FSPA 2018 POETRY CONTESTS WINNERS
Cat. 1 FSPA Free Verse Award – Subject: Any /Form: Free Verse – 73 Entries
JUDGE: LORETTA DIANE WALKER, TX
1st PL Judith Krum, FL “No Permission Needed”
2nd PL Kolette Montague, UT “Ode to a Spoon”
3rd PL Marcy Clark, FL “Twilight Sonata”
1st HM Mark Andrew J Terry, FL “When Lowing Was New”
2nd HM Teresa Bruce, FL “When Grandma Pared the Way”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “Let There Be”
Cat. 2 FSPA Formal Verse Award – Subject: Any / Form: Formal Verse – 47 Entries
JUDGE: DAVID RUTIEZER, OR
1st PL Joyce Shiver, FL “The Lonely One”
2nd PL LaVern Spencer McCarthy, OK “The Price of My Tomato”
3rd PL John F. Foster, FL “Bedside”
1st HM Mark Andrew J Terry, FL “On Politics”
2nd HM Catherine Moran, AR “Breaking the laws”
3rd HM Elaine Person, FL “Sonnet 2016 Within”
Cat. 3 Joseph A. Cavanaugh, Sr. Memorial– Subject: Ireland / Form: Any – 17 Entries
JUDGE: GAIL DENHAM, OR
1st PL Judith Krum, FL “Blame the Lumper”
2nd PL Barbara Blanks, TX “Charmed, I’m Sure”
3rd PL Betty Kossick, FL “A Part of My DNA”
1st HM Tina Thornton, FL “Soul of Ireland”
2nd HM Dargan M. Ware, AL “The Imagination of an Insurrection”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “How the Leprechauns Bambozzled Us–A Twenty-First
Century Folktale”
Cat. 4 LT. George Birkner Memorial Award – Subject: Patriotism (USA or State)
Form: Any ─ 26 Entries
JUDGE: JANET QUALLY, TN
1st PL Mark Andrew J Terry, FL “No Wings”
2nd PL Carolynn J. Scully, FL “One Nation Under God”
3rd PL Janet Watson, FL “To Our Star-Spangled Banner”
1st HM B. J. Alligood, FL “Shadow Soldiers”
2nd HM Crystie Cook, UT “For Your Country’s Sake”
3rd HM Suzanne S. Austin-Hill, FL “Tea for the Red, White & Blue”
Cat. 5 Christopher Marlowe Blank Verse Award – Subject: Any / Form: Blank Verse
24 – Entries
JUDGE: KEVIN T. MCENEANEY, NY
1st PL Becky Alexander, Canada “Brambleberry Days”
2nd PL Mark Andrew J Terry, FL “Wewahotee’s Wreath”
3rd PL Leslie C. Halpern, FL “Autumn Feast”
1st HM Crystie Cook, UT “For Loons Which Leave Another World Behind”
2nd HM Judith Krum, FL “Rejoice to the Sound of the Pipes”
3rd HM Kolette Montague, UT “The Pumpkin Eaters”
Cat. 6 Edna& Walter Redemann Memorial Award– Subject: First Responders/Form: Any
JUDGE: SUSAN STEVENS CHAMBERS, MN — 17 Entries
1st PL Janet Watson, FL “Keeping the Peace”
2nd PL Leslie Halpern, FL “We’re All Diabetics at Death”
3rd PL Jerri Hardesty, AL “Everyday Heroes”
1st HM JC Kato, FL “There and Back”
2nd HM Teresa TL Bruce, FL “Fearless Response”
3rd HM Catherine Moran, AR “All those first reactions”
Cat. 7 The Crescendo Award – Subject: A response to hearing a musical performance /
Form: Any – 31 Entries
JUDGE: DORIS STENGEL, MN
1st PL Robert Blenheim, FL “J. B. is Either Bach or a Good Whiskey”
2nd PL G. Kyra von Brokoph, FL “Haydn at Dayton’s Racetrack”
3rd PL Judith Krum, FL “Gwahoddiad – 8,000 Voices: A Nation Sings”
1st HM Joe Perrone, FL“A Funny Role for a Funny Lady”
2nd HM Nancy Cook, MN “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”
3rd HM Barbara Blanks, TX “The Seduction”
Cat. 8 Library Appreciation Award – Subject: Libraries in general or a specific library/
Form: Any – 25 Entries
JUDGE: LUCILLE WILSON, IA
1st PL Beth Staas, IL “City Library 1935”
2nd PL Catherine Moran, AR– “Library Attraction”
3rd PL Dr. Emory D. Jones, MS “Scholasticus Mortalis”
1st HM Judith Krum, FL “The Pack Horse Librarians of the Great Depression”
2nd HM Meg Roman, FL “The People’s University”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “The Book Palace”
Cat. 9 Listening Award – Subject: Listening / Form: Any – 34 Entries
JUDGE: KATHRYN E. CLEMENT, AZ
1st PL Nancy Cook, MN “Night Noises”
2nd PL Troy Kody Cunio, FL “You’re Listening to Echoes on NPR”
3rd PL Beth Staas, IL “Folk Music”
1st HM John F. Foster, FL “Experiment in Priorities”
