Contest Sponsors
Ain’t Got No Press • Akshaya Pawaskar • Angele Ellis • Angélique Jamail, Author • Annest Gwilym • B. J. Buckley • Barbara Simmons • Bartholomew Barker • Betsy Mars • Bill Cushing • Carol Carpenter • Carrie Magness Radna • Charlie Brice • Christian Garduno • Chuck Joy • Daniel S. Irwin • David C. Kopaska-Merkel • Douglas Richardson • Eastern Shore Writers Association • Ed Werstein • Emily Black • Franci Levine-Grater • Frank Mundo • Hanoch guy • J R Turek • James Croal Jackson • Jane Seskin • Jennifer Nuesi (Penofthepeople) • Jeremy Jusek • Jerry Garcia • Joan C Fingon • John Dorroh • Kashiana Singh • Larry Bubar • Lawrence R. Berger • LB Sedlacek • Linda Kleinbub • Linda N. Masi • LindaAnn LoSchiavo • Lines & Faces • Lois P. Jones • M. A. Dubbs • Magdalena Ball • Marianne Szlyk • Mary Beth Hines • Melanie Villines • Melissa R. Mendelson • Nancy Shiffrin • Neil Leadbeater • Pam Ward • Patrice M. Wilson • R. Bremner • Randal A. Burd, Jr. • Rattle • Rolland Vasin • Ron Kolm • Samantha Terrell • Sandeep Kumar Mishra • Santa Ana Literary Association • Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association • Silver Birch Press • Space Cowboy Books • Susan Tutors • Suzanne Ondrus • Sybaritic Press • T. A. Niles • Tara A. Elliott • Unlikely Stories & Unlikely Books • Voices Israel Group of Poets in English • Winning Writers
Winners
First Place: B. J. Buckley (Power, Montana) has worked in Arts in Schools/Communities programs throughout the west and midwest for over 45 years. She conducts residencies and workshops in schools, libraries, senior centers, homeless shelters, museums, at conferences, with writing groups and book clubs, and with special needs adults and children. Her poems address the stark and dangerous beauty of the west, its animals, plants, weather, geology and geography, as well as the lives of the people who choose it as home.
Second Place: Jan Harris (Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottingham, United Kingdom) writes poetry, flash fiction and short stories. Her work has appeared online at Ink Sweat and Tears and Visual Verse, and in publications such as Mslexia, 14 Magazine, and Envoi. She received second prize in the Earlyworks Press 2015 Web Poetry Competition.
Third Place: Ashley Cline (Carney’s Point, New Jersey) is an avid introvert, full-time carbon-based life-form and pop music scholar, who crash-landed in south Jersey some time ago and still calls that strange land home. A Best of the Net 2020 finalist, her poetry has appeared in 404 Ink, Okay Donkey, and Parentheses Journal—among others—and her debut chapbook, & watch how easily the jaw sings of god, is available now (Glass Poetry Press, 2021). Once, in the summer of 2019, she crowd-surfed an inflatable sword to Carly Rae Jepsen, and her best at all-you-can-eat sushi is 5 rolls in 11 minutes.
Entry Guidelines
The 2022 Poetry Super Highway Contest is now closed for entries. The deadline to enter was the evening of Saturday, October 8th at 12:00am (pacific).
We’ll announce the winners first on Sunday, October 23 at 2pm (pacific) in a special edition of Poetry Super Highway Live streamed to our Facebook page, and then afterward in our emailed newsletter (sign up in the box on the top of the right column of this page) and on our website.
- The Poetry Super Highway Poetry Contest is open to all human beings on planet Earth. (except for the three judges)
- Enter as many poems as you like.
- Poems may be of any style, length, or subject matter.
- Previously published poems are accepted. However, because the contest is judged blindly (with names removed from the poems) if a judge recognizes a poem from somewhere, they have the right to mark it as ineligible.
- This contest is separate from weekly Poet of the Week consideration and the same poems may not be submitted for both.
- There is a One Dollar Per Poem (US Funds Only) entry fee.
