WELCOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA STATE POETRY SOCIETY

To encourage poem-making and
poem-reading in South Dakota.

  • South Dakota
SDSPS was organized in 1927 and incorporated as a South Dakota non-profit on August 8, 1970.

Our Mission

To encourage and foster the writing and publication of poetry by South Dakota writers and to promote excellence therein; to arouse in students of high school and college age, interest in the creative writing of poetry; to foster or publish Pasque Petals, a magazine, on a regular basis, thereby continuing the publication which was begun before the Society was organized, which publication is devoted chiefly to poetry, to stimulate by such proper means as the sponsoring of contests, awarding of prizes, and by other means of encouragement, the writing of poetry; and by these means to aid in the cultural growth of South Dakota.

SDSPS acknowledges that we share the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires nations, the proper name for the tribes of the Santee-Dakota, Yankton-Nakota, and Teton-Lakota people, referred to collectively as the Sioux.

fountain pen, notebook, paper

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Regaining the Spark for Writing by Holly Moseley

By sdpoetry | August 12, 2019

Probably everyone who wants to be any kind of writer has already read Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg’s much cited book about writing. I’m a bit slow to the table here, though I’ve known of the book for quite a while, and I want to encourage others who might have put off reading it to DO […]

SDSPS Announces Mini-Grant Opportunities

By sdpoetry | July 15, 2019

At its June meeting, the SDSPS Board of Directors established a mini-grant program to award matching grants for projects that support South Dakota poets and poetry.  The program is effective immediately and applications are open. Up to four SDSPS Mini Grants of up to $250 each will be awarded annually. Proposals will be accepted on […]

SDSPS Announces Mini-Grant Funding Opportunity

By DarlaBiel | July 5, 2019

At its June meeting, the SDSPS Board of Directors established a mini-grant program to award matching grants for projects that support South Dakota poets and poetry.  The program is effective immediately and applications are open. Up to four SDSPS Mini Grants of up to $250 each will be awarded annually. Proposals will be accepted on […]

Serendipitous Writing

By Marsha Warren Mittman | June 24, 2019

When I picked up my ringing phone I heard a male voice. Congratulations, Marsha, it said, you’ve been awarded… and, disgusted with yet another robocall, I immediately started to hang up. Was this for a cruise to the Bahamas? Or a free hotel stay in Florida? Maybe a discount on a walk-in tub… I’m probably […]

Spring! Has! Sprung!

By Lindy Obach | May 29, 2019

It’s spring *technically* here in South Dakota, though the west got buried in snow just a few days ago, and the sun hasn’t been too shiny in the east lately. Good thing we are sturdy, tough folk. Still, though, we know it’s Spring. She does not make her entrance quietly. When spring arrives, boy does […]

Sharing Poetry

By sdpoetry | May 20, 2019

by Holly Moseley, Camp Crook Often we think of sharing poetry as trying to get our own poems published. It is great to open a new issue of South Dakota Magazine or Pasque Petals or a local anthology and read a poem by someone we might meet or already know. Reading words that describe a […]

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