
Judge: Preston Tyree
1st Prize: “The Frog Ponders Life – A Coming of Age Story” by Jerri Hardesty
2nd Prize: “Waiting” by Benjamin Nash
3rd Prize: “A Lost Traveler’s Lament” by Mary-Jane Philpy-Dollins
Honorable Mention: “This Trip’s Timing Was Insane!” Nancy Fierstein
10. The Playful Poetry Prize
Sponsor: Randy Lusk
Subject: Any light-hearted theme. Any form, 25 line limit.
Judge: Paula Cloud
1st Prize: “She Calls” by Jerri Hardesty
2nd Prize: “Please, Mr. Carnivore” by Thomas Smith
3rd Prize: “New Puppy” by Mary-Jane Philpy-Dollins
Honorable Mention: “One hot summer day” by Shubh Schiesser
11. The Last Not Least Award
Sponsors: Thomas Smith and Linda Marie Cossa
Subject: Contrasts or Paradoxes. Any form, 25 line limit.
Judge: Victor Johnson
1st Prize: “May Fresh Waters That Fall Lift Us Higher!” by Nancy Fierstein
2nd Prize: “Dilemma” by Jerri Hardesty
3rd Prize: “There once was a fellow from Natchez” by Thomas Smith
Honorable Mention: “Ministry of Encouragement” by Jeffrey Taylor
Submissions for the Annual Contests began August 1st and ended August 31st.
All current Austin Poetry Society members may enter any of the Annual Contests, however these must all be submitted at the same time. Multiple submissions per person are not allowed. One line titles do not count as lines. Any additional title lines, quotes, notes and spaces between lines count as lines. Submissions must follow the APS Annual Awards rules and sent by email to this address: austinpoetrycontest@gmail.com