- Poems are sent to the three contest judges with your name removed. The judges score each poem from 0-5 using quarter point intervals. (0, .25, .5, .75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, etc…)
- Poems are sent to judges only after you fill out the Contest Entry Form and we have received your payment.
To enter gather your poems into a single document (either Word .doc, .docx or RTF).
- Do not include your name in the document.
- Please use a basic font such as Times New Roman, Helvetica or Arial.
Click here to go to the entry form.
Deadlines Etcetera
- The deadline to enter is Saturday, October 8th, 2022 at midnight (pacific)
- If you are paying by check, the deadline for postmarking your entry fee is Saturday, October 8, 2022.
- Regardless of when you postmark, your entry fees must be received by Wednesday, October 12. So if you’re mailing your entry fee, please account for the amount of time it will take for your it to travel between your home and Los Angeles.
- This is a not for profit contest. All of the collected entry fees will be divided between the top three scoring poems See prize list below.
- Once your entry fee is received, your poems will be sent with your name removed to the three judges who will score them 0 – 5 (5 being best).
- Your poems will not be forwarded to the judges until your entry fee is received.
- If you have any questions or need any of the contest details clarified, please e-mail Rick@PoetrySuperHighway.com
Prizes
First Prize: 50% of the entry fees collected plus winning poem featured on the PSH website.
Second Prize: 30% of the entry fees collected plus winning poem featured on the PSH website.
Third Prize: 20% of the entry fees collected plus winning poem featured on the PSH website.
In addition, contest sponsors Rolland Vasin donated $300, Linda N. Masi donated $100, and Sybaritic Press donated $30, all of which will be added to the prize pot divided by the three winning poets. Also, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to supplement the cash prizes with an impressive array of prizes which would be of interest to poets and writers. The following prizes will be used to bolster first through third prize as well as distributed to other contest entrants. Our goal is to be able to send every single person who enters the contest something.
Additional Prizes:
Ain’t Got No Press
https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com
1 copy of the book “I Am Not Writing a Book of Poems in Hawaii” by Rick Lupert
35 copies of the e-Book (pdf) “Ekphrastia Gone Wild” edited by Rick Lupert
Akshaya Pawaskar
1 copy of the book “The Falling In and the Falling Out” by Akshaya Pawaskar
Angele Ellis
https://sites.google.com/a/lapwingpublications.com/lapwing-store/annest-gwilym
1 set of the three books “Arab on Radar”, “Spared”, and “Under the Kaufmann’s Clock” by Angele Ellis
Angélique Jamail, Author
www.SapphosTorque.com
3 sets of SONIC CHIHUAHUA zine (3 issues each set)
Annest Gwilym
1 copy of the poetry collection “What the Owl Taught Me” by Annest Gwilym.
B. J. Buckley
wild4verses.wixsite.com/b-j-buckley
5 copies of the chapbook “In January, the Geese” by B. J. Buckley
Barbara Simmons
1 copy of the book “Offertories: Exclamations and Disequilibriums” by Barbara Simmons
Bartholomew Barker
http://www.bartbarkerpoet.com/
1 copy of the book “Milkshakes & Chilidogs” by Bartholomew Barker
Betsy Mars
1 copy of the book “In the Muddle of the Night” by Betsy Mars and Alan Walowitz
1 copy of the book “Alinea” by Betsy Mars
Bill Cushing
1 copy of the chapbook “. . .this just in. . .” by Bill Cushing
Carol Carpenter
1 copy of poetry book “Open Sky] by Carol Carpenter
1 copy of poetry book “In the Space We Leave Behind” by Carol Carpenter
Carrie Magness Radna
https://carriemagnessradna.com
1 copy of the book “Hurricanes never apologize” (Luchador Press) by Carrie Magness Radna
Charlie Brice
1 copy of the book “The Ventriloquist” by Charlie Brice (WordTech Editions, 2022)
Christian Garduno
linktr.ee/ChristianGardunoWriter
2 copies of the chapbook “Plaster of Kalinka” by Christian Garduno
Chuck Joy
www.chuckjoy.com
1 copy of the book “Percussive” by Chuck Joy
Daniel S. Irwin
1 copy of the book “Hogwash” by Daniel S. Irwin
1 copy of the book “Hogwash Too” by Daniel S. Irwin
1 copy of the book “Hogwash BOLD” by Daniel S. Irwin
David C. Kopaska-Merkel
https://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/
5 two-year (six-issue) subscriptions to the PDF edition of Dreams and Nightmares, one of the oldest extant magazines of speculative poetry (first published in 1986).
