Monthly Contest Winners

March 2023
Judge: Cathy Moran; 19 entries

First Place: Carson Street Revisited – Ann Carolyn Cates
Second Place: Dust – Alyssa Darby
Third Place: The Verbs of Spring – Dennis Patton
First Honorable Mention: Searching for a Star To Wish On – Pat Laster
Second Honorable Mention: You Got to Break a Few Eggs – Barbara Blanks
Third Honorable Mention: Karaoke Night – John Crawford

February 2023
Judge: Marilyn Joyner; 19 entries-16 regular hexaduad and 3 inverted hexaduad

First Place: Enduring Winter Weather – Donna Nelson
Second Place: Blow the Soul Right Through the Roof of the Night – Jerri Hardesty
Third Place: Kismet – Catherine Parker
First Honorable Mention: After the Battle She Cries – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention: The Birthday Girl Sees Her Cake – Dennis Patton
Third Honorable Mention: The One – Donna Smith

January 2023
Judge: Diane Stefan; 18 entries

First Place: Rescue – Alyssa Darby
Second Place: How To Grow Love – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Place: Fish for Breakfast – Sara Gipson
First Honorable Mention: Bender – Jerri Hardesty
Second Honorable Mention: No Matter What You Know – Pat Laster
Third Honorable Mention: I Hate Gardening. – John McPherson

December 2022
Judge: Laura Bridges; 18 entries

First Place: The Winds Gift – Dr. Emory Jones
Second Place: Looking Back at My Best Friend – Cathy Moran
Third Place: Precious – Donna Smith
First Honorable Mention: The Newborn King – Pat Durmon
Second Honorable Mention: Nearly Forgotten Gift – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Honorable Mention: New Shoes – Barbara Shepherd

November 2022
Judge: John Crawford; 17 entries

First Place: Caught – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Drama of the Moment – Cathy Moran
Third Place: The After Life – Marilyn Joyner
First Honorable Mention: Firefly Secrets – Jerri Hardesty
Second Honorable Mention: TestaMental Dental – Barbara Blanks
Third Honorable Mention: Autumn Carousel – Ann Carolyn Cates

Judge’s Comment: Out of the 17 entries, there needed to be more Honorable Mentions, but we limit those to three. There were three more that vied with the ones I chose. All the entries employed good rhyme, but some were outstanding for imagery and metaphor. ( I had forgotten that this was my month to judge, so I eliminated my entry.) John

September 2022
Judge: Pat Durmon; 16 entries

First Place: The Years and Summers of Learning – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Mother’s fingers… – Patricia Laster
Third Place: Going Out On The Ice – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: Learning from age – Cathy Moran
Second Honorable Mention: My Father’s Hands – Dr. Emory D. Jones
Third Honorable Mention: Biscuits and Gravy – Faye Adams

August 2022
Judge: John McPherson; 12 entries

First Place: The Goose That Laid the Tarnished Egg – Betty Jo Middleton
Second Place: As Easy a Falling Off a Log – Dennis Patton
Third Place: Library – Jerri Hardesty
First Honorable Mention: Going Down in Flames – Terrie Jacks
Second Honorable Mention: One Can’t Go Home Again – John Crawford
Third Honorable Mention: Who Done It? – Marilyn Joyner

July 2022
Judge: Fay Guinn; 13 entries

First Place: My Summer Spent Farming – Sara Gipson
Second Place: The Summertime Genie – John McPherson
Third Place: When Summer Begins – Elizabeth Dail

June 2022
Judge: Karen Moulton; 5 entries

First Place: Now Is the Time to Abandon All Reality – Terrie Jacks
Second Place: The Physics of Hate – John McPherson
Third Place: Pastor Joe – Dennis Patton

May 2022
Judge: Pat Durmon; 16 entries

First Place: Revival – Patricia Laster
Second Place: Night Plight – Marilyn Joyner
Third Place: Love, a Bewitching Bouquet – Terrie Jacks
First Honorable Mention: The Words of Love – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention: Old Records and Me – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention: I Wanted to Write a Love Song – Donna Henson

March 2022
Judge: Cathy Moran; 14 entries

First Place: Moonlight Changes with Age – Dennis Patton
Second Place: How a Stranger Fit – Sara Gipson
Third Place: Inside Her Museum – Ann Carolyn Cates
First Honorable Mention: The Groundhog – Marilyn Joyner
Second Honorable Mention: The Wishing Boat – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention: Life Chooses For Us – Catherine Parker

February 2022
Judge: Gail Denham; 24 entries

First Place: Children at Play – Barbara Blanks
Second Place: Dawn of Autumn – Sara Gipson
Third Place: Nothing Extraordinary – Elizabeth Dail
First Honorable Mention: Midnight Snack – Lydia Cheatham
Second Honorable Mention: For the Future – Donna Henson
Third Honorable Mention: A Neighbors View – Patricia Laster

Judge’s Comment: The reason I judged these three tops was that the poems said something. They weren’t just words put together to fit. They had a message and I appreciate that.

