We stand with Black lives and express our solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The events of the past weeks have indelibly made clear that there is systemic abuse and violence toward minority communities all across this nation by members of law enforcement and people of privilege. And at least for these times, “Silence is complicity.” I apologize and take full responsibility for the WCPA’s slow response to this critical moment for social justice in Worcester County and our country.

The WCPA does not nor has it ever supported abuse by law enforcement or other groups against any community, including Black, Indigenous & People of Color, or LGBTQIA+ people. Over the next few weeks, the WCPA Board and Executive Committee will examine whether overt or systematic racism exists within the WCPA and how to respond. We will also look more closely at how the organization can better reach into our communities to affect positive change to these same issues.

Since we are a poetry organization, I offer this link to Jericho Brown’s poem published recently on the New York Times website: ‘Say Thank You Say I’m Sorry’.

Rodger Martin, President
Worcester County Poetry Association

The Worcester Arts Council​ (WAC) has extended the Funding Priorities Survey deadline, so it now ends September 7. Your input on arts & culture in the Worcester community directly impacts how the Worcester Arts Council allocates their grant funds for projects in the city for 2021.

Please take 5 minutes to fill out the survey.

By the way, submitting the survey makes you eligible to win a set of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 ($399 value).

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 WCPA Annual Poetry Contest: The Frank O’Hara Prize

First Place – Lynn Frederiksen, of Framingham, for the poem “Flower”

Second Place – Patrick Nolan, of Auburn, for a poem starting with “To A”

Third Place – Paul Szlosek, of Worcester, for the poem “It is these Odd Shops I Like”

A Winners’ Reading, which will include a reading by the contest judge, Doug Holder, will be held in September. The details for that event are pending COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.

Princeton, Mass. poet and teacher Susan Roney-O’Brien has been chosen to receive the
2020 Stanley Kunitz Medal, which is awarded through a bequest from two-time Poet
Laureate of The United States and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Worcester native
Stanley Kunitz.

PLEASE READ COMPLETE CONTEST GUIDELINES BEFORE ENTERING! ENTRIES NOT MEETING THE GUIDELINES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. WE CANNOT REFUND THE SUBMISSION FEE FOR ENTRIES THAT DO NOT MEET THE GUIDELINES.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:

• ONLY CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE WORCESTER COUNTY POETRY ASSOCIATION (WCPA), RESIDENTS OF WORCESTER COUNTY, OR THOSE WHO WORK OR ATTEND SCHOOL IN WORCESTER COUNTY ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER. Entries from people who do not meet this criteria will be disqualified.
• Previous first place winners are not eligible.

JUDGING AND AWARDS:

The 2014 judge is poet B.J. Ward

• First Place: $100 / Second Place: $50 / Third Place $25
• Winning poems are published in The Worcester Review, after which all rights revert to the poet
• Contest winners will be announced June 2014
• The Winners’ Reading and Award Reception will take place in September 2014
• Winners will be notified by phone. All other entrants will be notified of the results electronically.
• WCPA does not pre-select poems. All entries are seen by the judge.

ENTRY FEE:

• There is no entry fee for active WCPA Members, although a one-time administrative fee of $1.50 to Tell it Slant applies if you enter online. This is comparable to the cost of postage for a traditional mail submission. If you enter as a member but our records indicate that you are not a member, your work will be disqualified.
• Non-WCPA Members: Submit 5 poems for a fee of $5.50 (plus a $1.50 administrative fee to Tell it Slant if you apply online). Note that if you are not a WCPA member, you are only eligible if you reside, work, or attend school in Worcester County. Submissions from people who do not meet this criteria will be dismissed. We cannot refund the submission fee for those who fail to read these directions.
• You may join also WCPA now to be eligible to enter. To become a member of the WCPA, visit our website and follow the instructions (http://www.worcestercountypoetry.org/Membership.html). As long as your membership form and check arrive by April 1, your work will be eligible.

GUIDELINES:

• Poems must be the original work of the entrant, in English, and not previously published.
• DO NOT put your name ANYWHERE on your manuscript. If your name appears anywhere on the manuscript, your entry will be disqualified.

