Promising Young Poets of Martha’s Vineyard Honored at Featherstone

On an Island that boasts so many talented poets, it makes sense that there are also a good number of talented young poets. This afternoon at in Oak Bluffs, eight of these poets will be recognized.

The ceremony will recognize six winners and two runners-up in a ceremony where these young poets, all Island high school students, will read their work and be welcomed into the larger community of Island poets.

Promising Young Poets (PYP) is the brainchild of Fan Ogilvie, Poet Laureate of West Tisbury. Ogilvie, along with Featherstone, the and Justen Ahern of the Martha's Vineyard Writers Residency, have produced this event for the past three years.

Ahern, who assists Ogilvie in reading the submissions, and who works with students to prepare them to perform their poems at the awards reading, said that judging the poetry isn’t as hard a task as one would think.

“You get a sense for the particular rhythms and style, essentially the aesthetic of each poet and read according to this. But it is mostly a pleasure to read the work of students. There is always an invention and curiosity in the language.”

Young Poets honored this year:

Sarah Gruner

Annabelle Hackney

Lizzie Kelleher

Claudia Taylor

Paige Taylor 

Oscar Thompson

Honorable Mention:

Maddie Scott

Samantha Valley

Lizzie Kelleher, who will be the only poet missing from the awards ceremony, has been a winner the past three years. Oscar Thompson was a runner-up last year and an honorable mention the year before and Claudia Taylor was a winner last year.  

All awardees become Promising Young Poets (PYP) Alumni, with support offered year-round including memberships to the Pathways Writing Room at the . They will also have access to summers at Featherstone, with special invitations to connect with nationally and locally acclaimed poets under the Poetry Tent at the Pathways~Featherstone Summer Festival of Poetry.

The 3rd Annual Pathways-Featherstone Promising Young Poets Awards takes place Thursday, April 5th, from 4 pm to 5:30 pm in the Pebble Gallery at Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs. Each poet will read from honored poems. Reception to follow with light refreshments