Penned by Lantern Light is the cowboy/western poem written by a member of Western Wordsmiths (WW) for publication quarterly in the Western Way. WW members may submit a poem at any time. Our deadlines for submitting a Penned poem to Western Way are:

Winter Issue: December 1; Spring Issue: March 1; Summer Issue: June 1; Fall issue: September 1.

Guidelines for the submitted poems include a limit of 500 words.

If selected, the author of the poem needs to provide a bio of 150 words or less as well as a photo that is suitable for publication in the Western Way.

The Chapter officers shall maintain an inventory of poems to be considered by a panel of five selectors. The WW President issues an invitation for selectors for each calendar year in early January. Poems submitted shall remain in the inventory for the year in which it is submitted and for the following year. Selectors shall have access to the inventory of poems which shall be kept anonymous. Selectors shall vote for the top three poems, with the top poem receiving a 3, the next a 2, and the third a 1.

Selectors will determine which poems are most appealing to them and that are characteristic of and in keeping with preserving and promoting cowboy/western poetry. 

The authors of the poems and the selectors will be anonymous to each other throughout the process.