Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Wood County Committee on Aging (WCCOA) recently announced the winners of the 20th Annual Poetry Contest.
Submissions, with a theme of “Voices Unheard,” were accepted from Wood County residents 50 years of age and over. Thirty-four poems from 21 authors were submitted.
Geoff Howes, of Bowling Green, was named the first-place winner for his poem entitled, “10 Months Later 1” and “10 Months Later 2,” winning a $100 gift card sponsored by the Manor at Perrysburg.
Bowling Green State University associate writing professor Chad Van Buskirk coordinated the professor and graduate students who judged this year’s contest.
Reflecting on the poems “10 Months Later 1” and “10 Months Later 2,” judges noted how the works felt carefully considered from start to finish, with attention to detail and image and language that came across as entirely organic and yet sophisticated.
“These poems in response to the death of a loved one fit the theme of ‘second glances’ in several ways,” Howes said. “In the first one, items that are just sitting around gain new meaning because they were left in that spot by the absent one, and the contents reveal aspects of their life. In the second one, a plant takes on new meaning by suggesting that all phases of life, not just death, can still be seen as present.”
Joseph DeMare, of Bowling Green, was named the runner up with his poem entitled, “45-Year-Old Paper.” He won a $50 gift card sponsored by Wood Haven Healthcare.
Honorable mentions were awarded to Stephen Peterson with poem “Porch Swing,” Carole Rinehart with the poem “My Favorite Place,” “Divine Transformation.” by Dan Mellen and Catherine Cassara with the poem “How Does One Declutter a Life.”
All the submitted poems can be read on the WCCOA blog at https://woodcountycommitteeonaging.blogspot.com/
Ten Months Later 1
By Geoff Howes
Still sitting by a bookcase in the back room
that Record Store Day tote bag
with green and red grooves
Inside it a Funko Pop Space Ghost
a Mattel John Cena figurine
a small black plastic bag of
Christmas and birthday cards
mostly from your mother
some Polaroids of a onetime couple
two or three old wedding invitations
a little Damaru drum, red and green and yellow
the Lucky Peach Chicken Issue
the “Batman Returns” 30th anniversary issue
a Diesel Sweeties treasury
Propped next to the tote
a large white envelope
from Job and Family Services
containing a Medicaid self-employment ledger
unfilled out
