The Worcester County Poetry Association logo
  • News
  • Events
    Events CalendarHosting an event?
  • Programs
    The Stanley Kunitz MedalThe Frank O’Hara PrizeRain Poetry: A Walk in the WooThe Elizabeth Bishop / Etheridge Knight PrizesGregory Stockmal ReadingThe Dan Lewis FellowshipBloomsday
  • Publications
    The Worcester ReviewThree Decker
  • Community
    Clemente Course in the HumanitiesThe Worcester Writer’s Collective
  • About us
    Who We AreOur BoardAnnual Meeting & ReportsWorcester Literary HistoryBroadside ArchiveMapping Worcester in PoetryIn Memory
  • Support the WCPA
    Become a MemberDonateThe WCPA BookstoreEndowmentsVolunteerStay Connected

Call for Poems: “A Walk in the Woo”

July 1, 2021 by Rob Baker

light grey text on a wet sidewalk

As part of its 50th Anniversary Celebrations, the Worcester County Poetry Association is seeking short poems from Worcester residents that illustrate the poetry of the streets of Worcester.

Thirteen poems will be stenciled on sidewalks throughout Worcester using paint that is only visible when wet with rain.  A map and list of planned poem locations can be found on the program page.

To be considered for this project, submit up to 2 poems of max. 49 words, including the name of the poet.

Submission guidelines

The submitter must be a resident of the City of Worcester.

Each poem can contain no more than 49 words which will include the poet’s name and title if any.

Dual language poems are encouraged. (Please provide a translation into English for our judges.)

Submit via e-mail to this e-mail address: rainpoems@worcestercountypoetry.org

Include in submission e-mail your poem, your name, your address, e-mail, and contact information such as a phone number.  Poets of any age are encouraged to submit.

Poets selected will receive an honorarium of $20. Poems must be submitted by midnight of July 31st, 2021.

Filed Under: Yearly Archive item Tagged With: #2021, rainpoetry

2015 Archive

January 14, 2020 by Irena Kaci

The year needs a nice summary paragraph before going directly into the events. Content needed.

WCPA Annual Meeting and Board Elections

Bob Cronin welcomed our 2014 annual contest winner, Helen Marie Casey, who opened the WCPA annual meeting with a poem. After brief remarks the minutes from the 2014 meeting, the 2015 treasurer’s report and The Worcester Review were delivered. Board elections followed.

2015-2016 WCPA Board
Jonathan Blake
Jim Cocola
Bob Cronin – Interim President
Kristina England – Secretary
Peter Foulkes
Robert Gill – Treasurer
Carle Johnson
Sam Lalos
Jay Lavelle
Dan Lewis
Anne Marie Lucci – VP, Publicity
Heather Macpherson
Rodger Martin
Laura Menides
Diane Mulligan – Editor, The Worcester Review
Catherine Reed
Joe Reynolds
Sarah Sapienza
Robert Steele

Guest Poet:  Ewa Chrusciel

Worcester Poetry Pop-Up

Worcester City Hall
April 8, 2015

College Poetry Competition

Contest Finalists’ Reading
April 11, 2015

2015 Manuscript Prize Winner
Allison Indyk, WPI

2015 Performance Prize Winner
Allison Indyk, WPI

Honorable Mention
Sarah Leidhold, Worcester State University

Judges
Liz Heath
Cheryl Savageau

Contest Chair
Jim Cocola

National Poetry Month Highlights!

Event list from the month of April:

April 8 – Poetry Pop-up
Worcester City Hall

April 9 – Patricia Youngblood
The Street Beat

April 21 – MegaSlam2015
Worcester Public Library

Apirl 24 – Glen D’Alessio
Worcester Storytellers

April 25 – Doug Behm
The Fourth Saturday Open Mic

April 26 – Helen Marie Casey
Berlin 1870 Town Hall

Bloomsday 2015

The Worcester County Poetry Association celebrated with our annual Worcester Ramble, which took place from 8:00 a.m. to 9: 30 p.m. on June 16th.