January 2022
Judge: Fay Guinn; 12 entries

First Place: Why I Remembered – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Beloved Husband And Soldier – Sara Gipson
Third Place: Birds of a Feather – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: America – Faye Adams
Second Honorable Mention: Mid-winter Meanderings – Donna Henson
Third Honorable Mention: Dilemma – Jerri Hardesty

December 2021
Judge: Pat Durmon; 15 entries

First Place: Deep Freeze – Dr. Emory Jones
Second Place: A look within – Cathy Moran
Third Place: Comforting Sound – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: Stars – Gail Denham
Second Honorable Mention: Lost Photograph – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention: Down the Rabbit Hole – Barbara Weatherby

October 2021
Judge: Pat Laster; 17 entries

First Place: Nature Shows the Way – Donna Henson
Second Place: Spring Green Boy – John Crawford
Third Place: She’s Out There, Somewhere, Laughing at Us – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: Living With Ants – Catherine Parker
Second Honorable Mention: In Tune with Nature – Barbara Weatherby

Judge’s Comment: No 3rd HM. Some poems were well-crafted but had no effective interaction with nature one-on-one. Thanks to all for entering.

September 2021
Judge: Laura Bridges; 11 entries

First Place: Wanted! Press Agent – John McPherson
Second Place: Different – Donna Smith
Third Place: You Say, My Idiosyncrasy Makes Me… – Terrie Jacks
First Honorable Mention: REASONABLE FACSIMILE – Ann Carolyn Cates
Second Honorable Mention: I am Blessed. – Faye Adams

August 2021
Judge: John McPherson; 10 entries

First Place: The Beauty of Royalty – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Looking at the Winged Victory – Cathy Moran
Third Place: The Potato Bowl – Marilyn Joyner
Honorable Mention: Elephant – Barbara Blanks

Judge’s Comment: Enjoyed researching the various subjects/objects of the entries.

July 2021
Judge: Stacy Pendergrast

Dear Poet Friends,Unfortunately, the “McDougall Moment” contest yielded no winners this year. Being a teacher, I recognize this: When I don’t get the response or product I envisioned, it must be due to my lack of communication and clarity. Mea culpa. I will be revising the guidelines for this contest, and I hope to sponsor it again next year. By then, I hope to have written an article that will more clearly illuminate Jo’s style that has earned the description of a “McDougall Moment.”Sincerely,Stacy Pendergrast

June 2021
Judge: John Crawford; 12 entries

First Place: Nature Has a Way – Patricia Laster
Second Place: A Strength in Living – Dennis Patton
Third Place: A Breath of Hope – Cathy Moran

May 2021
Judge: Pat Durmon; 14 entries

First Place: Turkey Talk – Faye Adams
Second Place: Hats Off to My Dad – Gail Denham
Third Place: Memorial Day – Western Oregon – Lorraine Jeffery
First Honorable Mention: In the Depth of Winter – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention: Midnight Muse – Donna Nelson
Third Honorable Mention: The Fight – Catherine Parker

March 2021
Judge: Cathy Moran; 22 entries

First Place: Reverie At Slack Time – Dr. Emory D. Jones
Second Place: The Vamp – Barbara Blanks
Third Place: Dance of Time – Marilyn Joyner
First Honorable Mention: Brave – Sara Gipson
Second Honorable Mention: Passing On – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention: Release Me – Terrie Jacks

February 2021
Judge: Kate Lacy; 21 entries

First Place: Arrogant Sun – Cona Faye Adams
Second Place: Twilight Time – Marilyn Joyner
Third Place: Winter Sun – Donna Nelson
Honorable Mention: Reading by Dawn’s Early Light – John McPherson

January 2021
Judge: Marilyn Joyner; 16 entries

First Place: Snowflakes – Donna Nelson
Second Place: Diamante State of Mind – Donna Henson
Third Place: Metamorphosis – Barbara Blanks

Judge’s Comment: The Diamante poem has a strict format. Nine of the sixteen poems received had definite format errors. I chose to select only the top three.

December 2020
Judge: Laura Bridges; 15 entries

First Place: Untying the threads one more time – Cathy Moran
Second Place: I’ve Learned To Move Along – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Place: It Sounds So Simple—Now – Barbara Blanks
First Honorable Mention: What I’ve Learned About Doors – John McPherson
Second Honorable Mention: What I Have Learned – Dr. Emory D. Jones
Third Honorable Mention: Fitting into Footprints – Sara Gipson

Judge’s Comment: I really enjoyed reading these. Some of the images and words were stirring and put me right in the poems. Appreciate all the entries.

November 2020
Judge: Liz Faulkner; 16 entries

First Place: Autumn’s Embrace – Donna Nelson
Second Place: Funnel… – Faye Adams
Third Place: Olay! It’s Not Just for Bull Fights Anymore – Barbara Blanks
First Honorable Mention: Mama’s are Fussy – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention: Sunrise – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention: Through Out the Year… – Terrie Jacks

September 2020
Judge: Marie Allison; 19 entries

First Place: raindrops bullet lash – Cona Faye Adams
Second Place: in August garden – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Place: Autumn’s Buffet – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: Rural Seasonal Murals – Sara Gipson
Second Honorable Mention: Anatidae – Catherine Parker
Third Honorable Mention: Masks and gloves abound – Marilyn Joyner

Judge’s Comment: It was a joy and a pleasure to judge the poems.

