EDGAR GALEANO – THANK YOU

Edgar Galeano is a distinguished songwriter and musical artist based in Lewiston, Idaho. With an impressive discography that boasts over 60 albums and more than 1,000 songs, he is celebrated for his substantial contributions to music, having received three nominations for the Grammy® Awards. Edgar holds a degree in Communication Arts from Lewis-Clark State College and is recognized as an award-winning songwriter. Originally from Paraguay, he is also a published author, with his most recent works in the United States being "Elegy" and "Libro de las Odas." In addition, Edgar is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, as well as the Latin Grammy® Academy, and he maintains affiliation with the Academy of American Poets.

https://www.facebook.com/edgar.galeano.5249 https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCzzJTmDOQJRxXANZqde9Cnw?si=qYwBbYzZ2J5byW2O https://www.facebook.com/edgargaleanodominguez/.

We say "thank you" often, but when it comes to love, those words take on a whole new meaning. Edgar Galeano mesmerized us with his simple yet powerful words, and Vince Soldano took it even further, crafting something deeply personal and profound. In the end, just looking at our loved ones sums it all up. No words needed, just the feeling, just the moment. Because love isn’t measured in sentences, but in the silence that speaks volumes. In the way hearts race, in the way eyes meet, in the way time stands still.

Every heartbeat is a thank you, every glance a promise, every touch a story untold.

And now, get ready for an experience that will stay with you long after the final word is spoken! Here’s to “I Look At You.”

Truly a mesmerizing work.


VINCE SOLDANO – I LOOK AT YOU

Vince Soldano is 27 years old and from New Orleans, LA. He is currently in school to become a surgical tech. He first found a love for writing in high school when he took a creative writing course and again in college at Delgado Community College. He rejuvenated this love for writing and found his passion in writing poetry after writing this very piece in December of 2024. After writing this poem and another one only a week later, Vince made it his goal for 2025 to write a poem a week and plans to one day publish a collection of his work. To date, he has written 15 poems and close to 50 haikus.
Insta: @vince_soldano.

From I Look At You to When I Saw You, this journey has been nothing short of fantastical. Love is never just one thing—it’s a spectrum of emotions, a canvas painted with endless shades of passion, longing, and devotion. And yet, that first glance—the spark, the unspoken connection—stays with us forever, etched into our souls like poetry on a page. We may be fools in love, chasing dreams wrapped in whispers and stardust, but these words tell a different story. They remind us that love is not just about grand gestures but also the quiet moments, the stolen glances, and the weight of a single word spoken at the right time.

Our third winner doesn’t just write poems—she breathes life into them. With each verse, she captures the essence of love in its purest form, weaving emotions that resonate with every heart that dares to feel. Her words aren’t just read; they are felt, lingering like an echo of a love story yet to unfold.

An absolute delight.


SHREYA BANERJEE – WHEN I SAW YOU (PART 1 & 2)

Shreya Banerjee is a poetry enthusiast from India. She loves reading books, writing poems, visiting places, playing piano, and learning new languages. Her poem was selected among the top 25 poems in the Litfiesta competition arranged by the Amity University, Kolkata, India. Recently, she published her poem titled 'Ode to Apollo----The Sun God' under the pseudonym Simurgh in the poetry social network mypoetryside.com.

Some love stories are unforgettable, no matter how heartbreaking they may be—like Titanic, a masterpiece that lingers in our hearts long after the final note has faded. Some words, some emotions, and some moments refuse to be forgotten. They carve their place in time, leaving behind an imprint of something truly magical. And of course, we are not celebrating just the winners, but also those who captivated us, who took us on journeys of love, longing, and passion. Our finalists may not have taken the top prize, but their words wove spells, their emotions resonated, and their artistry left us breathless. They made us feel. They made us dream. They reminded us why we fall in love with stories in the first place.

Every verse these marvellous and incredible poets penned was a testament to the power of love, proving that a poem is never just a poem—it’s a heartbeat on paper, a memory in ink, a whisper of something eternal. So, to our incredible creators, know this: Winning isn’t the only measure of greatness. Your words have found a home in our hearts, and in the end, that is the true victory.

A standing ovation for those who bewitched us with their magic—you are, and always will be, unforgettable!


AJ CHILSON – POEM TO SUNSHINE

A.J. Chilson is an award-winning author of over 50 books; some of the books are poetry collections, but most of them are children's work. He currently lives and works in Winnsboro, Texas, where he hopes to inspire others.


KIMBERLY MADURA – X

Kimberly Madura is a poetess and essayist. She has been published in many literary reviews and anthologies. Originally from Chicagoland, she currently writes from a cabin in the woods of Vermont.


SCOUT BORIGA – INCANDESCENCE & CELESTIAL VOYAGE

Scout Boriga is a poet from the Philippines (https://www.tumblr.com/blog/scout-poetry). he has been writing poetry collections over the past year and has been reaching out to various magazines and publishers. One of his works was published as the grand-winning poem in the Mourning in Metaphors anthology by Wingless Dreamer.


GHALA ALBISHI – AS TWO WELDED INTO EACH OTHER

Ghala is a poet from Saudi Arabia whose work traverses the pungent roots of love, desire, and the complex, strained relationships between humans and divinity. Influenced by the remarkable works of Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and John Keats, Ghala is currently working on her first novel, as well as a forthcoming collection of poems that explore the solace found in the exposed simplicity of human feelings.


STEVE GERSON – IF I COULD

Steve Gerson writes poetry and flashes about life's dissonance. He has published in CafeLit, Panoplyzine, Crack the Spine, Decadent Review, Vermilion, In Parentheses, Wingless Dreamer, Big Bend Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell, and more, plus his six chapbooks Once Planed Straight; Viral; And the Land Dreams Darkly; The 13th Floor: Step into Anxiety, What Is Isn’t, and There Is a Season.


RENATA NGOGO – BETWEEN SCRUBS & SUNSET

Renata Ngogo is an upcoming poet from Tanzania. They currently have a few poems published, namely, a song for papa bear, It should have been me and Imprinted scars. They are trying to broaden their experience by participating in competitions. They were greatly attracted to the theme Swept Away in February, and they hope their poems will move the hearts of other poets.