Library hosts annual Poetry Contest
By Andrew Sullivan Contributing Writer

Hudson - The start of summer is approaching and along with it comes the annual Poetry Contest sponsored by the Hudson Public Library. Tiana Gorham, one of the judges who will decide the winners, said that poets of all ages are encouraged to participate.

"Five to 105," Gorham said. "That's the beauty of poetry and writing."

From now until Saturday June 7, each participant can send two poems to the library. The top three poems will be announced Tuesday June 24 at 7 p.m. at the Annual Poetry Presentation. Reference Librar- ian Cora Arsenault would like all poets to take advantage of the gathering.

"We will ask [the winners] to read their poems," Arsenault said. "And then anyone else is welcome to read as well."

The lucky poets will be rewarded for their accomplishments.

"Last year, we gave out gift certificates to Borders," Arsenault said. "We still haven't decided where the it will be from this year."

According to Arsenault, last year was a particularly impressive performance from the responding writers. Third place went to Joy Darling for her poem "Turtle Home." Ali Hosseini took home second place with her piece titled "No Longer." And the first place winner was "Through a Lens" from Emily Maddon.

This year, the judges for the event will be Gorham, who facilitates the writer's group at the library, Paul Bates, member of the Hudson Library Group, and Barbara Gilbert, who is a member of the Barnes and Noble group. Gorham has a certain judging style when it comes to selecting a winner. Writing what you know is the best approach, she said.

"I'm looking for something that makes its point and has something to say elegantly," she said. "There are so many different poems that do so many diff erent things that as long as the person is saying what they want to say, in a way that I can hear and understand, that's a successful poem."

The winner must meet the challenge of fitting all diff erent expectations from the three judges.

"As judges, we all have slightly diff erent point of views," Gorham said. "So it will be something that strikes all three of us as a really good example of what poetry can do to express a thought or an idea to the audience."

But the contest is about more than just discovering the next great poet. It's about continuing the tradition of poetry writing.

"I think there has always been an interest in writing, and poetry in general," Arsenault said. "There's a nice subculture that has formed."

And for Gorham, the Hudson Public Library is one of the best places to showcase this subculture.

"This event will do two things," she said. "It will allow people to publish their poetry, which is where public writing belongs: out in the public. It will also give people a chance to hear the language of poetry, which should be done out loud. It will keep it alive both as an art form and a spoken word form."