FSPA 2019 CONTEST WINNERS
Cat. 1 FSPA Free Verse Award – Subject: Any /Form: Free Verse – 80 Entries
JUDGE: JOAN HOWERTON, TN
1st PL Betty Ann Whitney, FL “Modern Dance”
2nd PL Janet Watson, FL “She, Inside a Pitcher Plant”
3rd PL Rita Aiken Moritz, AL“A Heart in Conflict”
1st HM Barbara Blanks, TX “Battle of Verdun”
2nd HM Jeanette Willert, AL “Thinking of Patsy Cline”
3rd HM Norma Duncan, FL “The Blue Dress”
Cat. 2 FSPA Formal Verse Award – Subject: Any / Form: Formal Verse – 64 Entries
JUDGE: NANCY SUSANNA BREEN, OH
1st PL John F. Foster, FL “Without The Birds”
2nd PL Rita Aiken Moritz, AL “Come and Taste the Seeds of New Creation”
3rd PL Judith Krum, FL “From Darkened Mills”
1st HM Susan Stahr, FL “Sonnet 43.5- A Chubby Parody”
2nd HM Joyce Shriver, FL “The Banjo Man”
3rd HM Mark Andrew James Terry, FL “Beneath a Knowing Moon”
Cat. 3 The Crescendo Award – Subject: A response to hearing a musical performance / Form: Any – 35 Entries
JUDGE: JON SEBBA, UT
1st PL Carlton Johnson, FL “The Mission”
2nd PL Susan Stahr, FL “Fire in the Strings”
3rd PL Diane Neff, FL “Overture to Tannhӓuser”
1st HM Andrea McBride, FL “Sonata”
2nd HM Cheryl A. Van Meek, FL “Sheet Music”
3rd HM Robert E. Blenheim, FL “Dancing with Elektra”
Cat. 4 Listening Award – Subject: Listening / Form: Any ─ 51 Entries
JUDGE: JEANETTE MAES, MA
1st PL Elaine Person, FL “My Father’s Ears”
2nd PL Joyce Shiver, FL “Silence of the Night”
3rd PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL “Not With A Bang Or A Whimper But A Song”
1st HM Beth Staas, IL “Winter’s Hush”
2nd HM Beverly Stanislawski, IN “Just the Sound of It”
3rd HM B. Shawn Clark, FL “The Voice”
Cat. 5 Tomoka Poets Award – Subject: At the Beach / Form: Any – 48 Entries
JUDGE: VELVET FACKELDEY, NM
1st PL Catherine Moran, AR “Savoring the Sand”
2nd PL Pat Bonner Milone, FL “Storm Warning”
3rd PL Carolynn J. Scully, FL “Playing at the Beach”
1st HM Janet Watson, FL “As Our Beach Vacation Ends”
2nd HM John Foster, FL “Beach Ballet”
3rd HM Beverly Stanislawski, IN “Beach Buddies”
Cat. 6 Creative Happiness along with Tomoka Poets Award– Subject: Creative Happiness/Form: Any − 37 Entries
JUDGE: JANET QUALLY, TN
1st PL Cheryl A. Van Beek, FL “Feat of Clay”
2nd PL Catherine Moran, AR “A Poetic Kind of Love”
3rd PL Sarah E. Morin, IN “Architect of the Bakery”
1st HM John F. Foster, FL “Rowboat”
2nd HM Barbara Blanks, TX “Imaginary State”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “To Mary Oliver”
Cat. 7 Willard B. Foster Memorial Award – Subject: Any Sport/ Form: Any – 30
Entries
JUDGE: KEITH A.F. SKILLING, IL
1st PL Alice R. Friedman, FL “I Don’t Do Sports”
2nd PL Sara Gipson, AR “Sudden Changes”
3rd PL Diane Neff, FL “Physical Education Class”
