‘We are excited to recognize the community’s talent’

By Deborah Rose

NEW MILFORD – A May 11 public poetry reading and ceremony will recognize and honor the winners of the second New Milford Poetry Contest.

The event, which will also include readings by New Milford Poet Laureate Deborah Rose, will be held at New Milford Public Library at 2 p.m.

“It will be wonderful to come together to celebrate the creativity and talent of our winners, and to recognize the art of poetry,” Rose said.

“The literary arts are important, but their value can be overlooked,” Rose said. “This contest shines a spotlight on one form – poetry – and we are excited to recognize the community’s talent.”

A total of 48 poems were submitted for the contest co-sponsored the Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library. The deadline to enter was late April, which is National Poetry Month.

Entrants were invited to submit up to two poems, however, not every entrant did so. 

Rose said while there were more submissions in the adult (ages 19-64) and senior (ages 65-plus) categories, poetry still has a place for youth and that is evident in the number of entries received by youth (ages 8-12) and young adults (ages 13-18).

“We love to see youth energized about the literary arts,” Rose said. 

Winners are, in the youth category (ages 8-12), Claire Benson for “Growing Like a Mustard Seed” (first) and Stella Pozzuto for “The Stars” (second), and in the young adult category (ages 13-18), Andreau Guiseppi for “Among the Cosmos” (first) and “Where’d My Childhood Go?” by Kyra Chandler.

Winners are, in the adult category (ages 19-64), Melissa Hanrahan for “26 Chestnutland Road” (first), Great Boesel for “Her Mother’s Bread” (second), and Andrea Price-Johnson for “The Cemetery” (honorable mention) and, in the senior category (ages 65-plus), Mary Vallo for “A Mother’s Prayer” (first) and for “Sisters (second). 

Winners have been invited to read the poem at the poetry reading May 11. In addition, the winning poems will be displayed at New Milford Public Library beginning May 11.

A blind read of poems was conducted by Rose, Canterbury School English Department Chair Madelaine Lord, and New Milford Public Library Public Services Librarian Amy Berkun.

Poems were judged on poetic technique, effectiveness, style, and creativity.

“It was an honor to read this year’s entries,” Rose said. “Everyone has a voice and a style when it comes to poetry, and the variety of poems received illustrates that.”