Adult Contest Winners

2021 Spring Contest Winners for the Traditional Category (Dizain) Judge: John Sibley Williams First Place: “In the Key of Melancholy” by Barbara Blanks A sigh of shadows slips between the stars, creates a somber lyric when the sky and moon are strummed like out-of-tune guitars. The thrum of sounds, their smoky purrs awry as restless […]

2021 Spring Contest Winning Poems for the Theme Category: Emergence Judge – Rachel Barton First Place: “Because You Asked” by Michael Hanner Death is the return to the place we came from. Some say it looks a lot like McDonald, Goshen or East of Eden. I got here via my parents’ assault on the nothingness

2021 Spring Contest Winners in the New Poets Category Judge: Clements Starck First Place Tie: “Garden on Thanksgiving Morning” by Carol Boutard Pathways raked in July are covered with leaves, nothing thriving but billows of chickweed, sturdy rosettes of hawksbeard and mahonia which shakes fists of yellow buds at the sky. Brush dragged into piles

Spring 2021 Adult Poetry Contest Winners in the Members Only Category (Judge: Colette Tennant) First Place: “From the Journals of Rumpelstiltskin” by Linda Ferguson I gave myself the name. So many syllables – delicious – like chocolate and almonds or the wrinkles of dried cherries and shards of coconut all tumbling between tongue and teeth.

Spring 2021 Adult Poetry Contest Winners of the Poet’s Choice Category (Judge – John Morrison) First Place: “Everyone Worries Schrodinger’s Cat is Dead or Alive, Yet No One Stops to Ask Its Name” by Brady Pearson You can measure the speed of light with a microwave and a chocolate bar though if the time we

Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you most sincerely to every poet who sent entries to support our contest. We appreciate your support! S. Morse, Contest Chairperson Poet’s Choice (Judge – John Morrison) First Place: “Everyone Worries Schrodinger’s Cat is Dead or Alive, Yet No One Stops to Ask Its Name” by Brady Pearson

2020 Fall Contest Winners in the Spanish Language Category Judge: José Angel Araguz First Place: “Sin ataduras / I don’t want to belong” by Ma. Concepcion Sin ataduras No quiero pertenecer quiero ser libre más allá del amor más allá de la patria y la familia sin la soga del ritual desplazarme en la ingravidez

Fall 2020 Winning Poems for “30 and Under” Category Contest Judge: Marilyn Johnston First Place in 30 and Under – “Matryoshka” by Bailey Thomas I am many within myself Ten thousand days vying for influence Building to a fractured whole. I feel you in there, small and unsure Gangly and filled with hope, anger, fear

2020 Fall Adult Contest Results for Theme/Community Judge: Emmett Wheatfall First Place Winner for Theme: “Friday Night after COVID” by Christen Pagett We’ll walk to Fitzgerald’s at the corner, and I’ll order the darkest beer with the deepest froth and tip him more than 20%, even though he’s never smiled at us before. We’ll meld

Fall 2020 Winning Poems in the Traditional/Pantoum Category Judge:  Erica Goss First Place: “Say Their Names” by Dan Kaufman As we step toward justice, we must say their names. Mr. Arbery, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Floyd, discarded while Black. Knee-necked, bulleted, erased by cold aims. The roll call continues, each a bitter flashback. Mr. Floyd, Mr.