1st HM Leslie C. Halpern, FL “Match”
2nd HM Dr. Emory D. Jones, MS “Rounders”
3rd HM Beth Staas, IL “Playing Marbles”
Cat. 8 Orlando Area Poets Award – Subject: Theme Parks and Attractions/ Form: Any
–26 Entries
JUDGE: JEREMY DOWNES, AL
1st PL Suzanne S. Austin-Hill, FL “First Time I Set Foot In Florida Circa 1959”
2nd PL Nancy Simmonds, IN “Bedtime Prayers After a First Kiss”
3rd PL Peter M. Gordon, FL “Bumper Cars”
1st HM Robyn Weinbaum, FL “Sept 13 2001”
2nd HM Janet Watson, FL “A Wild Time at Fort Wilderness”
3rd HM Tonya R. Whitney, LA “The Unhappiest Place”
Cat. 9 Jean Owens Memorial Award – Subject: “Tree Line” / Form: Any – 41 Entries
JUDGE: CHRISTY WHITE, AZ
1st PL Nancy Simmonds, IN “Bargaining with the Rear View Mirror”
2nd PL JC Kato, FL “Grief”
3rd PL Van S. Bourland, TX “Markers”
1st HM Diane Neff, FL “Lessons from the Pando Clone”
2nd HM Connie Goodman-Milone, FL, A Haiku
3rd HM Frank Yanni, FL “Our Live Oak”
Cat. 10 The Poet’s Vision Award – Subject: Any/Form: Any – 53 Entries
JUDGE: NANCY LA CHANCE, MO
1st PL Barbara Blanks, TX “Two Travelers”
2nd PL BJ Alligood, FL “Drought Relief”
3rd PL JC Kato, FL “Raise Eyes”
1st HM Joanne Vandegrift, FL “Kindred Hands”
2nd HM Sonja Jean Craig, FL “Airy Fairy
3rd HM Beverly A. Joyce, FL “That Burst of Inspiration”
Cat. 11 New River Poets Award (In Honor of Our Deceased Members) – Subject:
Any / Form: Any – 43 Entries
JUDGE: IDA KOTYUK, IL
1st PL Joanne Vandegrift, FL “Daily Harvest”
2nd PL Cheryl A. Van Beek, FL “The Poet’s Legacy”
3rd PL Mark Andrew James Terry, FL “Beneath a Buck-Eye’s Bough”
1st HM Janet Watson, FL “Passing the Tree Farm”
2nd HM Carlton Johnson, FL “The Uncommon”
3rd HM Betty Ann Whitney, FL “Woman Writing a Letter”
Cat. 12 The Petrarchan Sonnet Award – Subject: Any / Form: Petrarchan– 22
Entries
JUDGE: JILL ANGEL LANGLOIS, IL
1st PL Robyn Weinbaum, FL “The Ice Floes”
2nd PL Janet Watson, FL “Neil Armstrong’s Lunar Longing”
3rd PL Mark Andrew James Terry, FL “Plea to Petrarch”
1st HM Diane Neff, FL “Bull Rider Prayer”
2nd HM Catherine Moran, AR “Permission from the Rain”
3rd HM Joanne Vandegrift, FL “Soundscape”
Cat. 13 Humor Award – Subject: Humor / Form: Rhymed and Metered – 45 Entries
JUDGE: LENNART LUNDH, IL
1st PL Marilyn Hayden, FL “Seasodal Poeb”
2nd PL John F. Foster, FL “Bed Bath (and Beyond)”
3rd PL Holly Mandelkern, FL “Anesthetic Visions”
1st HM Joanne Vandegrift, FL “I Won’t Ask Moses”
2nd HM Diane Neff, FL “Dear Student, From Your Gym Teacher”
3rd HM Joyce Shiver, FL “Who Stole the Peanuts?”
Cat. 14 The Live Poets Award – Subject: The Dark Side / Form: Any – 50 Entries
JUDGE: RAFAEL LANTIGUA MEDINA, IL
1st PL Carlton Johnson, FL “Darkness”
2nd PL Elaine Person, FL “Death Watch”
3rd PL Judith Krum, FL “Is the water safe?”
