PWs 2023 Poetry Contest Winners

Time to celebrate!

Welcome, me lovelies, to the unveiling of the 2023 Poetry Contest Winners. We enjoyed an overwhelming response to the contest — 48 entries! Our esteemed poets poured their hearts out, dazzling us with remarkable poems and tales. They also made it difficult for us to choose winners, but choose we did!

First, I’d like to thank all contributing poets for their amazing poems. When I announced the contest, I had no idea how many poets would contribute nor how they would push the edge to submit such excellent work. I am bursting with pride for the great poets who allow us to showcase their work here at PW.

Second, I’d like to thank my co-judges, ADEOLA SHEEHY-ADEKALE and Bella Smith ⭐, for their dedication to excellence and for helping to weed through all the poems and choose the finest among them.

If you’d like to read all entries, you can find a list of them here:

Before the big announcement, I want to add a change to the winnings and explain the funding for these contests. So please bear with me just a bit longer.

Back in January of this year, I was conversing with a long-time mentor of mine going back to my college days at Hollins University. He asked me what I wanted to do in 2023. I explained to him that I wanted to run contests on my PW publication and pay the winners what they were worth. Since he is an author, poet, and academic and knows the ropes, he suggested that I apply for a grant and helped facilitate that. When I received the grant, I made him the executor of the money — when it is time for the prizes, he puts the funds in my bank account. I decided to run contests every two months and give decent award money. This was possible for the Essay contest in March and April and the Poetry contest in May and June. Since I am on hiatus during July, August, and maybe part of September, I’ve elected not to run a contest for July and August. This has opened the way for extra funds for the Poetry contest.

So what are the changes?

There will still be a Grand Prize of $100. However, there will be two 2nd place winners of $50 each and two 3rd place winners of $25 each.

🎉And Now For The Winners!🎉

1st Place and recipient of the $100 Grand Prize — My mind

Upon reading this poem, we were enthralled by My mind’s gorgeous rhyme scheme and endearing message. It is a beautiful love ballad as represented by these lines:

Through stormy seas and raging tides, The battle rages, where love abides, Each heartbeat a cadence, a rhythmic strife, In this symphony of love, the essence of life.

But amidst the chaos, a truth unfolds, That love is the victor, a story untold, For in surrendering hearts, they find release, And embrace the harmony, a sweet inner peace.

2nd place and recipients of the $50 prize

Caroline de Braganza — These Children Who Have Suffered Many Harms

Caroline’s beautiful sonnet reminds us that people suffer daily from hunger, disease, and tragedy. She embraces the children of the suffering in her poem, becoming a mama bear to them all.

Belovéd children, shelter in my home, Dissolve your wounds in tender healing streams, No longer will your soul be left to roam Abandoned in the fields of broken dreams.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Musa Ayaz — “THE WHISPERING OF THE SOUL”

Musa’s poem is uplifting and inspiring. It reminds all who feel downtrodden by the strife of daily life to listen to the inner voice of wisdom and intuition.

The inner voice, an unseen compass, I’m navigating the route where my future shines. It is aware of my mission and my distinctive melody, which it uses to motivate and inspire me.

In its soft chant, it gently reminds me that love is able to make all anguish disappear. It exhorts me to forgive others as well as myself, unleashing the ability to uplift sisters and brothers.

3rd Place and recipients of the $25 prize

Marcus aka Gregory Maidman — Peaceful Easy Feelings

Marcus’s entry is unusual because he included three poems with one theme — evoking a sense of peaceful moments. The first poem, a Rondeau, is an inspirational piece about watching clouds go by

Poodles canoodling in the sky Pups frolicking as they float by Joyful energy my heart fills Knowing I’m guarded, such a thrill Must describe sights with my third eye!

The second poem, an ekphrastic of four haiku stanzas followed by a Shakespearean sonnet, is a gorgeous tribute to the moon and inspiration that can be drawn from her

Oh, gracious goddess with so many names Diana, Luna, Isis, and others Many times cultures in oneness the same Make love with all should I have my druthers

Under cosmic shining light of gibbous moon I offer me to thee with pure intentions Petites morts we’ll share under killing lune My sacrifice for your affirmations

The third poem, a Tanka Series, encapsulates the beauty created by June’s winds

Wheatfield rolls like sea Caribbean’s warm ocean breezes come to mind Gaia calmly smiles at me Everything will be alright

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kenny Minker — Poem: Harvest

Kenny’s poem is a vignette of working on a farm and remembering his grandfather’s life. It evokes the struggles of our ancestors who never complained but just did the work

I would close my eyes and imagine reaching down to touch my toes, with a grace that I knew to be within me, but I didn’t stretch because I didn’t want to confuse my muscles. I couldn’t remove them from their work.

The sharp edges of my body slid like slabs of rock over the landscape. My mind moved like that of a bird, looking down and gathering food, and thinking of little else.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

1. Marc Barham — The Specter And The Rose
2. Mad Midori — The Selkie: Captured From the Sea
3. Amna fayyaz — Taking A Stand Against Bullying
4. Kelli Murbach — Here Again (a poem)
5. Josh E. — As I Dissolve
6. Nicholas Breen — A Knight’s Quest
7. Cee Arr — Poetry: Not There (Don’t Look)
8. Mayur Sonowal — And Garbage in the Rain
9. Kavya Janani. U — Birthing a New Me
10. Athena Milios — A State of Struggle and Imperfection

SPECIAL MENTION

Due to circumstances beyond her control, Jerileewei could not make the deadline. However, her poem deserves recognition. I see myself in her ‘Agatha Cranky Pants’

And there you have it, me lovelies — our winners and honorable mentions. Thanks, once again, to everyone who contributed. I’ve said it before, and I will continue to say it — PW has some of the finest poets on Medium, and I am eternally grateful to all of you.

For the winners, please contact me via my email — [email protected] — to let me know how you would like to receive your cash prize — PayPal, Buy Me A Coffee, or Ko-fi.

Ravyne Hawke, EIC