Dorothy Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Lyric Poetry
Description. The Dorothy Rosenberg Memorial Prize in Lyric Poetry will be awarded for composition of the best original unpublished lyric poem. Each entrant may submit only one poem; the length should not exceed thirty lines. A lyric poem is a poem that sings. It is usually quite short. When the poem is read aloud, it should inspire and delight by its heartfelt thought and feeling and the beauty of its language. For complete information read the General Rules.
Prize Amounts. Approximately $6,000 will be awarded at the judges' discretion. At least one prize will be awarded to an undergraduate student and at least one prize will be awarded to a graduate student. Federal financial aid regulations require that all awards received by a student can not exceed their financial aid need as determined by a congressional formula. It is possible, therefore, that the cash award for a prize could reduce some component of a needy student’s package of financial aid awards. In these cases, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office attempts first to reduce loan or work aid; fellowships, grants, or scholarships are only reduced as a last resort.
Deadline. Submissions must be hand-delivered by the author to the Undergraduate Scholarships, Prizes, and Honors Office, 220 Sproul Hall, no later than 4 p.m on December 1. The author's name must not appear on the entry.
History of the Prize. When Dorothy Rosenberg died, her husband, Professor Marvin Rosenberg, established a fund to award this prize in her name.
Examples
The following lyric poetry was written by Dorothy Rosenberg. For additional examples of Dorothy Rosenberg's lyric poetry, historical background and information on the Dorothy Rosenberg poetry prizes, please visit www.dorothyprizes.org.
RECOGNITION
There are some
secret places of the
heart no one else
knows, where I
can go apart.
How was it
love that one day I
found you before
me in the place
that no one knew.
SOFTLY
When you give me your love, you
put a mystery into my hands. I
take it in that spirit, and wait
Like a blind child I saw holding
up a quiet folded dove; she
was feeling it with her cheek.
And one could guess what wonders
she would find: that she would
see it better - being blind.
2010-11: 35 entries; Jane Gregory, graduate winner ($1,600); Taylor Hickok and Kayla Krut, undergraduate winners ($1,600 each)
2009-10: 39 entries; Anna Reeser 1st place undergraduate prize ($2,000), Steven Lance 2nd place undergraduate prize ($1,500), Emma Tome 3rd place undergraduate prize ($1,000), Teresa Jimenez Honorable Mention undergraduate prize ($500), Gillian Osborne graduate prize ($1,000)
2008-09: 27 entries; Matthew Melnicki and Alani Hicks-Bartlett graduate winners ($2,000 each); 1st prize undergraduate winner Steven Lance ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Joe Cadora ($1,000)
2007-08: 10 entries; Kate Klonowski and Matthew Melnicki ($2,000 each)
2006-07: 25 entries; Graduate Winner: Colin Dingler ($2,000); Undergraduate Winner: James May ($2,000); Honorable Mention: Marisa Libbon
2005-06: 22 entries; Michael Nicholson and Elizabeth Young ($1,000 each); Honorable Mention: Diana Y. Chien
2004-05: 28 entries; Edgar Garcia ($500)
2003-04: 23 entries; Edgar Garcia ($200)
2002-03: 16 entries; Michael Heinrich ($200)
2001-02: 26 entries; Lily Dwyer ($100)
2000-01: 12 entries; Emily Beall ($100)
1999-00: Mandy Kahn ($100)
1998-99: 9 entries; winner Caetlin Benson-Allott ($100)
1997-98: 11 entries; winner Kimberly Johnson ($100)