** ANNOUNCING **
WINNER OF THE VIRGINIA BRENDEMUEHL
POETRY CONTEST 2007
Luke 18:25
by
Karsten Piper
Finalists
Sanctus
by Barbara Crooker
Belated Elegy for Padre Kohlm
by Lorraine Healy
The Hedge
by Albert Haley
Our judge this year was also the contest sponsor and R&S
consulting editor, Laurie Klein.
The 2007
Virginia Brendemuehl
Prize for Poetry
Virginia Merle Brendemuehl (1921-1999)
dreamed of being a concert pianist in an era where
girls—especially unmarried redheaded daughters of small town judges—were
expected to teach, accompany the local soloist, or play organ in church.
All of which she did, but with panache and a madcap zest for making
music fun and culturally relevant. An ardent world traveler, patriot,
and lifelong supporter of artists, she invested her passionate faith and
talents in others, whether they be the children of foreign diplomats or
heartland dairy farmers. She had perfect pitch. Loved bikinis and gaudy
earrings. Eagerly anticipated familial pranks on her April Fool’s
birthday. Mercurial, yet extravagantly generous, her persona may best be
expressed by the family’s Yuletide slogan: "Yes, Santa, there really
is a Virginia." To the end of life, she doted on guava juice,
prayer, flamboyant clothing, and her two nieces and nephew, who joyfully
endow this contest in her name.
GUIDELINES
First Place: $1,000 plus
publication in Rock & Sling
Finalists: Publication in Fall
2007 Rock & Sling
Contest Deadline: July 31, 2007
postmark
Entry fee is $10.00 for three
poems. You may enter as many groups of three as you like. Payment (check
or money order please) must accompany submission.
Name, address, and phone number must
appear in the upper right hand corner of each poem.
Poems will be judged based on literary
quality and in consideration of our vision statement. We encourage
entrants to visit our website to gain a sense of the kinds of poems we
seek.
Poems that have been previously published
or have received monetary awards are not eligible. Though Rock & Sling
generally accepts simultaneous submissions with notification, we request
no simultaneous submissions for the contest.
Manuscripts will not be returned.
Winners will be notified by September 1,
2007 and will be posted on our website thereafter. For notification of
receipt of your manuscript, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.
Return envelopes will be discarded; all manuscripts will be recycled,
not returned.
Rock & Sling is not responsible
for late, lost, or misdirected manuscripts.
Submit poetry and check or money order
(U.S. funds) to:
The Virginia Brendemuehl
Contest
Rock & Sling
P. O. Box 30865
Spokane, WA 99223
2006 CONTEST WINNERS
Grand Prize
Winner
Pilgrims
by Dorothy North
Finalists
The Very Important Guest
by Jacqueline Michaud
Credo of an American Astronomer
by Jared Belden
Next Exit
by Jared Belden
Judge: Robert Cording
2005 CONTEST WINNERS
Grand Prize
Winner
Good Friday Kiss
by Michelle Bitting
Finalists
Eve among
by Susan Roney-O'Brien
For Papa Lamar, On
the Verge of Death
by Susanna Childress
Retreat
by Michelle Bitting
This
year's judge was Peter Pereira. Peter divides his time between work as a
family physician in Seattle and volunteering as an editor for Floating
Bridge Press. He is winner of the 1997 "Discovery"/The Nation Award. His
books include The Lost Twin (Grey Spider Press, 2000) and Saying the
World (Copper Canyon, 2003) which won the Hayden Carruth Award and was
finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, the Triangle Publishing Award,
and the Pen USA Award in Poetry.
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