History of the Iowa Poetry Association

“Every poem is a temporary stay against the confusion of the world.” – Robert Frost October 1945: Emerging from the grip of World War II, burdened with recovery and rebuilding, and still embroiled with Japan, the atmosphere of the time held little of the beauty and serenity associated with lyricism. Younkers Tea Room, at 8th & Walnut Streets in downtown Des Moines was an oasis in a maelstrom. Since its opening a couple of decades earlier, the Tea Room was known for its elegance – and its delicious sticky buns. While we have no registration list of those present on October 20 or 21 (exact date is uncertain), this was the birthplace of the Iowa Poetry Association. Like many a birth, there were agonizing pains. The ladies, dressed in finery, certainly with hats and white gloves, were soon to discover that peace did not come easily. Agnes V. Flannery is often credited with creation of this first state-wide poetry association, [by first convincing then Iowa Governor Hickenlooper to proclaim the third Friday in October as Iowa Poetry Day in 1943, then helping to formally launch the Association in October 1945]. However, it seems that Ms. Flannery was associated with the Iowa Poetry DAY Association and the split that occurred over the name and other issues was nearly as volatile as efforts to reconcile world powers after the War. In the scraps of records that survive the day, the names of several key players stand out: Raymond Kresensky, of Algona, had headed the Iowa portion of FWP (Federal Writers Project), part of the New Deal’s WPA, whose objective was to support the arts and engage writers in producing a history of Iowa’s towns and cities, Indian [Native American] heritage, and the state’s natural features. A poet himself, Kresensky left the FWP in 1939, but continued to encourage and assist in the formation of poetry groups. One of IPA’s founders, he served as treasurer, one of its first presidents, and was instrumental in the publication of Lyrical Iowa. Some of his letters are preserved in the State Historical Library at Iowa City. Grace Noll Smith, teacher and librarian, associated with Grinnell College, was the first editor of Lyrical Iowa. A decade or so later that position was in the capable hands of Ruth DeLong Peterson of New London. Virginia Blanck Moore, Des Moines, was Ruth’s able successor, followed 14 editions later, in 1989, by myself, Lucille Morgan Wilson. In 2017, Marilyn Baszczynski stepped into this role. Given the precedents, she is surely aware this is a long-term commitment. In her 1971 Editor’s Report, Ruth DeLong Peterson pays tribute to others – associate editors and judges, teachers, and all who have also shaped our publication. Too numerous to list here, we recognize the labors from preparing and distributing contest information to shipping out the completed anthology as a combined effort. Each of the editors-in-chief would agree to that. However, the length and devotion of time and skills given, indicate need to mention Dr. Louis A. Haselmayer, Iowa Wesleyan College (Mount Pleasant), who after four years as IPA president continued as workshop critic for several years; Dr. Ralph Speer, Grandview College (Des Moines), who contributed much over a number of years as associate editor and as workshop critic; Dr. Paul Blakely (Drake University ?), associate editor for twenty years; Dr. Mildred Bensmiller (Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant), College Editor). Dr. Loren C. Gruber (Simpson College) served several terms as president, often was a workshop critic, driving back from Missouri as long as health permitted. Several others associated with colleges and universities gave their time and talented energies toward the production of our annual volume of poetry. We do not know the involvement of Jessie M. Parker, Iowa’s Superintendent of Public Instruction (1927-??), but her name is included in the short list of early IPA officers. Our state Department of Education has been extremely cooperative in helping publicize our contests through the years. The earliest edition of Lyrical Iowa in my possession is 1948. The 1949 book says it is the 5th edition, so even from that year of formation we have witness to the poetic aspirations of Iowans. 53 poems by students, 2nd through 12th grades, from schools from Coin to Keokuk, from Sioux City to Muscatine, fill 18 pages of the 86-page book. Sixth grader Marilyn Vogel offers this quatrain on a subject that intrigues poets of all ages endlessly. See e.e. cummings, Amy Lowell, Wallace Stevens, Robert Louis Stevenson, and more. Here’s Marilyn’s insight: THE MOON The moon is big and round, It has a yellow face, It looks to me like a pound of cheese Sitting on a base. Both size and appearance of Lyrical Iowa have changed over the years, from a fold-over, stapled chapbook style of some 80 pages to what printers call “perfect-bound” in 1977 of 128 pages, Virginia Blanck Moore, editor. With additions through the years of contest categories for Humorous Verse, Sonnets, Haiku, National/World Events, Poems FOR Children, and College, we have nearly 180 pages, which allows space for almost 400 poems. Advances in the printing process led us to using colorful generic scenes on book covers in 1972. A few years later, Sharon Becker sent your editor an Iowa scene she had photographed. Thus began our custom of choosing from member submissions of woodlands, farmyards, and small towns in varied seasons to enhance the book’s exterior. Cost of the book has necessarily risen, from 30 cents to $2.00 (1971) to $7.00 (1995) to the present $10.00, with a variance for order date and shipping charges. As many as 850 books have been sold. Public libraries have held standing orders for nearly a hundred of these, although the number is gradually reducing, with budget cuts and electronically accessed reading material. Masthead of our newsletter, designed by Larry Link at the beginning of this century and used until a recent modernization, affirms our membership in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) and affiliation with the Academy of American Poets. The latter is an “associate” designation because of our annual small contribution made toward their support. IPA joined NFSPS in 1975 or 1976, during Max Barker’s presidency. I remember the vote to join at the business meeting in the dimly-lighted Kirkwood Hotel basement, never dreaming that I would be one of the delegates attending national conventions in Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Harrisburg (PA), Deerfield (MI) or wherever the annual meetings were held. [Personal note: Up to a dozen Iowans have gone to meet with other poets from across the U.S. Several of us were there to cheer when our Pat Underwood won the BIG ONE in 1996 and again in 2002! Beginning with Mankato, MN in 1987, in the ensuing 33 years I’ve missed just one -- for a granddaughter’s wedding. While a poet may need solitary time for his/her writing, the inspiration and challenge of associating with other poets gives a significant boost to the art.] We are not organized into chapters as are some of the other states, but IPA has overlapping membership with persons who also belong to local groups. Individual members have participated in numerous other poetry-related events, but representing IPA we read our poetry at the Iowa State Fair in 2000 and 2001 – perhaps other years, too; In 1994 we sponsored a day-long event at Coe College, Cedar Rapids. Ann Struthers, who regularly did poetry reviews for the Des Moines Register was our keynoter. In the last few years Marilyn Baszczynski has arranged for our student winners to read their poems at the State Historical Building. Our workshops in April and October have been important for beginners and established poets alike. Both to avoid the traffic in downtown Des Moines during Drake Relays weekend, and to take advantage of good lunches prepared by the church ladies, from 1997 through 2018, (with two exceptions) workshops were held at Wesley United Methodist Church on East 12th Street, Des Moines. Several of our critics have been mentioned above. Format of our virtual Spring Workshop this year will be repeated in October, and for as long as the Covid-19 threat hangs over us. Report from the Fall of 1998 says 61 persons were present. Fifty, or just below, is a more usual number. Our by-laws put forth our mission to “promote interest in and appreciation of poetry among Iowans, through educational opportunities, poetry writing contests and the publication of an annual anthology of Iowa poetry.” This we have been actively doing for seventy-five years. We launch into the last quarter century in a world suffering from disease, hate and violence. Hear these words of Audre Lorde, New York state poet laureate: Poetry is not only dream and vision: it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before. — submitted by Lucille Morgan Wilson published in Lyrical Iowa 2020