The 2015 Stanley Kunitz Award was presented to Michael D. True, PhD

Sunday, July 26, 2015

WCPA Annual Poetry Contest: The Frank O’Hara Prize

Jennifer Freed – Honorable Mention
“The Thing With(out) Feathers”

John Eisner – Third Prize
“Bullets in Water”

Anne Marie Lucci – Second Prize
“Rules for Happiness”

Emily Ferrara – First Prize
“On the Morning of the Third Supermoon”

The Winner’s Reading was held on Sunday, September 27th
at the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester.
We were joined by Contest judge Dawn Potter.

7th Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading

Thank you to the WPI and Gregory Stockmal Fund for another successful tribute to Gregory Stockmal and his relationship with Stanley Kunitz.

Download the original flyer, featuring Gregory OrrDownload

Filed Under: Yearly Archive item

2016 Archive

January 14, 2020 by Irena Kaci

Needs a nice introduction for the page, to introduce what happened in 2016. Content missing.

WCPA Annual Meeting and Board Elections

April 20, 2016

Bob Cronin welcomed our 2015 annual contest winner, Emily Ferrara, who opened the WCPA annual meeting with a poem. After brief remarks the minutes from the 2015 meeting, the 2016 treasurer’s report and The Worcester Review were delivered. Board elections followed.

Following the business meeting we enjoyed refreshments and then our guest poet, Tony Brown, recited some of his works.

2016-2017 WCPA Board
Jonathan Blake
Jim Cocola
Bob Cronin – VP, Programming
Kristina England – Secretary
Rushelle Frazier
Robert Gill – Treasurer
Carle Johnson
Sam Lalos
Jay Lavelle
Dan Lewis
Anne Marie Lucci – VP, Publicity
Heather Macpherson
Rodger Martin
Laura Menides
Diane Mulligan – Editor, The Worcester Review
Catherine Reed
Joe Reynolds
Robert Steele
Eleanor Vincellette

Second Annual Judith O’Connell Hoyer Poetry Reading

This event occurred on Thursday, April 7th at the Student Center, the Blue Lounge at 2:30 (Worcester State University)
Marge Piercy has written 17 novels including The New York Times bestseller Gone to Soldiers; the national bestsellers Braided Lives and The Longings of Women; and the classics Woman on the Edge of Time and He, She and It; 19 volumes of poetry including The Hunger Moon: New & Selected Poems 1980-2010, The Crooked Inheritance, and in spring 2015, Made in Detroit; and a critically acclaimed memoir Sleeping with Cats. Born in center city Detroit, educated at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University, Piercy is the recipient of four honorary doctorates and an active advocate in antiwar, feminist, and environmental causes. The reading, which was free and open to the public, was generously supported by the Worcester State Foundation’s Judith O’Connell Hoyer ‘65 Poetry Series Fund, Worcester State University’s Theme Semester, English Department, Women’s Studies Program, Honors Program, Alumni Association, and the Worcester County Poetry Association.

A book signing and reception followed.

9th Annual College Poetry Contest

Sunday, April 10, 2016 – 2:00 pm
Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room

Congratulations to the Winners

Manuscript Prize
Andrew Scott Farrar
Marissa Dakin (runner-up)
Travis Norris (runner-up)

Performance Prize
Marissa Dakin

Thank you to all the finalists, our judges, Polly Brown and
Tony Brown, and to organizer Jim Cocola for their hard work.

Free People’s Workshop: A Reunion Reading

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 – Worcester Public Library

In Memory of Christopher Gilbert and Etheridge Knight
Featuring John Hodgen, Cheryl Savageau, and David Williams

Thanks to  Jim Cocola for conceiving of and organizing this event.

April Flyers and posters

MegaSlam-FlyerDownload
National-Poetry-Month-PosterDownload

21th Annual Bloomsday Ramble

June 16, 2016 – throughout Worcester

Thanks to everyone who came out for our annual reading of James Joyce’s seminal work, Ulysses, in what is affectionately known as Bloomsday. Whether you read a bit, listened, came for only one stop or marathoned through the entire day we couldn’t do it without you.

