Prize-winning poet Gerald A. McBreen, coordinator of Auburn’s Striped Water Poets, recently was awarded the title of Senior Poet Laureate of Washington State 2012.

The contest, in its 20th year, is sponsored by Amy Kitchener’s Angels Without Wings Foundation of Monterey, Calif.

Competition is for American poets age 50 and up. A winner is selected for each state with one national winner.

With this award McBreen has the unique distinction of holding three poet laureate positions simultaneously. In celebration of its centennial year (2009), the Pacific City Council appointed him its poet laureate. A few months later, Auburn Morning Toastmasters honored him with the same title.

Among his other awards he was named Poet of the Month in the summer issue of the online publication, Irish American Post.

McBreen’s winning poem, “Fellow Traveler”, soon will be published in the anthology Golden Words 2012.

For information about future contests, go to www.amykitchenerfdn.org.