Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for Traditional Verse 2006
Congratulations to the winners of the 2006 Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for Traditional Verse!
High Distinction Awards ($100 each)
George R. Adams, "The Worker in the Second Tower"
Michael Burch, "Excerpts from Poetry"
Lucille Lang Day, "Color of the Universe"
Christina Lovin, "Coal Country"
Judith Pacht, "On a Line from Salvador Espriu"
David J. Rothman, "Goodbye to Greenpoint"
Frank Salvidio, "Her Price"
Highly Commended ($70 each)
Kathleen Browning, "Measure of Time"
Nancy Meryl Bunich, "On Entering My Father’s Apartment for the First Time after His Death"
Douglas W. Clark, "The Lord’s Prayer"
Jenny de Garis, "Leaves Stick To Our Boots"
K.A. Hinkley, 8 haiku
Jeff Howe, "Horses in the Mist"
Carol Kanter, "The Sculptural Objects / Functional Art Show"
Mimi Moriarty, "Homemade Wine"
K. Taggart-Hatlen, "Sounds of Sailing"
Daniel Waters, "Old Songs for a New Time"
Commended ($50 each)
Maureen Cannon, "Anniversary"
Douglas W. Clark, "In Love with Books"
Gene Dixon, "The Sonneteer"
Mary E. Donnelly, "Twentieth Century Miss Muffet"
Linda Dousay, "Remember You"
Alice Dugan Goble, "Threnody for Rachel Ann"
Isaac Graf, "In the lake and on its shore"
Mari Grana, "Three Sonnets To a Love"
Robin Greene, "Impossible Arrangement"
Ian A. Hawkins, "I LOV IT"
Matthew Haynes, "Still"
Allen C. Jones, "Pantoum for Charlotte"
David W. Landrum, "Elizabeth of York Reflects"
David W. Landrum, "Habit"
Frank L. Ludwig, "Address of Apology"
Lorenz Lynn, "Sonnet 79"
Christine Klocek-Lim, "Tonight I walked into the sunset"
Rima Magee, "Reflection"
Bruce Meyer, "The Melting"
Tim Napier, "Consolations"
Yvonne Nunn, "Who She Is"
Olga Warner Penzin, "I Saw It All"
M.B. Powell, "Open Houses"
Belle Randall, "A Child’s Garden of Gods"
Lois Roisman, "Gene Limousine"
Ryan Sawyer, "Socrates"
Joseph Sherman, 8 haiku
Laurence Snydal, "Frost"
Raymond Southall, "The Parakeet and Marabou"
Kerry Wood, "Sonnet One"
Short Listed
Kaye Abikhaled, "Dirge with Joy"
John Alexanderson, "Veteran Advice"
Kaninika Bhatnagar, "Winter Blues"
Francis Cartier, "Along My Morning Walk"
Denise Dunne DeVaney, "Clean and Dry"
Alex Grant, "Blackwater Sonnet"
Ridge Hatrick, "Another Lonely Winter"
Ian Hawkins, "Pere LaChaise Cemetery, Paris"
Marjorie Hawksworth, "In the Beginning"
Bobbi Dykema Katsanis, "Fall Sonnet"
Joyce La Mers, "Obituary"
Philip Lewis, "In the Country"
Peter Moltoni, "On Visiting Lasseter’s Cave"
Robert Nimmo, "Lost Light Grieving"
Meryl Raw, "Aftermath"
M.L. Squier, "Poetic Justice"
Anne Stewart, "Sunday Morning"
First Prize - $1,000 - Susan Keith
"Remembrance"
The judges said, "The title is aptly chosen for this engrossing presentation of historical detail about a feminine icon of courage. Deftly utilizing a first-person narrative, the poet discusses with honesty, clarity, yet latent sympathy, the progression of events that molded the public life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis.
"With admirable judgment, Ms. Keith uses only minimal rhyme and limited alliteration to enhance a pervading sense of tragic reality. All these events, the somber and the sad, prod the memory of the reader.
"Presented in carefully crafted sentences, the story of a remarkable life unfolds without unnecessary fanfare or hyperbole. Readers will vividly recall Jackie's likes and dislikes, her careers, her First Lady role, the tragedies, and her acceptance of life. Ms. Keith ends the poem with the former First Lady's statement, stunning in its implications: 'I was buried by his side.'"
Second Prize - $400 - Kristopher Smotherman
"Papa Bill"
The judges said, "With admirable simplicity, this poem exposes our tendency to judge a person by our own personal standards and reactions. The role of honesty tangles in opposing opinions expressed by a brother and his sister about their grandfather.
"In a quiet voice, the poet offers two points of view, but the reader is free to evaluate these voices and earnestly consider either understanding or condemnation. The poet presents a dark-light photo of Papa Bill. From that photo, the reader may judge what is safe or good or—what is love."
Third Prize - $200 - Jacqueline Cooke
"Fragments from Crete"
The judges said, "Ms. Cooke has used picturesque words to draw an entrancing painting of an unusual island. This poem offers an exciting exactitude of phrasing, with vibrant, glowing colors and descriptive alliteration—all with an unforced natural quality. The reader relates to Crete (Kriti) as a cauldron of sensual stories, a solace for a dreamer, and a habitation that ravishes the visitor with legend and beauty." Ms. Cooke also won third prize in last year's Margaret Reid Poetry Contest for her poem, "Island Matinee".
Contest Judges
John Reid
John Howard Reid, founder of the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest and the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, won first prizes and other awards in prestigious literary events. A former journalist and magazine editor, he published several historical novels, a collection of poetry, a guide to winning literary contests, and over fifty books of film criticism and movie history. See his work at Lulu. He lived in Wyong, Australia, and passed away in 2018.
Contest Judges
Dee C. Konrad
A leading educator and published author, Mrs. Dee Konrad was Associate Professor in the English faculty of Barat College of DePaul University, and served as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the year 2000-2001.
