Every fall, the Kentucky State Poetry Society gathers writers, readers, teachers, students, and lovers of language together for a weekend that feels less like a conference and more like a homecoming. The 2025 KSPS Conference—held November 1–2 both in person at Joseph-Beth Booksellers and the Lexington Writers Room, and online via Zoom—was a reminder of why poetry continues to matter in Kentucky: it brings us together.
This year’s schedule wove social connection, craft, scholarship, performance, and celebration into two full days of programming that centered one simple truth: poetry thrives where community does.
Day One: Gathering, Sharing, and Celebrating Together
Saturday opened with something beautifully simple—a meet and greet in the Writers Room at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. No pressure, no agenda, just poets reconnecting, meeting new members, and settling into a creative atmosphere. It set the tone for a day that would be equally welcoming and energizing.
The KSPS Welcome Session followed, along with the launch of the fall issue of Pegasus. For many attendees, this felt like a moment of arrival—an annual reminder of our shared work and the art we produce together.
From late morning into early afternoon, attendees explored the Kentucky Book Festival programming on both levels of Joseph-Beth. This open, wandering space between sessions became a highlight for many. There’s something inspiring about discovering authors, listening to snippets of panels, and browsing bookshelves—all with a community of fellow writers around you.
The afternoon keynote brought everyone together on the Main Stage with a conversation between Silas House and Kathleen Driskell—two voices who have shaped contemporary Kentucky literature. Their dialogue invited reflection on place, memory, responsibility, and the role of writers in challenging times. It was the kind of keynote that lingers.
The day closed at the Lexington Writers Room with a reception, open mic, and mini book fair—a space where emerging and established poets read side by side. It carried that mix of vulnerability and celebration that defines the KSPS community.
Day Two: Craft, Learning, and Creative Momentum
Sunday moved online, but the energy didn’t fade. If anything, the virtual format opened the door for even more participation from poets across Kentucky and beyond.
The day was packed with craft-focused workshops such as:
- “What the Record Shows” with Lynnell Edwards, where attendees explored archival and documentary materials as poetic source.
- “Your Dangerous Poem” with Letonia Jones, a generative session that encouraged poets to step into boldness.
- “Sound & Sense” with Marianne Worthington, who guided participants through sonic properties that give poems their resonance.
- “Poetrizzle Fo’Shizzle” with Tom C. Hunley, a playful and inventive dive into form and creativity.
Breaks between sessions offered needed breathers and informal conversation, preserving the human pace of an in-person event.
The Members-Only Business Meeting anchored the early afternoon—a reminder that KSPS is a member-powered organization continuing to grow and evolve.
Later came one of the most anticipated parts of the day: a poetry reading featuring Shauna Morgan, Lennie Hay, and Matthew S. Parsons. Their voices brought range—lyrical, grounded, experimental—and created a shared emotional thread that resonated with listeners.
The conference closed with a contest winners’ reading and open mic, where both seasoned poets and first-time readers stepped forward. It was a fitting end: a communal stage, a celebration of talent, and an open space for the future.
A Weekend That Reshaped and Recharged
What makes the KSPS Conference so meaningful each year isn’t just the sessions—it’s the sense of belonging. Over two days, writers had the chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new collaborators, share their work, learn something unexpected, and feel creatively renewed.
The 2025 conference reminded us that poetry is living work. It grows through conversation. It deepens through practice. It strengthens through community. And it thrives when we gather—whether in a bookstore, a writers’ room, or a Zoom window.
As we look ahead to another year of poems, workshops, publications, and connection, the feeling that lingers is gratitude: for the writers who shared their time, the presenters who shared their wisdom, and the members who continue to make KSPS a vibrant literary home.
Kentucky State Poetry Society 