The grand winner of the Dulce Poetica Contest 2022:

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ONE LAST – JORDAN BUSZA

Jordan Busza is a college senior from Philadelphia, PA, majoring in Computer Science with minors in Classics and Theology & Religious Studies. He has previously published as: a student academic contributor to the online resource “Companion to the Worlds of Roman Women,” an undergraduate historical writer within the Saint Joseph’s University 2021-2022 Edition of the “Hayes History Journal,” and a writer of selected poems within the Saint Joseph’s University 2022 Edition of the “Crimson and Gray” literary magazine. Separate from writing poetry, Jordan is currently working on religious studies research scholarship in hopes of publishing to the “Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa.” As a capstone to his college career, Jordan is additionally producing an honors thesis project centered on the topic of unrequited love within classical studies.

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The first runner-up is:

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FALL OUTS – GAVIN BOURKE

Gavin Bourke grew up in the suburb of Tallaght in West Dublin. Married to Annemarie living in County Meath, he holds a B.A. in Humanities from Dublin City University, an M.A. Degree in Modern Drama Studies and a Higher Diploma in Information Studies from University College Dublin. His work broadly covers nature, time, memory, addiction, mental health, human relationships, inner and outer life, creating meaning and purpose, politics, contemporary and historical social issues, injustice, the human situation, power and its abuse, absurdism, existentialisms, human psychology, cognition, emotion and behaviour, truth and deception, the sociological imagination, illness, socio-economics, disability, inclusivity, human life, selfishness and its consequences as well as urban and rural life, personal autonomy, ethics, commerce, science, grand schemes and the technological life in English and to a lesser extent in the Irish Language.

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The second runner-up is:

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GUISE OF BLISS – FAREZKA S.P.

Farezka S.P. is an aspiring self-taught author based in Indonesia. They consider literature as a crucial piece of humanity, a wonderful gift born from various ideas and imaginations. Although Farezka’s focus remains in the fiction department, they too like to tackle other forms of literature like “Guise of Bliss” which is Farezka’s first poetry.

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A huge round of applause for our top finalists:

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BULKHEAD – DONNA HARLAN

Donna Harlan is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and has published one collection of poetry and had her work featured in several publications. She resides in Jonesborough, Tennessee with her husband where they marvel every day as the sun rises over the lake.

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THE VOICES OF THREE WOMEN – TIFFANY TUCHEK

Tiffany Tuchek is an emerging writer, aspiring photographer and watercolor artist. She is a former elementary teacher with a B.A. in Education from Michigan State University. She lives in Michigan with her husband and rescue pets – two dogs and five parrots. Her interests include yoga, gluten-free baking and walks with her family. She enjoys revealing the fragile aspects of life through poetry and artwork. Her poems, photography and watercolor art have appeared or are forthcoming in Beyond Words Literary Magazine, Humana Obscura, Rockvale Review, Tiny Seeds Literary Journal, Plants & Poetry Journal, and Culinary Origami.

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CHANCES – KATIE MOINO

Katie is a poet from Vermont. She has been writing poetry since age 6. Besides writing poems, she loves traveling and spending time in the sun.

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SIVVY – AMANDA RIOUX

Amanda is a freelance writer and photographer, and adjunct English professor. Her work has appeared in The Bangalore Review; The Literary Hatchet; Burning Words; Temper; and on various blogs and websites.