From the Desk of 
Amy Jo Zook

FIRST PLACE
Phyllis Lee Sebring, OH

2017 OPD SPECIAL AWARD

Mothers of Prodigals

The mothers of prodigals
are planning a picnic.
(No children allowed)

We will wear bright colors
and shoes fit for dancing. 

Our food will be happy-food.
Potato salad, deep-fried chicken,
chocolate cake and melon balls.
NO fruit of the vine.
NO bread of sorrows.

Our chatting will be happy-talk.
Flowers and fashion,
cherry lip gloss,
and a good pie crust.
Certain phrases are prohibited.
           going crazy
                      had all I can take
           worried to death
                      breaking my heart
And especially,

The Lord giveth. The Lord taketh away.
 

2017 Ohio Poetry Day - October 6 & 7 in Troy, Ohio

Ohio Poetry Day 2017 Winners List

The following information was provided by Ohio Poetry Day:

Greetings from Ohio Poetry Day!
These greetings come with my apology for the tardiness of this year’s contest results. For any number of reasons this list is late in its compilation. My apologies to prize winners and poets recognized with Honorable Mentions.

Two contests require additional comment. For OPD 2017 there will be no winner in the Contest 2. Got It Covered contest. For Contest 18. Through the Window results for this wonderful contest, sponsored by the Brown County Writers Group, will be announced next week on the OPA site. My apologies to this fine organization.

Paper copies of these results will be mailed next week for poets who included an SASE with their entry packet.

Feel welcome to share this message and the Winners List itself with people you know would be interested—including poets outside the state of Ohio. The responsibility of this delay rests solely with me, my friends. Again, my apologies!

Ohio Poetry Day 2017
Winners List
September 2, 2017

Please note: Prize-money checks and certificates will be mailed after the Ohio Poetry Day event for those winners who cannot attend.

1. OPD Special Award 69 entries
1st - Phyllis Lee, Sebring, OH
2nd - Deborah Walker, Conover, OH
3rd - Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
HM - Annie McWilliams, Columbus, OH; Kari Gunter-Seymour, Albany, OH; Vera Jones, Weaverville, NC; Victoria Woods-Yee, Bluffton, OH; Robert Schinzel, Highland Village, TX; Richard Luftig, Pomona, CA; Nancy Pownell, Findlay, OH; Betsy Kennedy, Columbus, OH; Rose Ann Spaith, Columbus, OH

2. Got It Covered 8 entries
1st – No Award for OPD 2017
2nd -
HM -

3. Evelyn Barker Award 46 entries
1st – Annie McWilliams, Columbus, OH
2nd – Kari Gunter-Seymour, Albany, OH
3rd – Eric Blanchard, Houston, TX
HM – Jake Olson, Tiffin, OH; Maureen S. fry, Conover, OH; Louise Love, Boulder, CO; Crystie Cook, Sandy UT; Betsy Kennedy , Columbus, OH; John McBride, Bettendorf, IA

4. Crème de la Crème 53 entries
1st – Valerie Esker, Beverly Hills, FL
2nd – Linda Banks, Mesquite, TX
3rd – Kari Gunter-Seymour, Albany, OH
HM – Geoffrey A. landis, Berea, OH; Maureen S. fry, Conover, OH; Jane K. Kretschmann, Piqua, OH; Jan C. Snow; Lakewood, OH; Clarence P. Socwell, Ogden, UT; Gordon Smith; Hot Springs, AR; Betsy M. Hughes, Dayton, OH; Nancy Susanna Breen, Loveland, OH; John McBride, Bettendorf, IA

5. Small Stuff 53 entries
1st - Victoria Woods-Yee, Bluffton, OH
2nd - Janice L. Freytag, Souderton, PA
3rd - Charles K. Firmage, Boise, ID
HM - Carol Louise Moon, Sacramento, CA; Valerie Esker, Beverly Hills, FL; Rose Ann Spaith, Columbus, OH; Eric Blanchard, Houston, TX; Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL; Mary Turzillo, Berea, OH; Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN

6. Observing Nature, Discovering Meaning 68 entries
1st - Maureen S. Fry, Conover, OH
2nd - Kerry Trautman, Findlay, OH
3rd - Nancy Johanson, Cincinnati, OH
HM - Carol McFall, Alliance, OH; Janice L. Freytag, Souderton, PA; Lisa Brandstetter Holt, Mt. Orab, OH; Geoffrey A. Landis, Berea, OH; Ruth Naylor, Bluffton, OH; Robert Schinzel, Highland Village, TX; LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Blair, OK; Caroline Walton, Crystal River, FL; Vera Ogden Bakker, Bountiful, UT