A big shout out to the host committee, Kristina England, Jay Lavelle, and Anne Marie Lucci. Special acknowledgement to the business that allowed us to use their space – Annie’s Book Stop, Boynton Restaurant, Espress Yourself Cafe, Tatnuck Grille, and Worcester Public Library.

2016 Stanley Kunitz Medal Award Winner Dan Lewis

The 2016 Stanley Kunitz Medal Award was presented to Dan Lewis on Thursday, July 28, 2016 in a ceremony held at Worcester Historical Museum.

2016 WCPA Poetry Contest: the Frank O’Hara Prize

Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 WCPA Poetry Contest: the Frank O’Hara Prize!

First place – Heather Treseler
Voyeur in June

Second place – Janet Shainheit
Harvey Atkins
Third Place – Barbara Ungar
Global Weirding

Honorable Mentions
Judith Robbins
Worcester, Mass. June 9, 1953
Leone Scanlon
My Seventy-Sixth Year
Rhett Watts
Summer’s End
John Garton
Istanbul Mosaic

Eigth Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading

We regret that the Q&A talk and poetry reading by poet Carolyn Forché had to be canceled due to circumstances beyond the control of Holy Cross or the Worcester County Poetry Association.

Filed Under: Yearly Archive item

2017 Archive

January 14, 2020 by Irena Kaci

Requires a nice yearly summary before launching into the complete archives.

WCPA Annual Meeting and Board Elections

Rushelle Frazier welcomed our 2016 annual contest winner, Heather Treseler, who opened the WCPA annual meeting with a poem. After brief remarks the minutes from the 2016 meeting, the 2016 treasurer’s report and The Worcester Review were delivered. Board elections followed with the following members elected to the board. The business meeting was then adjorned.
Following the business meeting we enjoy refreshments and then our guest performer, Lulu Hawkes, entertained us with her poetry.

2017-2018 WCPA Board

Craig Blais
Norman Chaplin
Jim Cocola
Bob Cronin
Kristina England – Secretary
Rushelle Frazier – President
Bob Gill – Treasurer
Carle Johnson
Mila Keaton – VP, Publicity
Anne Marie Lucci
Heather Macpherson
Sou MacMillan
Rodger Martin
Diane Mulligan – Editor, The Worcester Review
Catherine Reed
Joseph Reynolds
Robert Steele

Photos by Robert Steele

Congratulations to the winners of the 2017 WCPA College Poetry Contest

Manuscript Prize
Julie de Oliveira – winner
Carmellite Chamblin – honorable mention

Performance Prize
Rheannon Swire – winner
Morgan DeAngelis – honorable mention

The reading was held on Sunday, April 2, 2017 in the Saxe Room at Worcester Public Library (3 Salem Square, Worcester)

22nd Annual Bloomsday Ramble

Held on June 16, 2017

Thanks to everyone who joined organizers Kristina England, Jay Lavelle and Heather Macpherson throughout the day.

Photos courtesy of Kristina England

2017 Presentation of the Stanley Kunitz Medal to Carle Johnson

July 27, 2017
Worcester Historical Museum

In addition to honoring Carle Johnson the event included a small tribute to Dan Lewis, who passed on July 19, 2017.

Photos courtesy of John Gaumond.

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

First Place – Richard Fox
Skating on the Edge of Flesh

Second Place – Jeff Walt
Each Morning I Rise Like a Sleepwalker
and Rot a Little More

Third Place – Jennifer Freed
On Their Anniversary She Whispers His Name

Honorable Mention – Marsha Kunin
In the Garden of the Blind Barbarian

The Winners’ Reading was held on Sunday, September 24 where we heard from the winners and the contest judge, Lori Desrosiers.

Thanks to the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St, Worcester, for hosting us once again and to all the volunteers who made the event possible.

