2022 PSI Members-Only Annual Spring Fling Poetry Contest
Each year as part of our Spring Fling event, we offer our paid members the opportunity to compete in a members-only poetry contest, judged by our Premier Poet. The winners are announced during our annual Spring Fling event.
Sarah E. Morin is the 2022 Premier Poet. The 2022 members-only contest was an Ekphrastic contest, and so included an Image submissions portion and then an Ekphrastic Poetry portion. Many of our PSI poet members submitted original artwork images as well as entering the poetry portion of the contest.
Sarah E. Morin is the 2022 Premier Poet. The 2022 members-only contest was an Ekphrastic contest, and so included an Image submissions portion and then an Ekphrastic Poetry portion. Many of our PSI poet members submitted original artwork images as well as entering the poetry portion of the contest.
Congratulations to Nancy Simmonds, Winner of our
2022 PSI Members-Only Spring Fling Ekphrastic Contest
Images Portion
Ekphrastic poems explore, engage with, and describe a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other form of visual art.
Nancy's piece was selected to inspire our members.
She wins $25 and her work will be published in our next edition
of Ink to Paper.
Congratulations to the Winners of the Poetry Portion
of our Members-Only Spring Fling Contest!
1st Place - Alys Caviness-Gober (Fake News)
2nd Place - Mary A. Couch (Collage of Life)
3rd Place - Collaborative Poem by JAC, B. Monét & Z. Rose (Stuck)
HM1 - Rachel Wright (Alice)
HM2 - Morgan Galvan (Hunger for Adventure)
HM3 - Joe Ottinger (A Classic Lady)
Read the winning poems in full, below.
All submissions were ekphrastic poems in response to Nancy Simmonds's image, D'une Femme au Chapeau.
First, second, and third place poems will be published in Ink to Paper, along with Nancy's winning image.
Many excellent images and poems were submitted. It was a joy to review them. CONGRATS to the winners!
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Fake News
Tissue-paper page from a spidery-handwritten journal crinkles softly like a warm Summer breeze scented by my garden’s parfum – an extrait concentré infused by mushrooms and roses – dabbled together with dulled remnants of ancient yet ageless textiles mingling with a sketch of an old camera and obligatory typeset pithy feminista phrase complementing a sepia photograph – a soaring chapeau riddled with daisies and a flamboyant ribbon (with a life of its own), and worn by a woman with a Mona Lisa smile that hints at the joke of it all, as if she knows it’s a put-up job, fake news, a Pinterest collage of contemporary scrappings fabricated to craft a harmonious tale as if from times of yore and faraway places, echoing like a warm Summer breeze drifting around on stickers of butterfly wings, but those IKEA pillows give it away before the punchline. |
Collage of Life
That poster-board upon the wall menagerie remains which sing her collage tale to one and all From birth to death, a bouncing ball, each piece a butterfly with wing that poster-board upon the wall A ticket, and some cloth quite small along with photo of her fling her collage tale to one and all It shows the journey of her fall to rags from richest golden bling that poster-board upon the wall The deeds she did before the pall shroud her, and left this memory thing her collage tale to one and all To those now left who get the call remembrance is all it will bring that poster-board upon the wall her collage tale to one and all |
3rd Place - Collaborative Poem by JAC, B. Monét & Z. Rose (Stuck) |
HM1 - Rachel Wright (Alice) |
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Stuck
tossed in the corner, kept away in a bottle crumpled corners, floating like thoughts in water bones shift, joints begin to rattle her voice, comfort in language she meant no harm with the secret, flying off the page lift your chin, plush beyond belief scents soaked into sewn seams so carefully lush beyond black and white film's novelty surrounding those tender petaled wings, bloomy glancing ahead, blinking beyond belief while showing what's between she kept her word, in youthful certainty bestow frozen forever, gliding as memories grow lay awake, dissipate slow at least speak with wisdom, smile |
Alice
by Rachel Wright Where do I begin the story of Alice? A pin, broken necklace, kerchief She always wore a lace collar embroidered one Tatted by Anah The photo – so stern, so young It labels strength Not tenderness and forgiveness Not a pageant queen or a debutante Only Alice, just dear Alice, Then a new face The plague, devastation, shock A scar pocked smallpox face Weak, never the same Someone to protect Buttons and bows, yellowed scraps of history Torn newspaper clippings Flowers cut from the catalog The camera, the black camera She the preserver, not the progenitor The Better Homes and Garden aunt Children’s books by the dozen My favorite book of the dolls hanging upside down On the line by their cloth toes Drying in the hot sun Could she marry the divorced man with two children who would make a home for her Mom and dad said no not now, not in this home not in these times Fifty years in the magazine factory A watch engraved with her name A promise chest for others of sewn cloth, cards, and words She the preserver, not the progenitor Will she be remembered? Kind, good, gentle and true She wanted to go to Paris She wanted to be a travel and take pictures Maybe in another time, another place |
HM2 - Morgan Galvan (Hunger for Adventure)Hunger for Adventure
by Morgan Galvan Adventure in her blood Excitement in her steps She pushes pillows Of comfort away Promising to return And with hope in her veins She sets out On mystic waters Deep, cerulean blue Tumultuous waves Spraying icy droplets On her face But even the longest storms Don’t keep her at bay Persevering with joy, Reaching huddled humid trees She tastes the forest’s treasures Breathing in, the fullness Of freedom her travels win At last she pauses Taking in Mushroom scents And rose petals huddled In clusters among the trees The sites taking the edge Off her hunger for new She musters the courage To keep her word And return Home |
HM3 - Joe Ottinger (A Classic Lady)A Classic Lady
by Joe Ottinger What is one to make of it, This lovely collage, That documents a life well lived? The focal point a photograph-- A young woman tastefully attired, Overall conservative except for a hat Capturing Edwardian lavishness of the day. Its ample brim supports a profusion Of floral and ribboned excess That is likely scented with Une touche de parfum français. Her face a study of pleasant countenance, The quiet lips; the steadfast eyes, A lovely image of patient reserve. And there a letter hard to decipher; Its content one can only guess-- Perhaps a missive from a soldier lover Who, sadly, would never be coming back. One may surmise she had good taste Possessing secrets of an abundant life, Surrounded by resplendent fabrics Used for furnishings and tapestries. Two butterflies and a floral print, Possible accents to her decor Or maybe emblems of a flowering garden Where her labors were of love. The mystery of the pictured camera And the phrase “She kept her word.” A motto for her life perhaps, Captured objectively through a lens. And last, the print of gilded mushrooms. One ponders what it means. Might they arise each autumn season To consecrate and adorn A classic lady’s simple grave? |
Congratulations to all the winners!
For information about our winners from past Spring Fling poetry contests, click here.