Saturday's location:
The Gathering Place
24 State Campground Rd
Guntersville, AL 35976
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Hello poets!
It's that time of year: the Alabama State Poetry Society is now accepting nominations for Poet of the Year 2026. For POY, prior to 31 December 2025, please send the name of the person you are
nominating to: wytrabbit1@aol.com , with a short explanation of why you feel they should be Poet of the Year. (POY is an award for service to the poetry community, rather than for poetry). Nominee must be a current member of ASPS. If you are unsure of someone's membership status, please inquire at: alabamapoets@gmail.com
We are also taking nominations for ASPS poetry Book of the Year, with a due date of 31Dec 2025, for a full length book published during 2025. For BOY, authors may nominate their own books, or a member may nominate one. In addition to being published during 2025 (as shown by copyright date), there must be a minimum of 40 pages. The poet must be a current member of ASPS, or a current resident of Alabama, or both.
Books nominated for BOY should be mailed to:
Jerri Hardesty, Contest Chair
1830 Marvel Road
Brierfield, AL 35035
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Click the [chapbook contest] button above to see the 2025 winner!
We host open mics by Zoom on the last Wednesday of the month! Follow us on Facebook or email Dargan (dware@davisnorris.com) for the link.
2025 Poet of the Year
Mike Turner
2024 Book of the Year
We the People: Confessions of a Caucasian Southerner
by Harry Moore
available for purchase at
About Us
Alabama State Poetry Society
Our society consists of members who are venturing into writing poetry as well as those who are active poets, many of whom have published in journals, created chapbooks and books of their own, and who appear at poetry readings and poetry slams. We are an affiliate of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies.
ASPS sponsors contests as well as Spring and Fall meetings where poets can meet, read their work and participate in programs and workshops to improve their writing abilities. We welcome all to join us.
Founded in 1968, ASPS continues to encourage poets and to provide them with opportunities for sharing and growing. Our newsletter, the Muse Messenger, is published quarterly. It features articles on writing, news about members’ readings and publications, publishing opportunities and contest information from a variety of sources.
Our primary purpose is to promote poetry. We do this by staying in contact with one another…through our Facebook Page, our website, our Spring and Fall meetings, our monthly ZOOM readings, and through local readings and local groups. We also sponsor two rounds of poetry contests each year with cash prizes.
Interested in becoming a member?
