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2011 Poetry Winner
Poetry Judge: Laura Van Prooyen
Danny Rothschild of Interlochen, MI for "Under the Light of a Lamppost" Laura Van Prooyen’s comments: In this exquisite prose poem, the “you” inspects the natural world, listening for “small gods” that speak in spite of Northern Michigan’s harsh, long winters. The strength of this poem is in the details, in the attention given to occurrences frequently overlooked. We join the “you” in contemplation, waiting for “the spring fleas to spot the snow and for the ice to sink out of sight.” We wait for “the smell of rotten oaks and the broken birch bark.” This image-rich poem invites the reader to quiet down, to be patient with the seasons and the self. The premise that each observation embodies the voice of a “small god” heightens the sense of loss when the gods defy detection: “you go out and search for the whisperers but you cannot find them.” The poem deftly explores the ideas of bounty and barrenness, of hope and despair. As with all great poems, the reader walks away with something new, an insight—“Under the Light of a Lamppost” inspires us to listen closely and to look for the “small gods” that might inhabit our own space. 2011 Poetry Honorable Mentions
Alex Paseltiner of Great Neck, NY for "The Pastime" Laura Van Prooyen’s comments: “You feel really American with the rockets in your arms,” begins the strong and edgy poem, “The Pastime.” Here, we discover a litany of iconic American symbols that by their mention render a sort of celebration of tradition, but that also reveal the speaker’s mounting criticism of the culture: “apple pie leaves nothing but a bad taste in your mouth.” The poem sweeps the reader through specific times and places, compressing images that are both playful and violent, suggesting the complexity of [de]constructing one’s national identity. The authoritative voice in this poem is irresistible, pulling the reader onto a wild ride that arrives, in the end, on a baseball field, running bases to “finally come home again / just in time to catch the silhouette of a flag against the fireworks.” “The Pastime” treads the same water of social commentary as Tony Hoagland’s “America”—funny and biting, all at once. Madeline Petersen of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada for "The Sparrow" Laura Van Prooyen’s comments: “The Sparrow” expertly creates tension between the speaker of the poem and the “you” by way of command and image. The poem begins forcefully and on the precipice: “Tell me about the dream / where we kneel by the cliffside / and peer over the edge.” We sense, immediately, that the relationship of the “we” is in jeopardy. In each tightly-rendered stanza, images powerfully build the feeling of discontent and suggest dissolution. The undercurrent of danger throughout the poem keeps the reader on edge, following the speaker “around corners” and down dark roads.
2011 Fiction Winner
Fiction Judge: Christine Sneed
Christine Sneed’s comments: “The humor, intelligence, pacing, and rapid-fire associative logic made this an almost breathtaking read. I wanted it to go on and on. It reminded me of Daniel Orozco's "Orientation," which is another fine and daring story.”
Christine Sneed’s comments: “The maturity of the author's voice and vision, along with the poetic language made this a stand-out among many fine stories.” Christine Sneed’s comments: “The scope and subject matter, as well as the economy and beauty of the diction, make this a memorable and heartbreaking story.” 2011 Creative Non-Fiction Winner Creative Non-Fiction Judge: S L Wisenberg
Hali Haskins of Woodbridge, VA for "3's" S.L. Wisenberg’s comments: This piece moves. It ranges from lightness to sorrow to anger to equanimity and back and around again. So much happens in a short time, and we're told much in different ways: through the shorthand of the lists of 3s, through a strong scene, by a short summary of the life and death of an unmarried principal. Above all, though this is about being a lesbian in a homophobic world, Haskins takes time to tell us what she does enjoy (the view out the widow of the school bus), and is fair in the way that she refuses to tar all Kentuckians with the same brush. There's maturity here as well as sprightliness. And a pleasing rhythm in the repetition of the lists of 3s. Rachel Stone of Chicago, IL for "Remember to Forget"
Elayne and Hal Seaman have lived in Poughkeepsie for more than 50 years, and have been notably active in the community, volunteering for and supporting arts and educational projects and not-for-profit organizations. In 1983, the Seaman family and the Community Foundation of Dutchess County established The Claudia Ann Seaman Poetry Award in memory of their younger daughter. The award was open to high school students in the area, and hundreds of submissions were received each year.
The Seaman Award has grown. First, it became a national poetry award for teens. Now it has expanded into The Claudia Ann Seaman Award for Young Writers, with awards for the best poem, short story, and personal essay. The growth of the Seaman Award has been exciting and gratifying, but it has carried the award away from its roots in the Hudson Valley, a place much loved by all the Seamans, and away from poetry, which was Claudia’s chosen literary form. In order to honor the Seaman family’s love for the region and original mission to celebrate poetry, as well as the new structure and name of The Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley, the Hudson Valley Poetry Award has been established. It is an annual competition open to all students in grades nine through twelve in the four-county area encompassing Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam, and Orange counties. It is our great pleasure to announce the winner of the first Hudson Valley Poetry Award. 2011 Hudson Valley Poetry Award Winner
Joanna Shaw of Hopewell Junction, NY for "Date a Girl Who Reads"
Thank you to everyone who submitted work this year to the Claudia Ann Seaman Poetry Award for Young Writers. |
