-->

* * * * *

2017 Virginia Opry Legends of Country Music National Poetry Contest Winners Announced

 
Clifton Forge, VA (Jan. 18, 2018) - Appalfolks of America Association (AAA) has announced Elaine Parkerakin of Louisville, Ky., as the winner of its 2017 Virginia Opry Legends of Country Music National Poetry Contest.

Parkerakin’s rhyming poem entitled “Gold Lemons” won first place ahead of Sandi Keaton-Wilson of Somerset, Ky., who took the second place cash prize for “Hall of Fame 1962,” a free verse poem.

Linda Neal Reising of Poseyville, Indiana, claimed the third place cash prize for “Paradise,” a free verse poem.

Three cash prizes were awarded for honorable mention as follows: Barbara Blanks of Garland, Texas, for “Keep Em’ Dancing;” Keller Glass of Winston, Connecticut, for “Begat;” and Charles F. Firmage of Boise, Idaho, for “Rhinestone Suits and Stetsons.” The three honorable mention awards were for free verse poems.

The contest was open to writers of all ages, and the guidelines for the contest permitted poets to select any form of poetry that did not exceed 40 lines. The poets were instructed to write their poems by selecting late country music stars and rendering their stories as though they were speaking from the grave, similar to those speaking in Spoon River Anthology.

M. Ray Allen, founder and president of AAA, has won more than 50 poetry awards since his debut as a poet at the opening ceremony of the Douglass House Center in Long Beach, California, in 1968, and Allen presented the idea for the contest to his board of directors in 2017. Allen remarked, “This is the first year for The Virginia Opry Legends of Country Music National Poetry Contest, and it is significant that it was launched during the same year the Virginia General Assembly honored The Virginia Opry for presenting country music shows in the Alleghany Highlands for 25 years.”

“Resolution 397” was passed by the Virginia General Assembly to honor The Virginia Opry that will open its 27th season in the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge on Sat., Feb. 17, at 7:00 p.m. Allen concluded, “Kathie Clarke, Iris Gilbert and Charlotte Ivy judged the contest for AAA.”
 
 
 

* * * * *

BACK TO THE JOURNAL'S HOMEPAGE!
* * * * *
KEEP UP WITH THE LOCAL NEWS! SIGN UP FOR ALLEGHANY JOURNAL BREAKING NEWS BELOW!
FREE Breaking News Sign Up Here!