August 2020
Judge: Kate Lacy; 7 entries

First Place: I’m Not Budging Until It’s Cooler – Barbara Blanks
Second Place: A Summer Refresher – Dennis Patton
Third Place: The Summer of Grandma’s Colic Frolic – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: All for the Good – Cathy Moran
Second Honorable Mention: A Sizzling Sing-along Song – Terrie Jacks

July 2020
Judge: Pat Durmon; 13 entries

First Place: There Goes the Neighborhood – Laura Bridges
Second Place: In Slidell, Louisiana – Barbara Blanks
Third Place: The Bird Commune – Terrie Jacks
First Honorable Mention: Walk With Me – Christine Henderson
Second Honorable Mention: Breakfast at City Cafe – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention: Saturday – Dr. Emory Jones

June 2020
Judge: Laura Bridges; 15 entries

First Place: Dear Atie Kit Kat – Terrie Jacks
Second Place: On Chocolate and Sex – Cathy Moran
Third Place: Chocolate Shoppe – Donna Nelson
First Honorable Mention: Cuckoo for Chocolate – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention: Chocoholic Hurdles to Heaven – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention: Sweet Memories – Christine Henderson

Judge’s Comment: Fun subject to judge. There were two poems I really liked but had to disqualify them because they were not free verse.

May 2020
Judges: Gin Creek Poets of Searcy; 12 entries

First Place: A Lady and Her Knight – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Halloween Moon – Dr. Emory D. Jones
Third Place: Train – Terrie Jacks
First Honorable Mention: My Adventures Along a Trail – Sara Gipson
Second Honorable Mention: Do You See What I See – Fay Smalling Guinn

March 2020
Judge: Cathy Moran; 13 entries

First Place: The Bed – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Fragments of Reality – Janet Ryan
Third Place: Spring Refreshments – Donna Nelson
First Honorable Mention: Channeling Pansies – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention: The Other – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention: When Kindness Came in Pretty Sacks – John McPherson

February 2020
Judge: Pat Laster; 12 entries

First Place: Recovery – Barbara Blanks
Second Place: Happiness to Sadness to Happiness – Catherine Parker
First Honorable Mention: What is Man – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention: ‘Til Death Does Part – Frieda Patton

Judge’s Comment: Heroic blank verse means that each line of iambic pentameter is end-stopped in some way. Both HMs did this, but bumps caused by non-iambic meter moved them down. 1st place missed stopping one line but the meter was flawless; 2nd place missed two lines, but again, the meter was perfect.

January 2020
Judge: Marilyn Joyner; 18 entries

First Place: Night Lights – Donna Nelson
Second Place: In Search of the Light – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Place: I Seize The Night – Sara Gipson
First Honorable Mention: God Will Shatter the Power of Darkness – Faye Boyette Wise
Second Honorable Mention: Not Only Night Where Darkness Dwells – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention: A Winter’s Night – Lisa Osborn

December 2019
Judge: Dennis Patton; 14 entries

First Place: A Typical Christmas – Janis Womack
Second Place: Forgive me Mr. Moore – Faye Boyette Wise
Third Place: HO HO HO, The Show Must Go On – Ann Carolyn Cates
First Honorable Mention: Christmas Stockings – Dr. Emory D. Jones
Second Honorable Mention: Christmas Remainders – Gail Denham
Third Honorable Mention: Christmas Fun – Delores Hinde

Judge’s Comment: Some good and funny pictures says our judge Dennis Patton.

November 2019
Judge: John Crawford; 13 entries

First Place: Who Needs New England October When… – Barbara Blanks
Second Place: October in Arkansas – Donna Nelson
Third Place: Arkansas Flip-Flops – Cathy Parker
No honorable mentions this month

Judge’s Comment: The judge stated that most entries had problems with iambic pentameter metric pattern.

September 2019
Judge: Marie Allison; 20 entries

First Place: Big Pumpkins Ready – Cathy Parker
Second Place: Autumn Bright Sunlight – Sara Gipson
Third Place: Passages – Barbara Blanks
First Honorable Mention: Summer – Patricia Laster
Second Honorable Mention: Sunflower Haiku – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Honorable Mention: Summer Evening at the Pond – Dennis Patton

Judge’s Comment: Loved judging the contest. Many showed a good knowledge of haiku form, but many broke at least one rule of haiku.

August 2019
Judges: River Poets of Batesville; 14 entries

First Place: UNWRITTEN RULES – Christine Henderson
Second Place: AN AFTERNOON OF ART – Cathy Moran
Third Place: THE HIGHER CALL – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention: MUSE-ICALLY DECLINED – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention: A WELL- GROOMED MEMORY – Dennis Patton
Third Honorable Mention: A SUMMER FLOWER GARDEN – Patricia Laster

July 2019
Judge: Dennis Patton; 14 entries

First Place: Look Out Below – Barbara Blanks
Second Place: Me, A Poet? – Gary Breezeel
Third Place: Starbucks Here I Come – Ann Carolyn Cates
Honorable Mention: Lapses in Synapsis – Donna Nelson

June 2019
Judge: Stacy Pendergrast; 16 entries

First Place: Lawn Harvest – Sara Gipson
Second Place: My Fix-it Man – Gail Denham
Third Place: Following the Leader – Barbara Blanks
Honorable Mention: All Gone – Frieda Patton

May 2019
Judge: Pat Laster; 12 entries

First Place: Honk, Honk – Dennis Patton
Second Place: The Color Blue – Freeda Baker Nichols
Third Place: Personalities At My Backyard Feeder – Cathy Moran
First Honorable Mention: Bon appetit! – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention: New Residents – Frieda Patton
Third Honorable Mention: Birdsong – Terrie Jacks