Douglas Richardson
1 copy of the book “American Strays” by Douglas Richardson
Eastern Shore Writers Association
https://www.easternshorewriters.org/
2 Copies of the Bay to Ocean Journal 2021
Ed Werstein
www.edwerstein.com
1 copy of the book “Who Are We Then?” by Ed Werstein
1 copy of the book “Benediction & Baseball” by Ed Werstein
Emily Black
2 copies of the book “The Lemon Light of Morning” by Emily Black
Franci Levine-Grater
1 copy of the chapbook “Sample Sale” by Franci Levine-Grater
1 copy of the chapbook “Not Enough Can Be Quite Tender” by Franci Levine-Grater
Frank Mundo
https://linktr.ee/FrankMundo
3 copies of the book “Eleven Sundry Flowers” by Frank Mundo
Hanoch guy
http://www.hanochguy-kaner.com
1 copy of the book “We pass each other on the road” by Hanoch Guy
J R Turek
1 copy of the poetry collection “24 in 24” by J R Turek
1 copy of the poetry collection “Midnight on the Eve of Never” by J R Turek
1 copy of the emblematic & form poems collection “Imagistics” by J R Turek
1 copy of the poetry collection “B is for Betwixt and Between” by J R Turek
2 copies of the poetry collection “A is for Almost Anything” by J R Turek
James Croal Jackson
www.jamescroaljackson.com
1 copy of the book “Our Past Leaves” by James Croal Jackson
Jane Seskin
https://www.olderwisershorter.com
1 copy of the book “Witness to Resilience: Stories of Intimate Violence” by Jane Seskin
1 copy of the book “Older Wiser Shorter: An Emotional Road Trip to Membership in the Senior Class” by Jane Seskin
Jennifer Nuesi (Penofthepeople)
https://www.penofthepeople.com/things-book
3 signed copies of the the book “Things” by Jennifer Nuesi
Jeremy Jusek
https://jeremyjusek.com/
1 copy of the chapbook “The Less-Traveled Street” by Jeremy Jusek
1 copy of the chapbook “Currents” by Jeremy Jusek
Jerry Garcia
https://www.gratefulnotdead.com/
1 copy of the book “Trumpets in the Sky” poems by Jerry Garcia
Joan C Fingon
1 copy of the book “The Drunken Honeybee: A Collection of Haiku & Senryu” by Joan C. Fingon
John Dorroh
https://www.twitter.com/DorrohJohn
1 copy of the chapbook “Swim at Your Own Risk” by John Dorroh
1 copy of the book “Personal Ad Poetry” by John Dorroh
Kashiana Singh
https://kashiana.wordpress.com/
2 copies of the book “Woman by the Door” by Kashiana Singh
Larry Bubar
1 copy of the book “War Vol 1” by Larry Bubar
1 copy of the ebook “War Vol 2” by Larry Bubar
Lawrence R. Berger
1 copy of the book “Entilement: Instant Poetry ( Just add words!) volume 2” by Larry Berge
1 copy of the book “The Green Lantern: a guide to Achieving the American Dream .volume 2 How to survive in a modern Economy ( Even on a Poet’s income!)” by Larry Berger
LB Sedlacek
http://www.lbsedlacek.com
1 copy of the poetry book “This Space Available” by LB Sedlacek
1 copy of the poetry chapbook “Words and Bones” by LB Sedlacek
Linda Kleinbub
https://www.instagram.com/lindakleinbub/
3 copies of the book “Cover Charge” by Linda Kleinbub
Linda N. Masi
https://lindanmasi.com
$50 added to the prize pot given to the first place winner
$25 added to the prize pot given to the second place winner
$25 added to the prize pot given to the for third place winner
LindaAnn LoSchiavo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHm1NZIlTZybLTFA44wwdfg
1 copy of the Elgin Award winning speculative poetry book “A Route Obscure and Lonely” by LindaAnn LoSchiavo
1 copy of the erotic verses chapbook “Concupiscent Consumption” by LindaAnn LoSchiavo
Lines & Faces
http://www.linesandfaces.com
2 copies of the book “greater distance and other poems” by Alan Bern
Lois P. Jones
https://www.loispjones.com/
2 copies of the book “Night Ladder” by Lois P. Jones
M. A. Dubbs
https://melindadubbs.wordpress.com/
1 copy of the book “Aerodynamic Drag: Poetry and Short Fiction” by M. A. Dubbs
1 copy of the book “Haiku for Hikers” by Brick Street Poetry Inc.
