Judge: Emmett Wheatfall
Emmett Wheatfall lives in Portland, Oregon. He is a two-time nominee for Oregon Poet Laureate and the recipient of the prestigious 2024 Oregon Poetry Association Patricia Ruth Banta Award. Emmett has served as the keynote speaker at two Oregon Poetry Association Annual Conferences and many other conferences and workshops. In 2020, Corban University produced a nine-part documentary highlighting Emmett’s life and his introduction to poetry.
OVERALL COMMENTS
Judging the OPA National Poetry Month contest (for members only) was like reading a really good anthology loaded with such wonderful poems. The vast array of subjects; from missives, elegy, nature, ecology, narrative, dialogue and a host of other themes comprised the submissions. For this judge, the diversity of poetic works enlightened him in many regards. Thank you to the OPA community of poets for the honor and privilege of judging your poetic works.
APPROACH
To be asked to judge a poetry contest is an honor. Submissions by poets represent the best they have to offer. It is incumbent upon the judge to offer a fair and honest evaluation. To ensure both, here is the methodology I employed:
#1. Does the title of the poem capture my attention? It must speak for itself and summon me to ponder it. Metaphorically speaking, it strikes a pose. It stands alone in and by itself. I am then led to believe I should read the poem.
#2. Do the opening lines augment the title. Working in conjunction with each other motivates my curiosity to want to know more about what the poem wants to say in terms of theme, metaphor, analogy, and or inspiration. The poem must strike me as memorable.
#3. How does the poem end? Does the last line or lines state the poem’s essence or certify the sentiment conveyed? It is like the taste of tannin left on the tongue from taste a fine wine.
The poems selected as finalists and the winner of this contest were judged using this criterion.