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2014

The judge for our kick-off year was Ann Struthers.  Ann earned a BA from Morningside College in Sioux City and an MA and a PhD in modern letters from the University of Iowa. Struthers is the author of four collections of poetry, including What You Try to Tame (2004) and Stoneboat (1989). She has received Fulbright fellowships to Syria and Sri Lanka. Currently the writer-in-residence and a visiting professor of English at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Struthers has also taught at the University of Northern Iowa.

Ann had a few words to pass on to this year's entrants.  She said:  

In reading the contest poems I was struck by the heartfelt tone of so many.  I understood the feelings behind these poems, and wished that there were some special prize that would ease the heartache of these writers.  Moreover, in reading so many, I was impressed with all the work that so many poets had done--yes, writing is work, enjoyable, but work.

Of course, not every poem could have a prize, so here are some of the qualities I look for in good poems:
  •      imaginative use of language
  •      metaphor
  •      image
  •      importance of subject
  •      Has the poet made the subject NEW? 
  •      close observation


I would also like to add that the poets need to read contemporary poets.  I suggest reading the poems in THE NEW YORKER, THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW, and POETRY and FLYWAY.  THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW is edited at the University of Northern Iowa and FLYWAY at Iowa State University.  Although the reader may not like or connect with all the poems, it is important to know what is going on in the world of poetry.  Of course, the poets should read many poets, the classical ones, especially for background. 
____________

Thank you, Dr. Struthers, for gifting us with your expertise for this inaugural project!

So without further ado:

Winners

First place winner:  Marian Kaplun Shapiro for "Drowning Without Water." (see poem below)

Second place winner:  Sharon Fedor for "#1 After Emily Dickinson" (see poem below)

Honorable Mentions:

Sonja Johanson - "A Spear of Sanctified Hyssop" (see poem below)

Neil Carpathios - "Don't Blame"

Lois Marie Harrod - "The Spineless"

Neil P. Brothers - "Father's Day"

Laura D. Weeks - "A Hand by Any Other Name"

Julie Wenglinski - "Triangulation"

Claire Keyes - "A Note to Myself"

Jennifer Hu - "Woman: The Revelation"

Cassandra Labairon - "Prairie Homecoming - The Storm"

Teddy Norris - "Pillars of Salt"

Winning Poems

Drowning Without Water

by Marian Kaplun Shapiro




Drowning without water is

like falling

asleep. Everyone can do it.




Does. Survival, however, calls for

subtle skill

to be cultivated carefully.




Those who master it

often think

it just came naturally




like crawling, without

model or

mentor demonstrating




the techniques. Like singing

in tune. But

it's more like whistling.




You have to pay attention

and practice, usually

in secret, until




you get the hang

of it.


#1 After Emily Dickinson

by Sharon Fedor




My Reach --- is longer than your Miles ---

     So --- should you place your boot ---

Beyond the Equatorial ---

     No freedom --- will take root ---




My Reach is deeper than a well ---

     Without --- a bottom stone ---

So --- should you lean and look and fall ---

     Still never will --- alone ---




My Reach is Hungry-Hearted heavy ---

     No Thing will satisfy ---

Till --- twisting round --- Encircling ---

     Embracing you --- Close I


A Spear of Sanctified Hyssop

by Sonja Johanson




A frugal year could lift you

through the crown of your hat.




You would be willing to stand

discipline, you would lavish




charity on the wrong men, point

thoughtfully at the flask when




whiskey made them open up.

Well or ill, you would lie like




a pickpocket, sing like a rain-

crow clanking a copper-bell.




With your meditative cast of mind,

you would not need anything




so coarse and selfish as a world.


[Found poem, source text H.L. Davis’s “Honey in the Horn”]
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