9th Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading

Thank you to those who attended the 9th Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading which was held on Wednesday, October 18 at Clark University and featured Pam Bernard.

The annual Gregory Stockmal Reading continues the efforts of Greg Stockmal to honor American poet Stanley Kunitz and his legacy in Worcester.

The event was co-sponsored by the Friends of the Goddard Library, Clark University, the Gregory Stockmal Fund and the Worcester County Poetry Association.


Thanks to John Gaumond for the event photos.

Library Update

The library committee, headed by Ann Lewis, has completed their effort of organzing and shelving the WCPA’s book collection. Additionally, the bookshelves were given new life with a fresh coat of paint by Carol Stockmal. Ann, Carol, Judy Ferrara and John Gaumond unboxed every book, sorted it by category and then by author, and arranged the books. There’s even a little (very little really) room for some careful additions.

We are grateful for their many hours of work in sometimes cold and dusty circumstances. Join us at our next board meeting on January 3rd to check out the library.

Filed Under: Yearly Archive item

2019 Archive

December 14, 2019 by Irena Kaci

A summary of the year. Content needed.

WCPA Annual Meeting and Board Elections

On February 24, 2019, we held our annual meeting in the Bancroft Room at the First Unitarian Church in Worcester (our regular venue was unavailable due to construction). After a short business meeting, where we discussed the past year and elected a new board of directors, we held an open poetry reading since our scheduled feature, Sebastian Lockwood, could not join us due to bad weather near his home in New Hampsire.

If you’d like to learn about what the WCPA did in 2018 please take a look at our Annual Report.
We’ve partnered with Square for our online store.

Photos by Robert Steele

2019-2020 WCPA Board

Elizabeth Bacon
Robin Boucher, Treasurer
Therese Carr
Jim Cocola
Robert Cronin
Bob Gill, VP Programming
Carle Johnson
Jay Lavelle
Ann-Marie Lucci
Rodger Martin, President
Laura Menides
Kate McIntyre, Editor, The Worcester Review
Diane Mulligan, Secretary
Chris Reilley
Susan Roney-O’Brien
Karen Sharpe
Robert Steele

12th Annual College Poetry Competition Finalists’ Reading

Saturday, April 6, 2019
Worcester Popup, 20 Franklin Street, Worcester

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 College Poetry Contest Reading

Etheridge Knight Performance Prize
Kate Brice of Assumption College
Amber John of the College of the Holy Cross (runner-up)

Elizabeth Bishop Manuscript Prize
Dani Black of Clark University
Ariele Lee of Fitchburg State University (runner-up)

The Nominees

Paula Kneeland, of Anna Maria College and Worcester, MA
Kate Brice, of Assumption College and Colchester, CT
Dani Black, of Clark University and Middleboro, MA
Amber John, of the College of Holy Cross and Austin, TX
Ariele Lee, of Fitchburg State University and Beverly, MA
Jesse Madore, of MCPHS and Salem, NH
Erica Gilman, of Worcester State University and North Brookfield, MA
Michael Clements, of WPI and Exeter, NH

Judges
Susan Roney-O’Brien
Ashley Wonder

Contest Chair
Craig Blais, Anna Maria College

Congratulations to Fran Quinn, Winner of the 2019 Stanley Kunitz Medal

Presented on Thursday, July 25, 2019
at the Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm Street, Worcester

Photos courtesy of John Gaumond.
20190725_Kunitz_Medal_honoring_Fran_QuinnDownload

Winners’ Reading for the WCPA’s Annual Poetry Contest The Frank O’Hara Prize

Sunday, September 29, 2019, 3:00 to 5:00 pm
First Unitarian Church
90 Main Street, Worcester

Featuring readings by the contest judge, Rachel McKibbens, and the 2019 contest winners

Congratulations to the 2019 Winners

First Place
Carolyn Oliver

Second Place
Jacqueline Morrill

Third Place
Jennifer Freed

Honorable Mention
bg Thurston

A Reading of the Epic of Gilgamesh

Performed by Sebastian Lockwood

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Worcester Art Museum
Renaissance Court
55 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA

A Tribute to Elizabeth Bishop

Forty years ago American-poet, and Worcester-native, Elizabeth Bishop died. Bishop, an only child, was born in Worcester in 1911. Through twists and turns, she lived in Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, Key West, Brazil, and San Francisco. Her early life influenced her poetry, as did her interaction with poets Marianne Moore and Robert Lowell.

