Thursday, July 10, 2014

Demographics of a Poetry Anthology

Our annual poetry contest is open to everyone, but is primarily advertised in Rapid City. It's no surprise that most of the poets have some connection to Rapid City or other parts of South Dakota. Some were born here and moved away, some moved back here after moving away, some moved here from other places and some were just passing through. Today our to-be-anthologized poets can be found as far away as Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Peru as well as in the states Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Vermont and also in Washington, D.C. Rapid City is the most heavily represented part of South Dakota but the poets can be found in other SD cities as well: Sioux Falls, Brookings, Vermillion, Pierre and some smaller towns, too. Smaller than Vermillion you say? Yes. Let’s face it, it’s not that hard to do in South Dakota.

For vocations some of our poets make their living with words as editors, journalists, and freelance writers. There are teachers and students. Others are or were librarians, ranchers, military personnel, a nurse and an electrician. More than one came back to poetry after retirement.

The poems themselves are wide ranging in form and texture. Many celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Some tell stories of the past or present, some capture small moments in time.