March 2019
Judge: Cathy Moran; 13 entries

First Place: Wooden Bridge – Dennis Patton
Second Place: Musing – Mid-Winter – Pat Laster
Third Place: The End Became the Beginning – Frieda Patton
First Honorable Mention: Some Days – Gail Denham
Second Honorable Mention: The Mean Streets of Chicago – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention: Second Hand – Hand Me Downs – Delores Hinde

February 2019
Form – Haiku Sequence.
Judge: Marilyn Joyner; 19 entries

First Place: A Day In Spring – Freeda Baker Nichols
Second Place: The Garden – Donna Nelson
Third Place: Pricks and Cuts – Delores Hinde
First Honorable Mention: Taking Christmas Decorations Out of the Attic – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention: Hounding the Muse – Barbara Blanks
Third Honorable Mention: Haiku Butterfly Medley – Gail Denham

Judge’s Comment: It was difficult to judge as there were many unique and interesting submissions.

January 2019
Judge: Laura Bridges; 15 entries

First Place: “Written in the Sand” – Dennis Patton
Second Place: “To Sleep in the Palace” – Sara Gipson
Third Place: “A neighborhood park lies between us” – Cathy Moran
First Honorable Mention: “Visual Motivation” – Donna Nelson
Second Honorable Mention: “SALVATION” – John Crawford
Third Honorable Mention: “To be Extraordinary” – Terri Jacks

December 2018
Subject – Automobiles; Form – Cinquain poems
13 entries

First Place: Yung’s Love – Barbara Blanks
Second Place: Cutting Too Close – Pat Laster
Third Place: Taking Action – John Han

November 2018
Subject – Any; Form – Minute poems
Judge: John Crawford; 17 entries

First Place: Blessed Are The Bargain Hunters for They Shall Dress For Less – Faye Wise
Second Place: Musical Magnet – Donna Nelson
Third Place: Stormy Night – Marilyn Joyner

September 2018

First Place: “The Defeated” – Marla Bennett
Second Place: “Book Marked” – Barbara Blanks
Third Place: “Mother’s Love” – Donna Nelson
First Honorable Mention: “My Rainbow” – Marilyn Joyner
Second Honorable Mention: “Elusive Flame” – Vivian Barcroft
Third Honorable Mention: “One Saturday A Month” – Dennis Patton

August 2018
Subject – Seasonal choices; Form – Free verse, 20 lines max.
Judge: Donna Henson

First Place: Common Ground – Donna Nelson
Second Place: Lifetime Choices – Delores Hinde
Third Place: Called Away – Barbara Blanks
First Honorable Mention: A Winter Tree – Cathy Moran
Second Honorable Mention: Alive in Autumn – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention: Autumn Poem – Dr. Emory D. Jones

Judge’s Comment: As a group, the 16 entries were impressive and interesting to read. All are to be commended for their writing and their entering.

July 2018
Subject – any (must use words flag, ice, sparkle, bucket); Form – any, 20 lines.

First Place – July 2018 – Donna Henson
Second Place – Arranging the Stars – Cathy Moran
Third Place – Holiday’s End – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention – Nightshade Banner – Jodi Tooke
Second Honorable Mention – The Splash and Dash – Terrie Jacks
Third Honorable Mention – Mathilda – Gail Denham

June 2018
Subject – love and war; Form – any, 28 lines
Judge: Freeda Baker Nichols; 10 entries

First Place – The Photo Album – Donna Nelson
Second Place – All the Choices – Cathy Moran
Third Place – The Love of Country – Dennis Patton
First Honorable Mention – War Stories – Ann Carolyn Cates
Second Honorable Mention – A Poet and Widow – Sara Gipson
Third Honorable Mention – Hats Off To My Dad – Gail Denham

Judge’s Comments: I enjoyed judging these entries. I love poetry and would like to encourage continued participation in PRA’s contests. Writing poetry is a skill that’s perfected with practice. Sharing poetry with friends and family brings enjoyment to the writer and the reader. Keep writing poems and keep entering them in contests!

May 2018
Subject – any; Form – haiku, 1-3 lines
Judge: Jim Barton; 24 entries

First Place – “Now trees remain iced,” – Cathy Moran
Second Place – “your eyes” – Laura Bridges
Third Place – “Lines of white marble” – Kim Vernon
First Honorable Mention – “rain begins to fall” – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention – “funeral service” – John J. Han
Third Honorable Mention – “wraparound fog” – Wendy Visser

Judge’s Comment: These poems made me smile. Poetry as medicine.
Thank you for participating in the contest! Checks will be mailed to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners soon.

March 2018
Subject – any; Form – free verse, 36 lines.
Judge: Cathy Moran; 18 entries

First Place – “Subway Languages” – Sara Gipson
Second Place – “After Twenty Years” – Dennis Patton
Third Place – “About Socks” – Barbara Blanks
First Honorable Mention – “Let me make this clear…” – Laura Loughridge
Second Honorable Mention – “Best Friend” – D. Beecher Smith, II
Third Honorable Mention – “Connections” – Pat Laster

Thank you for participating in the contest! Checks will be mailed to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners soon.

