Poet's Honor Roll

 

 

In November 26, 2009, a reception was held in Ingersoll, Ontario where, in abstentia, Neal Whitman received an award for winning the 2009 James McIntyre Poetry Contest. McIntyre (1827-1906) was their most famous home town son. The wags in Toronto called him "Canada's Worst Poet," but those of us who love his poems about dairy and rural life prefer to think of him as the "Chaucer of Cheese." In October 2009, two of Neal Whitman's haiku –– judged by two haiku masters in Japan –– were awarded honorable mention in the 2009 Yuki Teikei Haiku contest.