1st HM Cheryl A. Van Beek, FL “Crochet”
2nd HM Janet Watson, FL “Dark Night of a Soul”
3rd HM Mary Ellen Orvis, FL “Poets of Suicide”
Cat. 15 Miami Poets Award – Subject: Our Environment / Form: Any– 36 Entries
JUDGE: GAIL DENHAM, OR
1st PL Betty Ann Whitney, FL “The Nature of Things”
2nd PL Patricia Barnes, MI “Flow”
3rd PL Meg Roman, FL “Spring Sound”
1st HM Janet Watson, FL “Blessed Are the Meek”
2nd HM Connie Goodman-Malone, FL, A Haiku
3rd HM Nancy Cook, MN “Fragments of a Writer’s Retreat in the Woods”
Cat. 16 Kate Kennedy Memorial Award –Subject: Moving On / Form: Any – 52
Entries
JUDGE: LYNDA LA ROCCA, CO
1st PL LaVern Spencer McCarthy, OK “Grandpa’s New Life”
2nd PL Rita Aiken Moritz AL “Enjoying This One Life I Have to Live”
3rd PL Patricia Barnes, MI “Going Home”
1st HM Barbara Blanks, TX “A Fool and Her Honey Are Soon Parted”
2nd HM Diane Neff, FL “Leaving Home”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “Metamorphosis”
Cat. 17 Weinbaum/Glidden Award– Subject: Issues and Concerns Faced by the
LGBTQ Community and Those Who Love Them/Form: Any – 16 Entries
JUDGE: DAVID RUTIEZER, OR
1st PL Peter M. Gordon, FL “I Learned in College My Best Friend was Gay”
2nd PL John F. Foster, FL Haiku
3rd PL Leslie C. Halpern, FL “Layers”
1st HM Nancy Cook, MN “Forbearance”
2nd HM Patricia Barnes, MI “The Gift of Patience with One’s Self”
3rd HM Barbara Blanks, TX “Wedding Bell Triumph”
Cat. 18 Henrietta & Mark Kroah Founders Award – Wedding/ Form: Any
34 Entries
JUDGE: JENENE RAVESLOOT, IL
1st PL Mark Andrew James Terry, FL “The Metal of Rings”
2nd PL Judith Krum, FL “To Have and to Hold”
3rd PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL “The Reward of Obstinacy”
1st HM Mark Hudson, IL “The Wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert”
2nd HM Joyce Shiver, FL “The Rainbow”
3rd HM Beverly Stanislawski, IN “Something Blue”
Cat. 19 Past Presidents Award – Subject: Answers / Form: Any – 48 Entries
JUDGE: DEBORAH PETERSON, IN
1st PL Cyndee Levy, FL “The Easy Way”
2nd PL Teresa TL Bruce, FL “Please…”
3rd PL Cheryl A. Van Beek, FL “Found in Translation”
1st HM Betty Ann Whitney, FL “The Woodcarver’s Reply”
2nd HM Lorraine Jeffery, UT “Uncurtained”
3rd HM Jeanette Willert, AL “Changing the Ending”
The Contests:
#1 FSPA FREE VERSE A WARD
Subject: Any. Fonn: Free Verse.
1 Page Limit.
1st PL $100. 2nd PL $75. 3rd PL $50. 3HM
Entry fee $2 per poem, limit 2 poems.
Sponsored by FSP A, Inc.
#2 FSPA FORMAL VERSE AWARD
Subject: Any. Fonn: Formal Verse. (Include form name at top of page.)
1 Page Limit.
1st PL $100. 2nd PL $75. 3rd PL $50. 3HM
Entry fee $2 per poem, limit 2 poems.
Sponsored by FSP A, Inc.
#3 THE CRESCENDO AWARD
Subject: A response to hearing a musical performance.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $50. 2nd PL $35. 3rd PL $15. 3 HM
Sponsored by Judith and Randall Krum
#4 LISTENING AWARD
Subject: Listening.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit
1st PL $50. 2nd PL $25. 3rd PL $15. 3 HM
Sponsored by Linda Eve Diamond
#5 TOMOKA POETS AWARD
Subject: At the Beach Form: Any.
40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Tomoka Poets
# 6 CREATIVE HAPPINESS ALONG WITH TOM OKA POETS AWARD
Subject: Creative Happiness.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Creative Happiness Institute and Tomoka Poets
# 7 WILLARD B. FOSTER MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Any Sport.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by John F. Foster
# 8 ORLANDO AREA POETS AWARD
Subject: Theme Parks and Attractions.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Orlando Area Poets
#9 JUNE OWENS MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: “Tree Line.”
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
Note: This is the title of one of June’s poems. Poets may interpret it as they wish.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by New River Poets
#10 THE POET’S VISION AWARD
Subject: Any.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Janet Watson
#11 NEW RIVER POETS AWARD
(In Honor of our Deceased Members)
Subject: Any.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by New River Poets
#12 THE PETRARCHAN SONNET AWARD
Subject: Any.
Form: Petrarchan. 14 Lines.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HM
Sponsored by Joyce Shiver
#13 HUMOR AWARD
Subject: Humor
Form: Rhymed & Metered
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Sunshine Poets
#14 THE LIVE POETS AWARD
Subject: The Dark Side.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Live Poets Society of Daytona Beach
#15 MIAMI POETS AWARD
Subject: Our Environment.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Miami Poets
#16 KATE KENNEDY MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Moving On.
Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by B. J Alligood
#17 WEINBAUM/GLIDDEN AWARD
Subject: Issues and Concerns Faced by the LGBTQ Community and Those Who Love Them. Form: Any. 50 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Robyn Weinbaum
#18 HENRIETTA & MARK KROAH FOUNDERS AWARD
(Free to FSPA Members)
Subject: Wedding. Form: Any.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by FSP A, Inc
#19 PAST PRESIDENTS AWARD
Subject: Answers. Form: Any
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HM
Sponsored by Past Presidents of FSPA