February 2018
Subject – Harbinger of spring; Form – Minute
Judge: Dr. John W. Crawford; 15 entries

First Place – “A Harbinger of Spring” – Sara Gipson
Second Place – “How Crocuses Welcome Spring” – Barbara Blanks
Third Place – “On St. Pat’s Day” – Patricia Laster
First Honorable Mention – “Spring Song” – Vivian Barcroft
Second Honorable Mention – “Jonquils Arrive” – Cathy Moran
Third Honorble Mention – “My Song of Spring” – Don Crowson

Judge’s Comment: Two of the entries did not follow the Minute pattern.

January 2018
Subject – any; Form – sonnet (specify type), 14 lines.
Judge: Liz Faulkner; 12 entries

First Place – “Isolation” – Barbara Blanks
Second Place – “The master is served” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “Cedars In The Rain” – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention – “Praising Autumn” – John J. Han
Second Honorable Mention – “Word Garden” – Marilyn Joyner
Third Honorble Mention – “Lessons From My Mother” – Christine Henderson

Judge’s comments: I enjoyed reading each of the entries. I appreciate how well the poets used sonnet forms.

December 2017
Subject – Wishing on a Star; free verse
Judge: Laura Loughridge; 15 entries

First Place – “Starwish” – Harding Stedler
Second Place – “No Reason to Wish” – Sara Gipson
Third Place – “Obsession” – Diane Attwell Palfrey
Honorable Mention – “All the wishes in my hands” – Cathy Moran

November 2017
Subject – Starting Over; Form – Anaphora; 12-16 lines
Judge: Poets NW c/o Kate Lacy; 12 entries

First Place – “Again and Again” – Wendy Visser
First Place – “Soloing” – John McPherson
Second Place – “My Hamlet Mask” – D. Beecher Smith II
Third Place – “Making a New Start” – Cathy Moran
First Honorable Mention – “Starting Over the Dream” – Sara Gipson
Second Honorable Mention – “Each Time I Moved I Started Over” – Patricia A. Laster
Third Honorable Mention – “Sound Effects” – Diane Attwell Palfrey

September 2017
Subject – A state of mind; Form – Etheree & reverse Etheree; 20 lines
Judge: River Poets of Batesville, c/o Marla Bennett; 19 entries

First Place – “In Cinematic Wonder” – Cat Donnelly
Second Place – “All the Regrets” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “A September State of Mind” – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention – “Autumn Dreams” – John J. Han
Second Honorable Mention – “New Horizons” – Kathryn Lacy
Third Honorable Mention – “As Smoke” – Barbara Blanks

Judge’s comments: “There were some great Etherees in this contest! We enjoyed judging them and being inspired ourselves!”

August 2017
Subject – Any; Form – Any
Judge: Don Crowson; 21 entries

First Place – “Great, Great Grandmother’s Baptism” – Barbara Blanks
Second Place – “A bit of nostalgia” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “Summertime Remembered” – Donna Henson
First Honorable Mention – “Mother’s Garden” – LaVern McCarthy
Second Honorable Mention – “Chewing the Cornfield Crisp” – Harding Stedler
Third Honorable Mention – “Blood and Guts and All That Stuff” – John Mcpherson

Judge’s comments: “a good group of poems – very pleased with the winning poems”

July 2017
Subject – Any; Form – Any
Judge: Kathy Helmer; 11 entries

First Place – “Borders of the Heart” – D. Beecher Smith, II
Second Place – “Mom Made Gravy” – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Place – “In Harmony” – Barbara Blanks
First Honorable Mention – “Remembering the Fallen” – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention – “Learning to be a Man” – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention – “Summer Days” – Vivian Barcroft

Judge’s comments: “nice variety of subjects and forms. Thank you for entering!”

June 2017
Subject – Any; Form – Free verse
Judge: Cathy Moran; 14 entries

First Place – “Sunday Morning Songbird” – D. Beecher Smith, II
Second Place – “So long, and thanks for all the riches” – Barbara Blanks
Third Place – “Love was a Poem” – Dennis Patton
First Honorable Mention – “Connections” – Pat Laster
Second Honorable Mention – “Bygone Days” – Vivian Barcroft
Third Honorable Mention – “A Kiss and a Hug” – Shannon Mullins

May 2017
Subject – Any; Form – Minute
Judge: South Arkansas Poets of the Pines; 14 entries

First Place – “While Skipping Stones” – Sara Gipson
Second Place – “Goodbye” – LaVern Spencer McCarthy
Third Place – “Co-Existence” – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention – “In a Hurry” – Barbara Blanks
Second Honorable Mention – “Stranded” – Cathy Moran
Third Honorable Mention – “Catullus’ Minute” – D. Beecher Smith, II

March 2017
Subject – Any; Form – English Sonnet
Judge: John Crawford; 17 entries

First Place – “Winter Love” – Vivian Barcroft
Second Place – “Nature’s Lift” – Marilyn Joyner
Third Place – “Mother’s Unconditional Love” – Don Crowson
First Honorable Mention – “Walking Wonders” – Cathy Parker
Second Honorable Mention – “On refusing to write about aging, etc.” – Cathy Moran
Third Honorable Mention – “The Persuasive Shepherd” – Barbara Blanks

Judge’s Comments:
All 3 HM’s would qualify for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
Several sonnets submitted do not retain true iambic pentameter metrics.

