Give a huge round of applause. The grand winner of the Mother's Reverie Poetry Contest 2024 is :

GENEVIEVE HARDINGE - HULLO MUM

Genevieve Hardinge is an emerging writer who is desperately attempting to capture the colours of the world with her pen, about as gracefully as a child chasing a balloon that is alluding to them. She is based out of Manitoba, Canada, and has published several poems and non-fiction pieces. Her work is inspired by old, smelly books, herbal teas, and rainy days.

The anticipation has reached its peak. Among the myriad of heartfelt entries, one story shone brightly, just shy of the top spot. With its captivating narrative and poignant emotion, it left an undeniable impression on the judges. Now, prepare to be enchanted as we reveal the first runner-up of Mother's Reverie, whose words beautifully echo the essence of motherhood.

Beat the drums. The first runner-up is:

AJ CHILSON - MOTHER'S DAY

A.J. Chilson is an award-winning author of over 35 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.

As the tension mounts, one story emerges as a beacon of talent and emotion, securing its place as the second runner-up. With its compelling narrative and evocative prose, it captivated the judges' hearts. Now, brace yourself as we unveil the second runner-up of Mother's Reverie, whose words paint a vivid portrait of the beauty of motherhood.

Blow the trumpet. The second runner-up is:

TERESA MASON - MOM, WHEN WILL I KNOW BEST?

Teresa Adele is a writer and yoga teacher living with her husband and two cats near Denver, CO. She is expecting her first child Summer 2024. She hosts community writing circles in Boulder, CO and loves connecting with a creative community. Teresa graduated with honors from Hunter College in English, Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry. Previously, she has been published in Well+Good, Forbes Health, You Aligned and other publications.

As the anticipation reaches its zenith, a select few stories emerge as finalists, each a testament to the power of storytelling. With their unique voices and heartfelt narratives, they captured the essence of motherhood in profound ways. Now, get ready to applaud as we honor the finalists of Mother's Reverie, whose words have left an indelible mark on our hearts.

It's not over yet. Give a standing ovation for our top finalists:

HALEY M DIRENZO - LOVE STORY

Haley DiRenzo is a writer and practicing attorney living in Superior, Colorado. She has a Bachelor’s in Philosophy and English Literature from the University of Colorado and a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver. A lifelong lover of stories, she wrote poetry and devoured novels from a young age. This led her to litigation, through which she is honoured to tell the stories of her community's underdogs. She currently practices eviction defence and attempts to make sense of this world through art.

LORIEN BOYD - STICKY LOVE

Lorien has been a poet since childhood, but only recently started sharing his work with the world.

ALIYA SHANES - MY MOTHER

Aliya Shanes is an English major at Florida International University trying her hand at poetry

JUDITH SHAPIRO - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA

Judith Shapiro is a writer who spends half the year on the opposite coast, confused about which way is north and marveling at the sun that sets on the horizon instead of rising. When the novel she is writing looks the other way, she secretly writes anything else. A Pushcart Prize nominee, her work appears in The Citron Review, Moss Piglet, The Sun and elsewhere.

JODI HALL - MOTHER’S DAY

Jodi is a medical reference librarian living in Shawnee, Kansas, with her husband and two-year-old son, who lights up her world. She is widely passionate about reading, writing, coffee, and Halloween. Her poem "Undiagnosed" was nominated by her university for the 2024 AWP Intro Journals Project.