Two Mayflower (Grinnell) residents have been chosen FIRST place division winners in the annual poetry competition sponsored by the Iowa Poetry Association. The contest, “Lyrical Iowa,” is part of an annual anthology of more than 300 poems chosen from those submitted in various categories by Iowans.
Judy Hunter won first place in the General category among 667 submittals. Warren Reinecke was awarded first place in the Poems of the Pandemic category for which there were 111 entrants. There are a total of nine adult divisions.
Judy’s poem is entitled, “A Toddler Meets the Sea.” Warren’s is, “Reckoning. Ode to a Novel Coronavirus.” The winning poems have been published in the “Grinnell Herald-Register.” Watch for them to be re-published in future editions of the Mayflower bi-weekly newsletter, “The Informer.”
In addition, other Mayflower residents had their poetry pieces accepted into the “Lyrical Iowa 2021” publication: Pasha Buck, Sue Drake, Chris Hunter, Sandy Moffett, and Gene Rohr.
The Iowa Poetry Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization whose sole objective is to promote interest in and appreciation of poetry among Iowans through educational opportunities, poetry writing contests, and the publication of their annual anthology of Iowa poetry.
Each year, IPA offers workshops where participants’ poems are critiqued by eminent teachers, editors, and publishers. In addition, the “IPA LIVE!” online program of monthly mini-workshops and readings brings poetry learning and reading opportunities to IPA members across the state.
The IPA is an affiliate society of The Academy of American Poets and The National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. Membership in IPA is open to any individual or group with an Iowa address (https://iowapoetry.com/lyricaliowa.htm).
— Bob Mann, Mayflower Sales & Marketing Director