February 2017
Subject – Something to do with February; Form – Any; 24 lines
Judge: Mandy Smart; 18 entries

First Place – “Love’s Chill” – Pauly Grace Bunting
Second Place – “February Yearning – John W. Crawford
Third Place – “Valentines Through the Years”- Don Crowson
First Honorable Mention – “Only February” – John McPherson
Second Honorable Mention – “Awakening” – Amanda Partridge
Third Honorable Mention – February’s Transformation” – Marilyn Joyner

January 2017
Subject – Winter; Form – Free Verse
Judge: Laura Loughridge; 16 entries

First Place – “Snow Kisses” – Sara Gipson
Second Place – “A winter forest” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “Winter is a mischievous child” – Jim Barton
First Honorable Mention – “Ode to a Season” – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention – “Slipping into Solstice” – Amanda Partridge
Third Honorable Mention – “Downhill Rapture” – Barbara Blanks

Judge’s comments: “It was wonderful to read such great imagery and unique words. Some of the choices were hard.”

December 2016
Subject – Any; Form – Sonnet (Specify type)
Judge: Pat Laster; 12 entries

First Place – “Fallen Stars” – Dennis Patton
Second Place – “Winter Walk” – Amanda Partridge
Third Place – “Bring Me A Sonnet” – Kim Vernon

November 2016
Subject – Any; Form – Blank verse narrative; 40 lines (in memory of Betty Heidelberger)
Judge: Florence Bruce; 9 entries

First Place – “Family Farm” – Jim Barton
Second Place – “From Farm Beginnings” – Sara Gipson
Third Place – “In God’s Time” – Cathy Parker
First Honorable Mention – “Syncopated Beats” – Don Crowson

September 2016
Subject – Fire; Form – Any;
Judge – Jim Barton; 16 entries

First Place – “Menopause” – Pat Durmon
Second Place – “Snow Fire” – Barbara Blanks
Third Place – “FIRESTORM” – Gail Denham
First Honorable Mention – “The Fire of Season” – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention – “Grok Learns Patience” – John McPherson
Third Honorable Mention – “The touch of fire” – Cathy Moran

August 2016
Subject – Any; Form – Any;
Judge: Jim Barton; 15 entries

First Place – “Stairs” – Cathy Moran
Second Place – “The Salve of Silence” – Sara Gipson
Third Place – “Diamonds” – John McPherson
First Honorable Mention – “New Crops” – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention – “Old Owl” – Donna Henson
Third Place – After our father died at age 90″ – Patricia Laster

July 2016
Form: Any; Subject: “Any”; Sponsor and Judge: Cathy Moran; 13 entries

First Place – “Willows” – John McBride
Second Place – “Dana and the Magic of Merlot” – D. Beecher Smith II
Third Place – “Ulysses the Liar” – Lilly Hobbs

June 2016
Form: Quintain; Subject: “Stars”; 15 entries

First Place – “Betelgeuse” – Kathy Helmer
Second Place – “Prison Perspectives” – D. Beecher Smith
Third Place – “Mortal” – Cathy Parker
First Honorable Mention – “Tanka” – Pat Laster
Second Honorable Mention – “Star Lights” – Carolyn Ann Cates
Third Honorable Mention – “Star Attraction” – Barbara Blanks

May 2016
Form: Free Verse; Subject: “Brooms”; 18 entries

First Place – “That Fatal Broom” – D. Beecher Smith
Second Place – “Clean Sweep” – Jodine K. Tooke
Third Place – “Swept Away” – Cathy Parker
First Honorable Mention – “In the corner” – Marilyn Joyner
Second Honorable Mention – “The Great Equalizer” – Don Crowson
Third Honorable Mention – “Straw Man” – Elizabeth Dail

April 2016 – No monthly contest.

March 2016
Form: Rhymed Couplets; Subject: “Food/cooking”; 13 entries

First Place – “Grandma’s Rolls” – Jennifer Purinton
Second Place – “Epicurean Banquet” – Barb Blanks
Third Place – “Breakfast thoughts” – Cathy Moran
First Honorable Mention – “Ruby Kraut” – Karen Hayes
Second Honorable Mention – “Meals of Thanksgiving” – Don Crowson
Third Honorable Mention – “I tastefully submit my petition” – Dennis Patton

February 2016
Form: Sonnet; Subject: “Love for our pets”; 15 entries

First Place – “First job, First love” – Dennis Patton
Second Place – “The Feeling’s Mutual” – Don Crowson
Third Place – “For Drake (my Boston Terrier): In Memoriam” – D. Beecher Smith II

January 2016
Form: Any; Subject: “How it Begins”; 15 entries

First Place (tie) – “The Take-Home Box” – Barb Blanks
First Place (tie) – “How it Begins: A lovely N0cturne” – John McBride
Second Place – “The invitation that started it all” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “Lesson Learned” – Betty Heidelberger
First Honorable Mention – “How we begin” – Jim Barton
Second Honorable Mention – “Pretending Again” – Don Crowson
Third Honorable Mention – “How it begins” – Vivian Hoskins

December 2015
Form: Rondelet; Subject: “Winter”; 21 entries

First Place – “I’m Cold and I Don’t Want to Take it Anymore!” – Barb J. Blanks
Second Place – “The edge of winter” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “December Wind” – Jim Barton
First Honorable Mention – “The darkness of winter” – Ann Carolyn Cates
Second Honorable Mention – “The Snow” – Pat Laster
Third Honorable Mention – “Frozen Fun” – Cathy Parker

November 2015
Form: Free Verse; Subject: “The End”; Judges: Monterey Sirak; 24 entries

First Place – “Nursing Home Sweethearts” – Liz Faulkner
Second Place – “Only the leaves die” – Karen Kay Bailey
Third Place – “New Pencil” – Jim Barton
First Honorable Mention – “In the North Atlantic” – John McBride
Second Honorable Mention – “The Last Day” – Karen Hayes
Third Honorable Mention – “The end of an art” – Dennis Patton

October 2015 featured no monthly contest because of Poetry Day.