HOW TO ENTER:

• Enter online via The Worcester Review’s submissions page on Tell it Slant or by sending your submission via traditional mail to The Worcester County Poetry Association, Attn Contest Chair, 1 Ekman St, Worcester, MA 01607
• For traditional submissions, include a cover letter with your name, mailing address, and phone number, as well as a list of the titles of your poems. Non-WCPA Members, include a check for $5.00 to the WCPA.
• For online submissions: WCPA MEMBERS: Enter in the “WCPA Member Contest Entry” Genre. In the “submitters comments” field, enter your name, complete street address, and phone number so that we may verify your membership status. Be sure your name does not appear anywhere on your manuscript. Non-WCPA MEMBERS: Enter in the “Non-Member Contest Entry” Genre. In the “submitters comments” field, enter your name, complete street address, and phone number. If you work or study in Worcester County, but do not live in Worcester County, indicate that as well, so that we can verify your eligiblity for this contest. Be sure your name does not appear anywhere on your manuscript.

The Worcester Review and the WCPA will host the 2013 Frank O’Hara Prize Reading on Sunday, September 22nd at 2:00PM.

Readings from contest winners Ann Sweetman, Helen Marie Casey, Missy Hall Nicholson; Honorable Mentions Jennifer Freed and James Kobialka; and contest judge Alice B. Fogel.

Refreshments will be served.

First Unitarian Church, The Bancroft Room, 90 Main Street, Worcester

Hobblebush Books is very pleased to announce the release of our newest book, Sound Ideas: Hearing and Speaking Poetry. Sound Ideas takes the stance that hearing and speaking are essential to making poems live, and explains how to find the way to the heart of a poem by taking it off the page. Authors Gene McCarthy, a longtime editor of The Worcester Review, and Fran Quinn, another familiar voice on the Worcester poetry scene, have taught poetry successfully with this method for many years, and now they share it beyond their own classrooms.

A book launch for Sound Ideas will be held at the Worcester Public Library (3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA 01608) on April 2 from 4:00–7:00 p.m. Drinks and appetizers will be served, books will be sold, and the authors will be reading from and discussing their book. All are welcome.

Contact: Kirsty Walker, Marketing Director
Hobblebush Books
kirsty.hobblebush@charter.net

CONTEST DEADLINE: April 1, 2013

JUDGE: Alice Fogel

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Poems must be the original work of the entrant, in English, and not previously published.
• Submit no more than THREE (3) poems in any form.
• Manuscripts should not be stapled or attached in any way.
• Poems must be typed on 8 1/2” x 11” white bond paper. Clean and clear photocopies are acceptable. Email submissions will not be accepted.
• Do not put your name on the individual poems!
• Include a cover sheet with your name, address, telephone number, and the title of each poem.

ELIGIBILITY

• Residents of Worcester County OR
• WCPA Members in good standing OR
• Students or employees of institutions within Worcester County
• First Place winners of previous WCPA annual poetry contests are not eligible.

ENTRY FEE

• THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE FOR WCPA MEMBERS.
• Non-WCPA members: $5.00 to submit up to 3 poems (not per poem).
• Make checks payable to: Worcester County Poetry Association.
• You may join the WCPA or renew your membership with your entry. $12 Student/Elders/Low Income Membership $30 Individual Membership. Go to the WCPA Membership page for additional membership categories.

CONTEST DEADLINE

• All entries must be postmarked by April 1, 2013
• Follow contest guidelines carefully; entries not in compliance may be disqualified.

Mail contest submissions to:WCPA Poetry Contest 20131 Ekman Street

Worcester, MA 01607

JUDGING AND AWARDS

• First Place $100 – Second Place $50 – Third Place – $25
• Winning poems published in The Worcester Review, after which all rights revert to poet.
• Contest winners announced June 2013
• Winners’ Reading & Award Ceremony to be held September 2013
• Submissions will not be returned. Entrants who wish to be notified of contest results must enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with their entry.
• WCPA Poetry Contest does not pre-select poems: all entries are seen by the contest judge.