Some time ago I had to share the sad news that a contributor to Solace in So Many Words, Amy Dengler, who wrote “Portuguese Sweetbread” passed away. Amy lived in Gloucester, MA, and was active in Wordcrafters, a group chapter of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society. Her colleagues have started a poetry contest in her name– here are the guidelines:
Wordcrafters, a chapter of the Massachusetts State Poetry Society, has established an annual poetry contest to honor the memory of Amy L. Dengler, who was an accomplished poet and active member of the North Shore writing community.
The Amy Dengler Memorial Contest
- The contest is open to all adults.
- Prizes will be awarded to poems for first, second and third place winners ($50/$20/$10).
- Contestants may enter any number of poems at $3 per poem, but only one poem will be eligible for a prize.
- Entries must be the original work of the poet.
- Poems are limited to 40 lines total.
- Subject and poetry form are poet’s choice.
- Poems entered must be unpublished and not currently entered in any other contest.
- Only poems that have not won a prize may be entered.
- All poems must be titled.
- Poems must be typed on 8-1/2″ x 11″ white paper – No illustrations.
- Send one original (with no name) for the Judge, and one copy with poet’s name, address and email address in upper RIGHT-HAND corner (of DUPLICATE ONLY).
- No poems will be returned. All non-winning poems will be destroyed after the contest.
- The deadline for the contest is May 15.
Make entry fees payable to: Amy Dengler Fund
Mail all entries and fees to: Roberta Hung, Contest Chair, 8 Dundee Street, Salem, MA 01970
For information, please email: robette02 followed by @yahoo.com
Amy’s last book of poems is a chapbook called At the Corner of Lost and Found and I bought a copy from Roberta. The fifty+ poems here are sectioned into four parts: Childhood, Essex County, Travels and Interiors. In her poem “The Nature of Radiance” which is subititled: “On Frank Caspar’s A Field Guide to the Heavens,” Amy writes” “I pore over the pages like cream / lines like shelves / one upon the other bearing the splendor / of star and compass, / the stain of intelligence, a kitchen table / conscientious with notes.” These lines could apply to the reverence I felt reading Amy’s work; one poem and then another and another that drew me in and left me awed. I hope to get permission to reprint one or two here.
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