September 2015
Form: Any; Subject: “In praise of Earthly things”

First Place – “Life Of Ease” – Don Crowson
Second Place – “Boxed Set: Snowflakes and Stars” – Karen Hayes
Third Place – “Earthworms at Vacation Bible School” – Elizabeth Faulkner
First Honorable Mention – “Morning Glory” – Barb Blanks
Second Honorable Mention – “In Praise of Autumn” – Pat Durmon
Third Honorable Mention – “Storms at Sea” – Ann Carolyn Cates

August 2015
Form: Any; Subject: Any; Judges: MHFV; 20 entries

First Place – “Revival” – Pat Laster
Second Place – “Undercover Romance” – Karen Hayes
Third Place – “A Question Before I Go” – Jim Barton
First Honorable Mention – “Fed By Starlight” – Elizabeth Dail
Second Honorable Mention – “Blackhawk Speaks” – John McBride
Third Honorable Mention – “Tanka” – Liz Faulkner

July 2015
Form: Haiku; Judges: Jim & Mark Barton; 18 entries

First Place – “The rains did not come” – Betty Heidelberger
Second Place – “In August garden” – Ann Carolyn Cates
Third Place – “across a dark pond” – Alana Mahaffey
First Honorable Mention – “Warm air hangs heavy” – Karen Kay Bailey
Second Honorable Mention – “autumn’s stone-gray clouds” – Don Crowson
Third Honorable Mention – “warm breeze rocks hammock” – Barbara Blanks

June 2015
Form: Etheree; Subject: Ants and crawly things; Judge: Diane Stefan; 17 entries

First Place – “Tranquility” – Lee Ann Russell
Second Place – “Bugged Out” – Jim Barton
Third Place – “Too Close for Comfort” – Karen Hayes
First Honorable Mention – “About My Ant Problem” – D. Beecher Smith,II
Second Honorable Mention – “Of ants and poems” – Cathy Moran
Third Honorable Mention – “Incompatibility” – Karen Kay Bailey

April 2015
Form: Any; Subject: April Showers; Judge: Kathy Helmer; 17 entries

First Place – “Beyond the rain” – Jim Barton
Second Place – “Observing the deluge” – D. Beecher Smith, ll
Third Place – “And sometimes, rainy day” – Karen Kay Bailey
First Honorable Mention – “Kiss of life” – Marilyn V. Joyner
Second Honorable Mention – “Haiku” – Betty Heidelberger
Third Honorable Mention – “That’s life” – Don Crowson

March 2015
Form: Any, 16 lines; Subject: Spring; Judge: Amanda Smart; 23 entries

First Place – “Kid Stuff” – Karen Hayes
Second Place – “Mama’s Garden” – Pat Durmon
Third Place – “The Eternal Courtship” – Marla Bennett
First Honorable Mention – “On Attending An April Wedding in Arkansas” – Alana Merritt Mahaffey
Second Honorable Mention – “Epitath” – Betty Heidelberger
Third Honorable Mention – “Return of the Butterfly” – Karen Kay Bailey

February 2015
Form: Haiku; Subject: Haiku sequence; Judge: Pat Laster; 19 entries

First Place – Jim Barton
Second Place – John McBride
Third Place – D. Beecher Smith, ll
First Honorable Mention – Alana Merritt Mahaffey
Second Honorable Mention – Liz Faulkner
Third Honorable Mention – Diane Stefan

January 2015
Form: Free verse, 32 lines; Subject: Mountains; Judge: Pat Durmon; 13 entries

First Place – “My mountain” – Cathy Moran
Second Place – “Mountains of the Moon” – Jim Barton
Third Place – “Get-Away” – Pat Laster
First Honorable Mention – “Pinnacle” – Karen Hayes
Second Honorable Mention – “Nature’s Wonders” – Kathy Helmer
Third Honorable Mention – “Moonset and Mountains” – Diane Stefan

December 2014
Form: Free verse; Subject: Any; Judge: Cathy Moran; 15 entries

First Place – “Private Language” – Karen Hayes
Second Place – “And then, only quiet” – Alana Merritt Mahaffey
Third Place – “After Leaving There” – Gail Denham
First Honorable Mention – “A Gift of Poems” – Pat Laster
Second Honorable Mention – “Senses of Home” – Marilyn Joyner
Third Honorable Mention – “An Outdoor Wedding in May” – Sara Gipson

November 2014
Form: Any; Subject: Wildlife; Judge: Jim Barton; 16 entries

First place – “Wild mustangs” – Cathy Moran
Second place – “Skunk” – Karen Hayes
Third place – “HIDE” – Diane Stefan
First Honorable Mention – “For Rainbow Trout” – Sarah Gipson
Second Honorable Mention – “ALLIGATOR PARK” – Gail Denham
Third Honorable Mention – “The Mirrored Mime” – Karen Bailey

October 2014 featured no monthly contest.