Magdalena Ball
http://www.compulsivereader.com
1 one-month ad at Compulsive Reader including image, link and newsletter ad
Marianne Szlyk
2 copies of the book “On the Other Side of the Window” by Marianne Szlyk
2 copies of the book “Poetry en Plein Air” by Marianne Szlyk
Mary Beth Hines
https://www.marybethhines.com
1 copy of the book “Winter at a Summer House” by Mary Beth Hines
Melanie Villines
https://melanievillines.com/
15 copies of the book “Windy City Sinners” by Melanie Villines
Melissa R. Mendelson
2 copies of the book “Fragments of Yesterdays Past” by Melissa R. Mendelson
Nancy Shiffrin
https://www.NancyShiffrin.net
1 copy of the book “Game With Variations” by Nancy Shiffrin
Neil Leadbeater
2 copies of the book “Finding the River Horse” by Neil Leadbeater
Pam Ward
https://www.pamwardwriter.com
1 copy of the book “Between Good Men & No Man at All” by Pam Ward
Patrice M. Wilson
pmwilsonpoet.com
1 copy of the poetry book “Hues of Darkness, Hues of Light” by Patrice Wilson
R. Bremner
1 copy of the erasure poetry book “Erasing Influences” by R. Bremner
Randal A. Burd, Jr.
http://www.theedgeofmemory.com
2 copies of the book “Memoirs of a Witness Tree” by Randal A. Burd, Jr.
Rattle
https://www.rattle.com/
3 one-year subscriptions to Rattle
1 full set of all Rattle chapbooks to date
Rolland Vasin
$300 Added to the Cash Prize Divided Between the Winning Poets
Ron Kolm
7 copies of the book “Swimming in the Shallow End” by Ron Kolm
Samantha Terrell
www.SamanthaTerrell.com
1 copy of the book “Things Worth Repeating?” by Samantha Terrell
Sandeep Kumar Mishra
https://www.sandeepkumarmishra.com/
10 Digital (Kindle) copies of the Book “One Heart- Many Breaks” by Sandeep Kumar Mishra
Santa Ana Literary Association
www.jmartinstrangeweather.com
2 copies of the book “Poems from the Future Artopia” by J. Martin Strangeweather
Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association
sfpoetry.com
2 digital (PDF publications) memberships with the SFPA for the period of one year.
