The Wood County Committee on Aging has announced the winners for the 19th Annual Poetry Contest. Submissions were accepted from Wood County residents 50 years of age and over, with a theme of “Voices Unheard.”
A total of 31 poems from 25 authors were submitted, and a BGSU writing professor and graduate students reviewed the submissions and selected a winner and an honorable mention.
Carol Rinehart of Fostoria won first place with her poem “Being Alone” winning a $100 gift card sponsored by the Manor at Perrysburg.
Rinehart has written numerous articles for the Review Times in Fostoria and a book titled, “When the Troop Train Stopped in Fostoria.” The book shares the stories of World War II military personnel and their interactions with her family and their visits to her home when the train would stop in Fostoria.
Bowling Green State University Associate Writing Professor Chad Van Buskirk coordinated the students and professor who were this year’s judges of the contest – Professor Amorak Huey and his graduate students Mary Robles, and Caleb Edmondson, who are working toward their Master of Fine Arts in creative writing.
The judges reflected on the winning poem “Being Alone” and stated, “this poem is full of beautiful and moving introspection. The tension and voice stand out. It is frank and honest; it captures the spirit of the theme. Engages the reader on ionic, sensory, and emotional levels.”
Tammyan Metz Starr of Bowling Green is the runner up with her poem titled “B17 Bomber Exit.” As a runner up she won a $50 gift card sponsored by Wood Haven Healthcare. The judges stated, “this poem had attention to narrative, imagery and description, particularly strong sense of character and place. A fun and emotionally resonant poem to read.”
Honorable mention was awarded to Deb Halsey with the poem “A Valentine for Susan.”
All of the submitted poems can be read on the WCCOA blog at: https://woodcountycommitteeonaging.blogspot.com/