We paid tribute to Bishop on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, with a reading of her work at Bedlam Book Cafe by Therese Carr. The reading started with a short open poetry reading.

20191009_Tribute_to_Elizabeth_BishopDownload
Thanks to John Gaumond for these photos.

11th Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading featuring Patrick Donnelly

Wednesday, October 16, 2019 – 7:30pm
Anna Maria College, Zecco Performing Arts Center
50 Sunset Lane, Paxton

Each year the Worcester County Poetry Association partners with a local college or university to present a poet who had a connection to poet Stanley Kunitz. This year we welcomed Patrick Donnelly as our reader at the 11th Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading on Wednesday, October 16th. The reading was hosted by Anna Maria College in Paxton and started at 7:30pm.

Stockmal_Reading Original FlyerDownload

Love Unknown: The Life and Worlds of Elizabeth Bishop.

Noted Elizabeth Bishop biographer, Tom Travisano, joined us in Worcester for a presentation from his new book, Love Unknown: The Life and Worlds of Elizabeth Bishop.

Writing Elizabeth Bishop:
A Biographer’s Journey

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm Street, Worcester
6:00 to 7:30 pm

Writing Elizabeth Bishop A Biographer’s JourneyDownload
Thanks to 
Root & Press Bookstore
for making copies of Travisano’s book available for sale.
Photos courtesy of Bob Gill

For all the Tea in Zhōngguó – a Dual Language Reading

For all the Tea in Zhōngguó a dual language reading with Rodger Martin and Ann Shi

Saturday, November 16 @ 2:00pm
Worcester Pop-up at JMAC
20 Franklin Street, Worcester

For All the Tea FlyerDownload
Photos courtesy of Bob GIll

Filed Under: Yearly Archive item

2018 Archive

December 30, 2018 by Irena Kaci

Requires a nice yearly summary to be drafted before launching into the archives folders.

WCPA Annual Meeting and Board Elections

On February 10, 2018, we held our annual meeting in the Saxe Room at the main branch of Worcester Public Library. During the business meeting portion we reviewed the minutes from our 2017 meeting, learned about the financial health of the organization and elected a new board of directors. After a brief intermission Worcester poet and organizer Jenith Charpentier shared her work with the audience. Thanks to everyone who attended.

The following WCPA members were elected to the board 2018-2019 Board of Directors:
Jim Cocola
Robert Cronin
Nicole DiCello
Bob Gill
Carle Johnson
Jay Lavelle
Anne-Marie Lucci
Heather Macpherson
Rodger Martin
Laura Menides
Diane Mulligan
Susan Roney-O’Brien
Karen Sharpe
Robert Steele

Guest Poet: Jenith Charpentier

Mortar and Pestle 3 – Jenith Charpentier broadsideDownload

Thank you to Sou for the broadside design.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 College Poetry Contest Reading

Congratulations to the winners:

Jessica Hoops – Runner-up Manuscript Prize.

Jess Locke – Winner Manuscript Prize
and Performance Prize

The Nominees

Rachel Del Río, of Anna Maria College and Chelsea, MA
Isabella Camasura, of Assumption College and Bristol, CT
Alexandra Larkin, of College of the Holy Cross and Riverside, CT
Jessica Hoops, of Clark University and East Hampton, CT
Mia Pare, of Fitchburg State University and Leominster, MA
Jess Locke, of WPI and Georgetown, MA

Judges
Rushelle Frazier
Heather Macpherson

Contest Chair
Craig Blais
Anna Maria College

April was once again National Poetry Month

The WCPA presented or co-sponsored a number
of events in honor of National Poetry Month.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for one of our events.

