Congratulations to all the winning poets and poems in the 2020 Fall Contest, and thank you to each contestant who entered! The poetry was lovely!
Fall Contest Chairperson – Susan Morse
OPA Fall 2020 Contest Results:
Poet’s Choice: Pepper Trail, judge
First Place: “Rise on Up” – Mark Hammerschick
Second Place: “Temenos” – Alicia Byrne Keane
Third Place: “The Ballad of Chaos Nightingale” – Charles Castle
Honorable Mention: “the rape of persephone” – Sophie App-Singer
Honorable Mention: “Davis Peak Road” – Ruby Hansen Murray
Honorable Mention: “Minding the Elements” – Carol Barrett
Members Only: Amy Miller, judge
First Place: “At the Frenchglen Hotel” – Scottie Sterrett
Second Place: “Stealing Flowers From the Neighbors” – Sherri Levine
Third Place: “Weathervane” – Charles Castle
Honorable Mention: “Resume for Some Future Lover” – Daniel Hobbs
Honorable Mention: “The Marionette” – John McPherson
Honorable Mention: “Useful” – Paul Telles
New Poets: Eleanor Berry, judge
First Place: “The Outcrop” – Vicki Pedone
Second Place: “Her Eyes” – Robin Havenick
Third Place: “English Composition, 1962” – Daniel Hobbs
Honorable Mention: “this is supposed to be a poem” -Adam Oyster-Sands
Honorable Mention: “Seedless” – Ashley Baker
Honorable Mention: “The Body is Still a Miracle” – Pamela E. Hepper
Traditional/Pantoum: Erica Goss, judge
First Place: “Say Their Names” – Dan Kaufman
Second Place: “Prime the Big Bang to Reset the Clocks” – Barbara Blanks
Third Place: “Visiting Hours During the Pandemic” – Ann Farley
Honorable Mention: “Alterations” – Terry Hall Bodine
Honorable Mention: “Pantoum on the Cycle of Ice” – Laurel Benjamin
Honorable Mention: “Strongman” – Quinn Miller
Theme/Community: Emmett Wheatfall, judge
First Place: “Friday Night After COVID” – Christen Pagett
Second Place: “The Grandmothers Stand” – Linda Appel
Third Place: “don’t call us punk because we hate that” – Adam Oyster-Sands
Honorable Mention: “Small Town Pick (me) up” – Ryleigh Norgrove
Honorable Mention: “Never Say One Letter Doesn’t Count” – Catherine McGuire
Honorable Mention: “Drawing on Energy Reserves” – Lisa Baldwin
Under 30: Marilyn Johnston, judge
First Place: “Matryoshka” – Bailey Thomas
Second Place: “They’re Playing Baseball in Korea” – Alex Hart
Third Place: “Rebuild with Love” – Sophie App-Singer
Honorable Mention: “Friendsick” – Ashley Baker
Honorable Mention: “Minerva” – Jay Butler
Honorable Mention: “Sapling” – Moumita Roy
Spanish Language: José Angel Araguz, judge
First Place: “Sin ataduras” – Concepción Sámano
Second Place: “Nadie vendrá salvo la muerte” – German Rizo
Third Place: “Inocencia” – Tamara Alarcon Basurto
Honorable Mention: “Delirio” – Nitza Hernandez