What a beautiful day for Vermont poetry! On Saturday, June 27th, members of the Poetry Society of Vermont (PSOV) gathered in Montpelier to celebrate the official launch of the 2026 Mountain Troubadour.

The afternoon kicked off with a lively social hour. As members checked in and picked up their complimentary copies of this year’s journal. Attendees mingled and enjoyed a celebratory spread of cake, cookies, and a fine cheese selection generously donated by Jasper Hill Farms.

The Craft Table

The pre-event social hour also featured a unique, interactive craft table brought by PSOV President Cindy Ellen Hill. The table was set up to help prepare for an upcoming Revolutionary Press activity at the Summer Festival. The task? Punching out pieces of paper from past editions of The Mountain Troubadour. These recycled fragments of PSOV history will be directly incorporated into the papermaking process for the summer event.

A Celebration of Collaboration and Community

Once everyone settled in, Buffy Aakaash, PSOV’s Editor and Treasurer, officially hosted the event. Buffy opened the afternoon by extending a heartfelt thank you to the Executive Council, the Editorial Board, and the entire PSOV membership for their invaluable contributions to this year’s edition of The Mountain Troubadour—a proud tradition that PSOV has kept alive since 1949.

Cindy Ellen Hill then took the stage to highlight what makes the journal’s selection process so unique, balancing:

Spring & Fall Members’ Choice Voting (community-driven selection)
Summer Contests (evaluated by experienced guest judges)
General Submissions (vetted by our own Editorial Board)

“This deliberate mix of blind judging, peer voting, and editorial curation is exactly why each edition brings such a beautifully wide and diverse range of poetic voices to the page.”

The Voices on the Page Come Alive

Following a few brief announcements about upcoming PSOV events, it was time for the main event: the readings. Members whose work was featured in the 2026 edition stepped up to the microphone. The room fell captivated as a succession of poets read one or two of their published pieces. The scope of the work ranged from urgent political commentary to deeply reflective rural pastorals and everything in between. Below are a few snippets from some of the poems read:

“Flimsy” by Katie Spring

I write flimsy poems

so light

they may fly

like wisps

so insubstantial

may they slip through

the cracks of even

the hardest heart…

“Mother’s Last Words” by Kristine Korman

I wish I was young again with my children

she said wistfully but not with her voice

she was writing on paper with a pen…

“Point Nemo” by The Character We Are

My body feels empty

But my mind is full

The voice in my head

Says that I am null

The world keeps on spinning—

In a void not unlike my own.

The sun keeps on shining,

But, the light is unable to fill the hole…

“Autumnal Equinox: 1925/2025” by Robin Dellabough

…Rise up those fallen trees into flames

that burn down winter in the dark,

warm hearth, heart. Try to stay

alive. To stay. Try. Alive.

A Sweet Wrap-Up & Special Thanks

After the final stanzas were read, the event wrapped up with a brief opportunity for members to mingle, grab a last bite of cheese, and congratulate the readers. A special note of gratitude goes out to Buffy Aakaash for his tireless work as editor to bring this beautiful volume to life, and to artist and poet Leigh Gavin Harder for the stunning cover art that graces this year’s edition.

Note to Members: If you are a current member of PSOV and were unable to attend the book launch, keep an eye on your mailbox! You can look forward to receiving your complimentary copy of the 2026 Mountain Troubadour in the mail soon. You can also purchase additional copies online at Rootstock Publishing’s website.

Thank you to everyone who attended, read, crafted, and contributed to making the 2026 launch an unforgettable success. See you all at the Summer Festival on August 8th!