7. Just for the Fun of It 72 entries
1st - Phyllis Lee, Sebring, OH
2nd - Dalene Stull, Danville, OH
3rd - LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Blair, OK
HM - Alexandra Moss Zannis, Fort Wayne, IN; Larry Michaels, Fremont, OH; Amy L. Joseph, Lima, OH; Crystie Cook, Sandy, UT; David L. Byrn, Prescott, AZ

8. New Beginnings 63 entries
1st - Betsy M. Hughes, Dayton, OH
2nd - David George, Urbana, OH
3rd - Maureen S. Fry, Conover, OH
HM - Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR; Rose Ann Spaith, Columbus, OH; LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Blair, OK; Elaine Costanzo, New Concord, OH; Emery L. Campbell, Lawrenceville, GA; John McBride, Bettendorf, IA; Jim Villani, Youngstown, OH; Evelyn Corry Appelbee, Henderson, TX

9. In Memory of Carl Winters 61 entries
1st - Darla D. Burris, Alliance, OH
2nd - Nancy H. Johanson, Cincinnati, OH
3rd - John Bing, Tiffin, OH
HM - Ricard Luftig, Pomona, CA; David L. Byrn, Prescott, AZ; Chuck Salmons, Canal Winchester, OH; Lucille Morgan Wilson, Des Moines, IA; Dalene Stull, Danville, OH; Marilyn Tullys, Canton, OH

10. In Memory of Steven Lee 51 entries
1st - Jake Olson, Tiffin, OH
2nd - Maureen S. Fry, Conover, OH
3rd - Dalene Stull, Danville, OH
HM - Geoffrey A. Landis, Berea, OH; Joanne Vandegrift, Alliance, OH; Linda Banks, Mesquite, TX; Gloria Alden, Southington, OH; Peggy Silha Ritzer, Sherman, TX; Joyce Shiver, Crystal River, FL

11. Haiku for Betty 63 entries
1st - Anna Cates, Wilmington, OH
2nd - D. Beecher Smith, II, Memphis, TN
3rd - LaVern Spencer McCarthy, Blair, OK
HM - Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL; Kari Gunter-Seymour, Albany, OH; Larry Michaels, Fremont, OH

12. Literary Personas 26 entries
1st - Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX
2nd - Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN
3rd - Clarence P. Socwell, Ogden, UT
HM - Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL; Lisa Brandstetter Holt, Mt. Orab, OH

13. Let It Flow 30 entries
1st – Von S. Bourland, Happy, TX
2nd – Ashby Daugherty, Clayton, OH
3rd – Nancy Johanson, Cincinnati, OH
HM – Richard Luftig, Pomona, CA

14. In Honor of Poet Mary Oliver 72 entries
1st - Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX
2nd - Dalene Stull, Danville, OH
3rd - Roberta Angerman, Wooster, OH
HM - Valerie Esker, Beverly Hills, FL; Jane K. Kretschmann, Piqua, OH; Betsy M. Hughes, Dayton, OH; David L. Byrn, Prescott, AZ; Maureen S. Fry, Conover, OH; Jan C. Snow. Lakewood, OH

15. In Memory of Tessa Sweazy Webb 20 entries
1st - Mary Turzillo, Berea, OH
2nd - Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
3rd -Sara Gipson, Scott, AR
HM - Dalene Stull, Danville, OH; Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX; Joyce Shiver, Crystal River, FL; Sharon Fish Mooney, Scio, OH

16. Louise Dolly Award 55 entries
1st - Catherine M. Moran, Little Rock, AR
2nd - Vickie L Weaver, West Carrolton, OH
3rd - Kerry Trautman, Findlay, OH
HM - Von S. Bourland, Happy, TX; Robert Schinzel, Highland Village, TX; Betsy Kennedy, Columbus, OH; Vera Jones, Weaverville, NC; Elaine Costanzo, New Concord, OH

17. Wright Writers of Dayton 55 entries
1st - Lisa Brandstetter Holt, Mt. Orab, OH
2nd - Kari Gunter-Seymour, Albany, OH
3rd - Benjamin Dugger, Elizabethton, TN
HM - Betsy Kennedy, Columbus, OH; Betsy Hughes, Dayton, OH

18. Through the Window entries
1st – To Be Announced Via OPA Site Next Week
2nd -
3rd -
HM -

19. Great Expectations 62 entries
1st - Jane K. Kretschmann, Piqua, OH
2nd - Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR
3rd - Beth Staas , Oak Brook, IL
HM - Alexandra Moss Zannis, Fort Wayne, IN; Anna Cates, Wilmington, OH

20. Conversations with a Room 75 entries
1st - Nancy Susanna Breen, Loveland, OH
2nd - Wendy Aune, Howard, OH
3rd - Russell H. Strauss, Memphis, TN
HM - Rhonda Baughman, Colorado Springs, CO; Catherine Moran, Little Rock, AR; Kerry Trautman, Findlay, OH; Peggy Silha Ritzer, Sherman, TX