2nd HM Diane Neff, FL Haiku
3rd HM Jill Jennings, FL “Six O’Clock Symphony”
Cat. 10 O Hapa Days Award – Subject: A mixed race/heritage/cultural observation or
experience / Form: Any – 17 Entries
JUDGE: BARBARA BLANKS, TX
1st PL Beth Stass, IL “Open House”
2nd PL John F. Foster, FL “People Mover”
3rd PL Janet Watson, FL “Friendship at Cross Creek”
─No Honorable Mentions
Cat. 11 Henrietta & Mark Kroah Founders Award – Subject: Wedding / Form: Any
– 23 Entries
JUDGE: JEREMY DOWNES, AL
1st PL Barbara Blanks, TX “Christopher’s Vows”
2nd PL Leslie C. Halpern, FL “Dressing Down”
3rd PL Robyn Weinbaum, FL “Annalissa’s Ring”
1st HM Lynn Schifforst, FL “A Country Wedding”
2nd HM Janet Watson, FL “Why I Cry at Weddings”
3rd HM Joyce Shiver, FL “The Rainbow”
Cat. 12 Past Presidents Award – Subject: Answers / Form: Any – 22 Entries
JUDGE: JEANETTE C. MAES, MA
1st PL Barbara Blanks, TX “12 Hours in the Emergency Room”
2nd PL Janet Watson, FL “Who Wants a Piano?”
3rd PL John F. Foster, FL “Scarecrow”
1st HM Barbara Hart, FL “Night With No Parties”
2nd HM Robert E. Blenheim, FL “The Age of Mysteries”
3rd HM Peter M. Gordon, FL “My Therapist Told Me to Change My Socks”
Cat. 13 The Poet’s Vision Award – Subject: Any / Form: Any – 48 Entries
JUDGE: LISA TOTH SALINAS, TX
1st PL Troy Kody Cunio, FL “Wishing Well”
2nd PL Barbara Blanks, TX “Woe! to Faux”
3rd PL Catherine Moran, AR “Touching through the years”
1st HM B. J. Alligood, FL “Internal Incandescence”
2nd HM Janet Watson, FL “The Next Moment”
3rd HM Teresa TL Bruce, FL “Retailored Image”
Cat. 14 Storm Award – Subject: A Storm / Form: Any
– 38 Entries
JUDGE: BUDD POWELL MAHAN, TX
1st PL Trina Lee, OK “Spring Storm”
2nd PL Marcy Clark, FL “Humane Society Volunteers 1993”
3rd PL Sara Gipson, AR “Spring Storms”
1st HM Janice Canerdy, MS “Angel in the Storm”
2nd HM Dargan M. Ware, AL “Voyeur”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “Determined Irma”
Cat. 15 LaVaughn Hess Memorial Award – Subject: Family / Form: Haiku – 28 Entries
JUDGE: ERIC H. READ, UT
1st PL Greg Schwartz, MD
2nd PL John F. Foster, FL
3rd PL Jody Wolf, FL
1st HM Judith Krum, FL
2nd HM Diane Neff, FL
3rd HM Barbara Blanks, TX
Cat. 16 Sunshine Poets Award –Subject: Humor / Form: Rhymed & Metered – 34
Entries
JUDGE: ANN CAROLYN CATES, MS
1st PL Lynn Schiffhorst, FL “All Hallows Evening”
2nd PL Jerri Hardesty AL “Ta-da”
3rd PL Cheryl Licata, FL “Lost Lake”
1st HM Suzanne S. Austin-Hill, FL “The Throne”
2nd HM Joyce Shiver, FL “Why Poets Don’t Get Rich”
3rd HM Janet Watson, FL “Blessings in Disguise”
Cat. 17 The Petrarchan Sonnet Award– Subject: Any / Form: Petrarchan – 17 Entries
JUDGE: WARREN JONES, IN
1st PL Janet Watson, FL “Romance at the Renaissance Fair”
2nd PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL “So They Say”
3rd PL John F. Foster, FL “Fine Dining”
1st HM Judith Krum, FL “The Only Recourse”
2nd HM Crystie Cook, UT “What Dunluce Castle Defines”
3rd HM Don Cosat, FL “Detachment”
Cat. 18 Willard B. Foster Memorial Award – Subject: A Religious Theme/ Form: Any
–45 Entries
JUDGE: SARA GIPSON, AR
1st PL Janet Watson, FL “All the Empty Houses”
2nd PL Holly Mandelkern, FL “Words on Stone”
3rd PL Kolette Montague, UT “Like Fallen Sparrows”
1st HM Barbara Blanks, TX “Listen, Kids”
2nd HM Lynn Schiffhorst, FL “Holy Hour”
3rd HM Trina Lee, OK “The Holy City”
Cat. 19 The Peace Award – Subject: Peace / Form: Any – 25 Entries
JUDGE: BARRY S. MARKS, AL
1st PL Janet Watson, FL “Connected by Birth”
2nd PL Nancy Cook, MN “Your Gift”
3rd PL Holly Mandelkern, FL “Berry Picking”
1st HM Dr. Emory D. Jones, MS “Morning Miracle”
2nd HM Judith Krum, FL “One Wind”
─No 3rd Place Honorable Mention
Cat. 20 The Live Poets Award– Subject: The Dark Side / Form: Any – 44 Entries
JUDGE: DARLEEN BUTLER, IN
1st PL Nina Heiser, FL “What is Dark Matter to You?”
