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Winter Poetry Contest 2021
KELLY SARGENT
ABOUT HER
Snowflakes and Mistletoes
Reading Winter poetry reminds us of what sets this time of year apart from the other seasons. Though the earth is entering into hibernation, talented poets have a way of awakening us and our senses to unique pleasures: spotting the first ornate snowflake and glimpsing the mystical winter solstice moon in the sky; warming our hands over the wood stove on a blustery afternoon and listening to comforting crackles from a fireplace aglow; inhaling the aromas of sumptuous holiday feasts and, of course, swallowing that first sip of rich hot chocolate after polishing off a crisp holiday sugar cookie. Wrapped in a fleece blanket and nestled on the sofa, where all you can hear are sounds of sputtering embers and poets’ voices in your mind as you take in every vivid image and measured line, holding a mug of steaming cocoa in one hand and a book of poetry in the other
truly offers one of winter’s most delightful pleasures.
Born and adopted in Luxembourg, Kelly Sargent grew up with a deaf
twin sister in Europe and the U.S. Her 2021 poetry and artwork,
including a current Best of the Net nominee, appeared in dozens of
magazines in the U.S. and abroad. She also worked as an American Sign
Language interpreter and wrote for a national newspaper for the Deaf.
She has acted as a creative nonfiction editor for a literary journal, as well
as a reviewer for an organization dedicated to showcasing works by
sexual violence survivors.
A Merry Compilation for This Holiday Season! Snowflakes and Mistletoes
The grand winner of the winning honorarium of $100 is:
VASEEM THABREZ – THE FACADE OF LOVE
Vassem Thabrez is a passionate person who spends his time touring the forests of Tamil Nadu and works at Apple to fund his conquests. He is a poet, pianist, adventure seeker, gym freak, and food lover. He speaks Tamil, English, and Hindi. Currently, he lives in India with his green buddies. Instagram: rezcraze
The first runner-up is:
ERIK DIONNE – THE WINTER DUSKING
Erik Dionne is a musician and high school English teacher living alongside his wife, Jane, in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
The second runner-up is:
JENNIFER MARIANI – THE LIGHT WAS LEAVING
Jennifer Mariani was born in Zimbabwe. Her work has appeared in Mosi oa Tunya Literary Review, Uproar, Off-Topic Publishing, and The League of Canadian Poets. She has been a guest poetry judge for Off-Topic Publishing’s poetry contest. Jennifer resides in Calgary with her daughters where she teaches ballet.
Drum roll for our top finalists:
DR. KHALIL ELAYAN – THE SWARM
Dr. Khalil Elayan is a Senior Lecturer of English at Kennesaw State University, teaching mostly World and African American Literature. His other interests include finishing his book on heroes and spending time in nature on his farm in north Georgia. Khalil’s poems have been published in A Gathering of the Tribes magazine, Dime Show Review, About Place Journal, and The Esthetic Apostle. Khalil has also published creative nonfiction, with his most recent essay appearing in Talking Writing.
STUART FORREST – HOMELESS HEARTLAND 1913
I was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1951. I took writing courses at Stanford University Continuing Studies and began writing poetry in 2012.
THOMAS PENN JOHNSON – ANOTHER DREAM
“Another Dream” is submitted by Thomas Penn Johnson who was born on August 22nd, 1943 in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1966 he received a B.A. in Classical Studies from then-Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana; in 1968 he received an M.A. in English from UNC-G, and he continued graduate studies in English literature and history at Syracuse and Wake Forest Universities. In 1992 he published a collection of poems entitled “If Rainbows Promise Not in Vain.” In 2009 he retired from then-Edison State College in Fort Myers, Florida after serving for 26 years as an instructor of English and humanities.
ROBIN WEISER – THE HEART CRAWLS BACK HOME
Robin has returned to her city roots after living in New York’s Shawangunk Mountain Ridge for many years. She is a returning student and writer of poetry, and is very, very happy not to have to carry firewood or clear snow any longer.
HUGH FINDLAY – AFTER THE D&C
Hugh Findlay’s writing and photography have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, in print and online. He is in the third trimester of life. Instagram & Twitter: @hughmanfindlay
JORDAN BRIGGS – FOR ME
Jordan Briggs is an entrepreneur and attorney. His left brain gets to have all of the fun, so occasionally he writes so that his right brain does not melt and seep out of his ear.
RC DEWINTER – ADVENT
RC deWinter’s poetry is widely anthologized, notably in New York City Haiku (Universe/NY Times, 2/2017), New Contexts 2 (Coverstory Books, 9/2021) Now We Heal: An Anthology of Hope, (Wellworth Publishing, 12/2020) in print in 2River, Event Magazine, Gargoyle Magazine, Genre Urban Arts, Meat For Tea: The Valley Review, the minnesota review, Night Picnic Journal, Plainsongs, Prairie Schooner, San Antonio Review, The Ogham Stone, Southword, Twelve Mile Review, Yellow Arrow Journal, The York Literary Review among others and appears in numerous online literary journals. She’s also a one of winners of the 2021 Connecticut Shakespeare Festival Sonnet Contest, anthology publication forthcoming.
EVA MARIE – ROOTS
Eva-Marie is a writer and performer based in London. She initially moved to the UK to pursue acting and has been working in the film and theatre industry for over ten years. Her poetry is deeply romantic and often tragic, sprinkled with self-aware comedy and artistic references. Her work is mainly driven by a sense of Hiraeth that came from a multi-national background and a nature-based childhood contrasted with years of living in the city. This constant search for belonging, whether physical or emotional, is the root of her work.
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