Silver Birch Press
https://www.silverbirchpress.com/
2 copies of the book “Dual Impressions” by John Brantingham and Jeffrey Graessley
2 copies of the book “Kissing My Shadow” by Merrill Farnsworth
2 copies of the book “The Hollywood Catechism” by Paul Fericano
2 copies of the book “Resurrection Party” by Michalle Gould
2 copies of the book “Bull” by James T. Golden
2 copies of “Ransack and Dance” by Chris Forhan
2 copies of the book “Coffee House Confessions” by Ellaraine Lockie
2 copies of the book “Romancing Gravity” by Daniel Romo
2 copies of the book “Vanilla Milk” by Chanel Brenner
2 copies of the book “Grip, Give, Sway” by Kathleen A. Wakefield
Space Cowboy Books
https://spacecowboybooks.com/
5 copies of the chapbook “Utopian Problems” by Jean-Paul L. Garnier
Susan Tutors
1 90 Minute Poetry Workshop in person (in San Diego) or online Led by Poet Susan Taylor
Suzanne Ondrus
http://suzanneondrus.com/
Editorial feedback via email with Trackchanges on 3 poems for 1 person
Sybaritic Press
https://www.sybpress.com/
$30 Added to the Cash Prize Divided Between the Winning Poets
T. A. Niles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhm9FhmNKH4
1 Five-Poem Recording and Video Package produced by T. A. Niles
Tara A. Elliott
www.taraaelliott.com
2 written line-by-line critiques from Tara A. Elliott with editorial advice of one (1) poem of the awardee’s choice, not to exceed one standard (8 1/2″ x 11″) page in length.
Unlikely Stories & Unlikely Books
https://www.unlikelystories.org/
3 copies of the book “White Van” by Meg Tuite
3 copies of the book “Flight Advice: a fabulary” by Tobey Hiller
3 copies of the book “A Brief Conversation with Consciousness” by Marc Vincenz
3 copies of the book “~getting away with everything” by Vincent A. Cellucci & Christopher Shipman
1 copy of the book “Ghazals 1-59 and Other Poems” by Sheila E. Murphy & Michelle Greenblatt
1 copy of the book “brain : storm” by Michelle Greenblatt
1 copy of the book “ASHES & SEEDS” by Michelle Greenblatt
Voices Israel Group of Poets in English
www.voicesisrael.com
2 copies of the 45th Voices Israel annual Anthology, 2019
Winning Writers
https://winningwriters.com
2 signed copies of the book “Made Man” by Jendi Reiter
Meet Your Judges
Kelli Simpson (Norman, Oklahoma)
Kelli Simpson is the winner of the 2021 Poetry Super Highway Poetry Contest. Her work has appeared in Lamplit Underground, Green Ink Poetry, One Art Poetry Journal, and elsewhere. A mother, poet, and former teacher, she makes her home in Norman, Oklahoma.
Layla Lenhardt (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Layla Lenhardt is an Indianapolis based poet. She is Editor in Chief of 1932 Quarterly. She has been most recently published in The Light Ekphrastic, Quail Bell Magazine, Poetry Quarterly, and Pennsylvania Literary Journal. She is a 2021 Best of the Net nominee. Mother Tongue, her forthcoming book of poems, will be published by Main Street Rag Publishing. www.laylalenhardt.com.
Mary Beth Hines (Reading, Massachusetts)
Mary Beth Hines’s debut poetry collection, Winter at a Summer House, was published by Kelsay Books in November 2021. Her most recent poetry, short fiction, and nonfiction appear in Slant, SWWIM, Tar River Poetry, The MacGuffin, Valparaiso, and elsewhere. Her short fiction was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Visit her at www.marybethhines.com.
Contest Calendar
- July 20: Contest begins
- July 25-31: Judges featured as Poets of the Week
- July 31, 2:00 pm (pacific): PSH Live Judges Event: Live broadcast (Via Zoom and Facebook Live) where Judges will have the chance to read poems and discuss the contest and you can call in live and ask them questions. More info coming soon on how to tune in.
- October 8: Final deadline for contest entries. (Entry fees must be received or postmarked by October 8 or they’ll be returned.)
- October 14: Judges deadline for returning scored poems.
- October 21: Second round scoring deadline (in the event of tied scores.)
- October 23, 2:00pm (pacific): PSH Live Event: “Winners Announced” in a special broadcast via Zoom. Watch it live and if any of the winners happen to be listening, they’ll be invited to call in and read their winning entries live on the air.
- October 24 – 30: Contest Winners featured as Poets of the Week.