September 2014
Form: Any; Subject: Newspaper; Sponsor and judge: Betty Heidelberger; 19 entries

First Place – “Apollo 11 Moon Landing” – Doreen Bailey
Second Place – “Waiting for the Newspaper Interview, I Succumb to Curiosity” – Jim Barton
Third Place – “Small Town Echo” – Jackye Swyers
First Honorable Mention – “Getting the News” – Cathy Parker
Second Honorable Mention – “A bus is destroyed” – Cathy Moran
Third Honorable Mention – “Life in Eleven Lines” – Diane Stefan

August 2014
Form: Any; Subject: Any; Sponsor and judge: Mildred McKinney; 14 entries

First Place – “To A First Grade Teacher” – Sara Gipson
Second Place – “The Groundhog” – Marilyn Joyner
Third Place – “TV Today” – John Fewkes
First Honorable Mention – “Wildflower” – Jim Barton
Second Honorable Mention – “1945” – Alana Merritt Mahaffey
Third Honorable Mention – “Back in the Day” – Donna Henson

July 2014
Form: Free Verse; Subject: Tunnels; Sponsors and judges: Mountain Home Free Verse Poetry Group; 7 entries

First Place – “Tunnels” – Alana Merritt Mahaffey
Second Place – “At Wind River Canyon” – Jim Barton
Third Place – “Signs of Progress” – Don Crowson

June 2014
Form: Any; Subject: Children; Sponsor and judge: Jim Barton; 17 entries

First Place – “Nursery Rhymes” – Pat Durmon
Second Place – “Field Day” – Sara Gipson
Third Place – “Going to the Mailbox” – Dennis Patton
First Honorable Mention – ‘’”Little army/big army” – Cathy Moran
Second Honorable Mention – “son-shine” – Debra Riggs
Third Honorable Mention – “Sonnet for your First Day of School” – Alana Merritt Mahaffey

April 2014
Form: Free verse; Subject: Tomatoes & Tornadoes; Sponsor and Judge: Harding Stedler; 14 entries

First Place – “Tomatoes Yield to Tornadoes” – Sara Gipson
Second Place –”All about tomatoes and tornadoes” – Cathy Moran
Third Place – “What Now?” – Gail Denham
Honorable Mention – “Tornadoes and Tomatoes” – Don Crowson

March 2014
Form: Rhymed; Sponsor and Judge: John Crawford; 14 entries

First Place – “In Arkansas” – Don Crowson
Second Place – “Ego” – Caroline Sposto
Third Place – “Wheels” – D. Beecher Smith, II
First Honorable Mention – “Do Not Disdain The Farmer Life He Leads” – Dennis Patton
Second Honorable Mention – “Choices” – Lee Ann Russell
Third Honorable Mention – “Cost” – Cathy Parker

February 2014
Form: Any; Subject: Love; Sponsor and Judge: Dennis Patton; 15 entries

First Place – “Reflections of Love” – Vivian Barcroft
Second Place – “Moon, Stars, Love” – Jim Barton
Third Place – “A Long Love” – Marilyn Joyner
First Honorable Mention – “Anniversary Poem” – Alana Merritt Mahaffey
Second Honorable Mention – “Surprise Gift” – Cathy Parker
Third Honorable Mention – “Unspoken Eulogy” – Caroline Sposto

January 2014
Form: Free Verse; Subject: Poetry; Sponsor and Judge: Laura Loughridge; 14 entries

First Place – “It’s Poetry” – Don Crowson
Second Place – “Seeds” – Cathy Parker
Third Place – “Variations Upon Poetry” – Donna Henson
First Honorable Mention – “A Way to Keep You Sane” – Pat Durmon
Second Honorable Mention – “Why Poetry” – Marilyn Joyner
Third Honorable Mention – “Golden Love” – Vivian Barcroft

December 2013
Form: Any; Subject: Winter; Sponsor and Judges: Baxter County Poets Association; 14 entries

First Place – ‘Winter Prayer” – Jim Barton
Second Place – “Bright Side of Winter” – Cathy Parker
Third Place – “The Christmas Gift” – Kitty Smith
First Honorable Mention – “Winter’s Way” – Vivian Barcroft
Second Honorable Mention – “Waiting on the Weather” – Betty Heidelberger
Third Honorable Mention – “Snowed In” – Faye B. Wise

November 2013
Form: Any; Subject: Out of Doors; Sponsor: Jim Barton; 10 entries

First Place – “Discovering light” – Cathy Moran
Second place – “Insignificant Things” – Dennis Patton
Third place – “On the Art of Waiting” – Pat Durmon
First Honorable Mention – “Life is a bed of roses” – Caroline Sposto
Second Honorable Mention – “The Birds of No Season” – John McBride
Third Honorable Mention – “Finally, Out of Doors” – Don Crowson

September 2013
Form: Any; Subject: Any; Sponsor: Betty Heidelberger ; 8 entries

First Place – “Unbroken” – Jim Barton
Second Place – “The Curse of No Regrets” – Don Crowson
Third Place – “Indian Summer” – Dewell H. Byrd
First Honorable Mention – “Dreamland” – Sara Gipson
Second Honorable Mention – “Fright” – Dennis Patton
Third Honorable Mention – “This the Difference Between You and Me” – Laura Loughridge

Poets' Roundtable of Arkansas

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