GREENFIELD — Despite it being her first time submitting her work to the Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest, Greenfield resident Caroline Jennings emerged victorious in the adult category.

Jennings, along with the rest of the finalists in the adult category and the two categories for teens, were celebrated during a ceremony at Stoneleigh-Burnham School’s Geissler Gallery on Tuesday, with each having the chance to read their work in front of a large audience.

“I was a nervous wreck,” Jennings said of standing up to read her poem, “Holiday,” which is about her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. “But it means a lot to me.”

Jennings, who moved to Greenfield about eight years ago, said she was “pretty introverted” and she thought participating in the contest “might be a nice way to actually meet other people who were interested in the same kinds of things.”

About 170 poems were submitted for the 32nd year, compared to about 190 last year. Twenty finalists were chosen among three categories: adults, teens ages 12 to 14 and teens ages 15 to 18. While first, second and third place prizes are awarded in the adult category, two winners are selected for each youth subcategory, and those winners are not ranked.

All winners received a certificate, a handmade mug and a rose. However, since Jennings won first place, she received a plate reading “Poet’s Seat 2023” rather than a mug, and she won stewardship of the Poet’s Seat chair until the next adult first-place winner is announced next year. The chair was crafted by Greenfield resident John Carpenter about 26 years ago and stewardship of the chair has been a tradition ever since.

“The chair itself has a little indentation, a little place to put your pen,” said retired Greenfield Public Library Children’s Librarian Kay Lyons, who emceed Tuesday’s event. “It’s a very writing-friendly chair.”

Since the annual contest is in honor of Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, a poet who lived in Greenfield from 1847 until he died in 1873, his writing desk was showcased after going through some repairs before the pandemic. On Tuesday, finalists stood next to the desk while presenting their poems, and audience members admired it following the readings.

“Poetry is having a moment,” said Lyons. “I always say this is an introvert’s art, and here’s everybody pouring their hearts out. It’s beautiful and has always moved me.”

The co-winners for the 12 to 14 age group were Lennon Phillips for “The Early Morning’s Collection” and Ruby Rowen-Decker for “Space.”

Anna Guerrini with “an ode to deerfield” and Raquel Mazur with “How Are You?” were the co-winners for the 15 to 18 age group.

For the adult finalists, Barbara Ann Lemoine won second place for her poem “The Unheard” and Danielle Adams won third place for her poem “The Magpie.”

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