The grand winner is:

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CHRISTINE OWENS – THE STAGE OF ECDYSIS

Christine Owens is an art curriculum developer and instructor at Murphy Learning Center in Texas. She is a member of SCBWI, the Mockingbird Poetry Society, and the Poetry Society of Texas. She won the 2nd place award in the 49th annual Collin County poetry competition in 2020, and the 3rd place award in the 50th annual Collin County poetry competition in 2021. Her poem “Corroded Voices” was published in A Tribute to Lord Byron, a poetry collection by Wingless Dreamer in 2021.

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The first runner-up is:

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NICK GILLEY – KINGFISHER

Nick Gilley is “an Artist, more or less”. A modern Renaissance man and “capital ‘r’ Romantic”, Nick is a multi-form artist, actor, and writer from the woods of East Texas. An avid reader and performer since birth, Mr. Gilley went on to be a graduate of the University of North Texas, now represented for Film, Television, and Audio work as a Voice and Screen Actor by the Mary Collins Agency of Dallas. Gilley’s artwork (spanning acrylic and spray paint pieces to sculptures and mixed media creations) has been featured in several galleries shows near his home in the Austin area, self-described as “Atmospheric, Emotional, and Honest”. In addition to writing poetry, Gilley is a screenwriter, playwright, lyricist, audiobook narrator, designer, physical performer, published editorial and fashion model, and more. He strives to create works that make the audience think, no matter the medium. He is thankful for his partner and muse, Elysia.

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It’s a tie. We have two participants in the second runner-up position:

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DERYCK N. ROBERTSON – EDENTON BELLS

Deryck N. Robertson lives and creates in Peterborough, Ontario where he is an elementary teacher. His work has appeared recently or forthcoming with The Minison Project, The Quarantine Review, and Green Ink Press. He can usually be found in Algonquin Park with his family of paddlers, drinking a maple roast coffee, or thinking about practicing his trombone. His latest self-published zine is in a holding pattern somewhere above.

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BRIAN YAPKO – THE DROUGHT PICKERS

Brian Yapko is a lawyer in three states. His poems have appeared in Prometheus Dreaming, Tofu Ink, K’in Literary Journal, Sparks of Calliope, Wingless Dreamer, Gyroscope, Cagibi, Penumbra, the Society of Classical Poets, Grand Little Things, Chained Muse, Abstract Elephant, Poetica, and a number of other publications. He has also published two children’s plays and is currently completing his first science fiction novel. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his husband, Jerry, and their canine child, Bianca.

Congratulations! You’ve all done an amazing job. Well done.

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Cue the confetti for our top finalists:

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KELLY COOPERRIDER – STANDING IN THE DARK

Kelly Cooperrider is a senior Electrical Engineering student at a small university in southeastern Pennsylvania. Primarily a fiction writer, Kelly firmly believes life is better with magic. Her current goals include graduating and getting published.

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ECHO QUINN – SEA OF BONES AND ROSES

Echo Quinn is an author and mom of three. She enjoys reading, art, and spending time with her family.

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SAMANTHA WRIGHT – DARK

Samantha Wright lives in Washington state with her husband. She graduated from Western Washington University, and her poetry has been featured by Moonstone Arts Center, Welter magazine, The Showbear Family Circus, Cathexis Northwest, MIgnolo Arts, Beyond Words, Halcyone/her words, Wingless Dreamer (!) and forthcoming in other formats. Be sure to look for her first chapbook being published by Moonstone Arts Center.

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JENNIFER AYALA – MORTALITY

Jennifer’s affinity for writing poetry sprouted like a wildflower when she was just a young girl. As an adult, Jennifer has lived a life full of love, heartache, and grief that allow her to continuously write such emotional evocations that pour down directly from her heart. It is her belief that a person need only have one experience, one love, one memory, to write a lifetime of poetry about.

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ABDULMUEED BALOGUN – A DIFFERENT DEFINITION OF HOME II

Abdulmueed Balogun is a Nigerian Poet and an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan. He is a 2021 HUES Foundation Scholar, a Poetry Editor at The Global Youth Review, and was the runner-up in the Reform Naija Writing Contest- “FREEWILL” in November 2020. He was longlisted for the 2021 Ebarcee-Prize and shortlisted for the Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BBPC) February/March 2021. His poems have been published/are forthcoming in Avalon Literary Review, JMWW Journal, Ligeia Magazine, Lothlorien Poetry Journal, The Incandescent Review, The Remnant Archive, Subnivean Magazine, and elsewhere. He tweets from AbdmueedA