April 8 – College Poetry Contest Reading
Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square, Worcester

April 11 – Common Threads discussion group
WCPA Office @ 38 Harlow Street, Worcester

Apirl 22 – In Just / Spring Poetry Reading
Tower Hill Botanical Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston

April 24 – David Thoreen @ The Thirsty Lab Poetry Series
The Thirsty Lab, Route 31, Princeton

April 25 – Common Threads discussion group
WCPA Office @ 38 Harlow Street, Worcester

Aril 28 – Gary Hoare @ The Fourth Saturday Open Mic
Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Street, Worcester

College Contest PosterDownload
Common ThreadsDownload
In Just Spring FlyerDownload

Bloomsday 2018

On Saturday, June 16th the Worcester County Poetry Association celebrated Bloomsday with our twenty-third annual Worcester Ramble. This year we welcomed dozens of readers at six stops between Worcester and West Boylston.

The WCPA is thankful to the following locations that allowed us to read on their property or at their establishments…

  • City of Worcester
  • Bancroft Tower
  • Institute Park
  • Worcester Public Library @ Salem Square
  • The Wonder Bar
  • O’Connor’s Restaurant
  • The Old Stone Church

Congratulations to Judith Ferrara Winner of the 2018 Stanley Kunitz Medal

Presented on Thursday, July 26, 2018
at the Worcester Historical Museum
30 Elm Street, Worcester

The WCPA wished a fond thank you to Bob Cronin at this time for his 5-years of service on the Stanley Kunitz Award Committee. Bob had decided to step down.

Kunitz Medal Award DocumentDownload

WCPA Annual Poetry Contest Winners’ Reading: The Frank O’Hara Prize

Sunday, September 23, 2018 – 3:00 to 5:00 pm
First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester

Featuring readings by the contest judge, Regie Gibson,
and the 2018 contest winners.

Congratulations to the 2018 Winners

First Place – Jeff Walt
The World is Ending on the East Coast

Second Place – Nicole DiCello
Electra 101

Third Place – Malt Schlitzman
This Rage Dies with Me

Honorable Mention – Michael Morlock
Speak of the Moment

Photos courtesy of John Gaumond

A Tale of Two Cities, Worcester – USA & UK

On Friday, September 28th, the WCPA hosted “A Tale of Two Cities, Worcester – USA & UK” reading at the Sprinkler Factory (38 Harlow Street, Worcester)  It is the end product of a collaboration between poets from Worcestershire, England, and the Worcester County Poetry Association.

In addition to some of the US poets involved we were pleased to have Brian Evans-Jones, a former Poet Laureate of Hampshire, England join us to read the work of the British poets involved.

A man wearing a suit coat and blue button-down shirt gestures with his left hand in front of a microphone and black music stand
Thanks to Robert Steele and Bob Gill for sharing these photos from the event.

10th Annual Gregory Stockmal Reading

Wednesday, October 24
7:30 – 9:00 pm

featuring Eleanor Wilner

Assumption College, Curtis Hall Auditorium,
Tsotsis Family Academic Center,
500 Salisbury Street, Worcester

Co-sponsored by the Assumption College Department of English, the Gregory Stockmal Fund and the Worcester County Poetry Association.

Photos courtesy of John Gaumond

A Recitation from Memory of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets

This recitation was performed by actor and poet John Farrell artistic director and founder of Figures of Speech Theatre

Thursday, November 8 @ 7:00 pm College of the Holy Cross, Smith Hall, Rehm Library, 1 College Street, Worcester

Co-sponsored by Arts Transcending Borders at  the College of the Holy Cross and the WCPA

4 Quartets original flyerDownload

Filed Under: Yearly Archive item

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund Policy
Worcester County Poetry Association
PO Box 804, Worcester, MA 01613
wcpaboard@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2026 — Worcester County Poetry Association