2nd PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL “Total Eclipse of the Sun”
3rd PL Crystie Cook, UT “Coal Miners Remembered in Lanarkshire, Scotland”
1st HM Nick Sweet, TX “The Cobbler”
2nd HM Judith Krum, FL “Lamentation for Aleppo”
3rd HM Barbara Blanks, TX “In My Defense”
Cat. 21 June Owens Memorial Award – Subject: “Lines from a Summer/ Form: Any
-22 Entries
JUDGE: KOLETTE MONTAGUE, UT
1st PL Janet Watson, FL “Summer in Alsace”
2nd PL Crystie Cook, UT “How Often Summer Stretches”
3rd PL Becky Alexander, Canada “Summer Paths”
1st HM Joanne Vandegrift, FL “Some “Er Knights”
2nd HM Barbara Blanks, TX “Hounding the Muse”
3rd HM Lynn Schiffhorst, FL “A Summer’s Day”
Cat. 22 Miami Poets Award – Subject: Aging/ Form: Any – 54 Entries
JUDGE: EMERY CAMPBELL, GA
1st PL John F. Foster, FL “To A Old Curmudgeon”
2nd PL Peter M. Gordon, FL “Born in a Trunk”
3rd PL Trina Lee, OK “Diagnosis”
1st HM Chris Flocken, FL “Aging”
2nd HM Barbara Hart, FL “Aging”
3rd HM Jill Jennings, FL “Ambulation”
Cat. 23 Tomoka Poets Award – Subject: What did you say? / Form: Any – 21 Entries
JUDGE: SHARON BURRIS, OK
1st PL Dr. Emory D. Jones, MS “Barbaric Yawp”
2nd PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL “They Go Halfway Round the World While it’s Putting
on its Shoes”
3rd PL Peter M. Gordon, FL “Her Text Read “You’re Great but I’m Getting Back with
my EX. I Enjoyed Our Time Together.” ”
1st HM Jerri Hardesty, AL, “Agree to Disagree”
2nd HM Teresa TL Bruce, FL, “Communication Gap”
3rd HM Nancy Hauptle MacInnis, FL “What Did You Say?”
Cat. 24 Kate Kennedy Memorial Award – Subject: The Mississippi River/ Form: Any
– 16 Entries
JUDGE: NANCY SUSANNA BREEN, OH
1st PL Mark Andrew J Terry, FL “Sweet Sally Grey”
2nd PL Diane Neff, FL – “Mississippi Mariner”
3rd PL Jerri Hardesty, AL “Mississippi Musing”
1st HM Dr. Emory D. Jones, MS “Soul Song”
2nd HM Jane Peterson, FL “The Great Muddy”
3rd HM LaVern Spencer McCarthy, OK “She Flows in Splender”
Cat. 25 Verna Thornton Memorial Award – Subject: Any / Form: Any – 39 Entries
JUDGE: TIEL AISHA ANSARI, OR
1st PL Peter M. Gordon, FL “Pleather”
2nd PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL, “Alone in a Twilight”
3rd PL Tony Kody Cunio, FL “daffodil”
1st HM Janet Watson, FL “The Day the World Ended”
2nd HM Dargan M. Ware, AL “Late in the Season for Pandas”
3rd HM Jill Jennings, FL “Four Corners of the Table”
Cat. 26 Hope at Hand Award – Subject: Hope / Form: Any – 29 Entries
JUDGE: CHRIS BOLDT, TX
1st PL Barbara Blanks, TX “Jubilation”
2nd PL Dargan M. Ware, AL – “Who Hopes for What Is Seen?”
3rd PL Meg Roman, FL “Refresh”
1st HM John Foster, FL Haiku
2nd HM Elaine Person, FL Haiku
3rd HM Gail Denham, OR “Need a Lift?”
Cat. 27 P. H. (Patti) Hannaway Memorial Award – Subject: Any / Form: Any – 37
Entries
JUDGE: BILL REYER, OH
1st PL Robert E. Blenheim, FL “Grandma’s Secret”
2nd PL Dargan M. Ware, AL “Waiting”
3rd PL Peter M. Gordon, FL “Custer’s Scouts”
1st HM Marie Burdett, FL Haiku”
2nd HM Sara Gipson, AR “Forfeiting Time”
3rd HM Suzanne S. Austin-Hill, FL “Between Here and the Hereafter”