21. The Ballad Award 35 entries
1st - Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX
2nd - Joyce Shiver, Crystal River, FL
3rd - Janice L. Freytag, Souderton, PA
HM - John W. Crawford, Arkadelphia, AR; John Bing, Tiffin, OH; Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL; Valerie Esker, Beverly Hills, FL; Dalene Stull, Danville, OH; John McBride, Bettendorf, IA; D. Beecher Smith, II, Memphis; David L. Byrn, Prescott, AZ

22. Soft 59 entries
1st - Jan C. Snow, Lakewood, OH
2nd - Crystie Cook, Sandy, UT
3rd - Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX
HM -Von S. Bourland, Happy, TX; Betsy Kennedy, Columbus, OH; Emery L. Campbell, Lawrenceville, GA; Richard L. Luftig, Pomona, CA; Valerie Esker, Beverly Hills, FL; Alexandra Moss Zannis, Fort Wayne, IN

23. Family Ties 55 entries
1st - Linda Banks, Mesquite, TX
2nd - Vera Jones, Weaverville, NC
3rd - Victoria Woods-Yee, Bluffton, OH
HM -Betsy Kennedy, Columbus, OH; Benjamin Dugger, Elizabethton, TN; Barbara Blanks, Garland, TX; Lisa Brandstetter Holt, Mt. Orab, OH; Louise Love, Boulder, CO; Becky Alexander, Cambridge, ON; Emery L. Campbell, Lawrenceville, GA; Mike Hammer, North Olmsted, OH

24. Heidi Knecht Memorial 32 entries
1st – Deborah Walker, Conover, OH
2nd –Annie McWilliams, Columbus, OH
3rd – Betsy M. Hughes, Dyton, OH
HM – Betsy Kennedy, Columbus, OH; Phyllis Lee, Sebring, OH; Kelly Boyer Sagert, Lorain, OH; Gloria Alden, Southington, OH

25. Evan Lodge Workshop Award 21 entries
Ten equally ranked workshop poems/poets
John Bing, Tiffin, OH; Anna Cates, Wilmington OH; Lisa Brandstetter Holt, Mt. Orab, OH, Valerie Esker, Beverly Hills, FL (two awards); Phyllis Lee, Sebring, OH; Jake Olson, Tiffin, OH; Amy Jo Schoonover, Mechanicsburg, OH; Marilyn Tullys, Canton, OH; Deborah Walker, Conover, OH

Eightieth Annual Ohio Poetry Day Contests (2017)

Ohio Poetry Day 2016

Ohio Poetry Day 2016

Press Release

Ohio Poetry Day 2016, in its seventy-ninth year, will be held on the campus of Heidelberg University in historic Pfleiderer Hall October 14-15, 2016. We look forward to welcoming poets from all over Ohio, members of our local community, and two very special guests!

Thanks in part to the Gekler Family English Fund, after sessions with the Heidelberg University, Eric McHenry, poet laureate of Kansas and Associate Professor of English at Washburn University, will lead the Friday evening workshop and present a reading of his work.

Saturday morning is devoted to the Evan Lodge Memorial Workshop, an interactive work shop on ten poems selected for the event through a pre-judged contest. Lunch will follow at the Hoernemann Refectory. Those not on the OPD mailing list who wish to receive the reservation form may request one through a postcard request or SASE addressed to Amy Jo Zook, 3530 State Route 56, Mechanicsburg, OH 43044.

The highlight of the weekend will be the reading Saturday afternoon of Ohio Poet of the year, Maggie Smith. A Columbus poet who resides in Bexley, Ohio, Smith's winning volume is The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison (Tupelo Press, 2015). She is the author of three chapbooks and the full-length collection Lamp of the Body (Red Hen Press). Smith holds degrees from Ohio Wesleyan (B.A.) and the Ohio State University (M.F.A.) She has served as lecturer at Gettysburg College and is now a freelance writer. Smith has received awards from The National Endowment for the Arts, Sustainable Arts, and was recognized with an Ohio Arts Council award for individual excellence. 

After Maggie Smith's reading, authors of poems recognized in the twenty Ohio Poetry Day contests will be invited to read their work. Winners represent 135 entering poets from twenty-five states, the province of Ontario, and Cornwall in the UK. There were a total of 1010 poems entered in twenty-six contests in 2016.

Requests for additional information may be addressed to Bill Reyer, OPD State Contest Chair and Professor of English, Heidelberg University, at wreyer@heidelberg.edu.

Ohio Poetry Day 2016 Contest Winners Announced

Our friends at the Ohio Poetry Association have posted all about it on their blog:
http://ohiopoetryassn.blogspot.com/2016/08/ohio-poetry-day-2016-contest-winners.html