TPS Member CONTESTS

*TPS featured TWO CONTESTS for members    during the 2006-2007 season: (1) Black History poetry contest, sponsored by Past President Kathleen M. Lyne. Two prizes were awarded for the best poems relating to Canadian Black History. WINNERS:   For Alison, by Elka Ruth Enola Mary Ann Shadd, by Becky Alexander (2) Whitehern Elegies contest, sponsored by Dr. Mary J. Anderson, Whitehern archives project coordinator. This was the third in a series of contests begun in 2005. Two prizes were awarded for the best elegies relating to any of the historical persons of the Whitehern museum. WINNERS (two first place awards) were announced on June 10, 2007, at Whitehern: Becky Alexander, Margaret Edna McQuesten (1885-1935) G. W. Down, For Ruby Mary Anderson with Becky Alexander and G. W. Down To view the winning poems, visit www.whitehern.ca and search for "Tower Poetry Society" or either contest winner on the site's search engine. TPS is grateful to Dr. Anderson for organizing the elegy contest and for sponsoring the monetary prizes. * * * * * *WINNERS of the 2006 Dramatic Monologue contest: First Place: Jeff Seffinga, Scheme to Purchase Whitehern Second Place: Chris Butler, Hilda's Scorned Lover Makes a Toast Third Place: G. W. Down, Spirit in the Study The winning poems have been posted on the Whitehern web site, www.whitehern.ca (Search for "Tower Poetry Society" or any of the contest winners on the site's search engine) For information on characteristics of the dramatic monologue, see Dr. Anderson's 2006 TPS Poet Study, Possibilities for Dramatic Monologue in the Whitehern Archives

2005: A New Tradition Launched

Whitehern Historic House & Gardens

As is tradition, TPS members and guests gathered at Whitehern Historic House & Gardens on Sunday June 12th, for the launch of the Summer 2005 issue of Tower Poetry (Vol. 54 No. 1). Whitehern was the home of three generations of the McQuesten family (1800-1968), leaders in Hamilton’s industrial sector. The Victorian-era home includes beautifully landscaped gardens where TPS meets annually to hear poetry, mingle with friends and guests, and sample the picnic fare. The 2005 event offered something new — the announcement of winners of the Whitehern sonnet contest. Dr. Mary Anderson, Whitehern archives project coordinator, had issued a challenge to TPS poets to write a traditional sonnet, in the form that would be used during Victorian times. She proposed two themes: The McQuesten Family The gardens at Whitehern Twelve sonnets were submitted and Dr. Anderson did the judging. The winners were G. W. Down, Eleanore Kosydar and Jeff Seffinga. Down and Seffinga chose to write about a McQuesten family member, while Kosydar’s poem showcases the gardens. To view the winning sonnets, visit the Whitehern web site at www.whitehern.ca and search for "Tower Poetry Society" or any of the contest winners on the site's search engine. TPS is very grateful to Dr. Anderson for organizing the sonnet contest and for sponsoring the monetary prizes.

Some SONNET references: The Sonnet Sonnet Forms Sonnet Glossary

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