It’s our pleasure to announce that the grand winner of the Sea or Seashore Poetry Contest 2022 is:

GARY BEAUMIER – THE SHAPE OF MY ABSENCE

Gary Beaumier is the author of two books of poetry From My Family to Yours published through Finishing Line Press and Dented Brown Fedora published by Uncollected Press. He has been a boat builder, a teacher, a garbage man, a bookstore manager, and a gandydancer amongst many other occupations. He recently won first prize in Wingless Dreamer’s erotic poetry contest. He once taught poetry in a women’s prison.

The first runner-up is:

NICOLE COSME – THIS SIREN’S SONNET

Nicole works in plant cultivation and writes poetry. Her work has appeared in several journals and magazines. She was also an award winner for poetry in the 2021 Writer’s Digest Competitions. You can find her on Instagram @coliecosmos or visit nicolemariecosme.com to read more of her work.

The second runner-up is:

TIRESIAS SMITH – OPEN WATER

Tiresias, an emerging poet based in Chicago

And the top finalists are:

JAMIE SEIBEL – CHILDREN OF THE SEA

Jamie Seibel earned a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry from California State University, Sacramento. She has been writing poetry ever since she was young and is now starting to submit some of her work. Her poem “Portentous” was recently accepted into Wingless Dreamer’s Dream Anthology. She also likes to draw and take nature photographs.

RICHARD CULBERTSON – BEACH HOUSE

Richard Culbertson is a Latin teacher in Charleston, SC. In addition to his own poetry, he is currently working on a project examining ghosts and ghostly apparitions in the work of the Roman poet Virgil.

MARY MACCOLLEY – MAINE

Mary McColley is a writer and poet originally from Maine. She lived and wandered around Paris, France for a number of years, and is working at the moment in Thailand. Mary is fascinated by languages and migrations; she loves running, art, and the sea. Her work has appeared in the Paris/Atlantic literary journal, Maine Magazine, multiple anthologies of the Telling Room, and on public radio broadcasts. She authored the mystery novel A Wrinkle in Crime and occasionally boils lobsters.

ROD FRANCISCO – WASHED AWAY

Rod is a writer from sub-tropical Central Queensland who has an avid collection of folders and journals filled with half-finished works, concepts, and ideas. Writing for personal enjoyment and reflection more than anything else, Rod has engaged in a range of different styles in poetry, short stories, and scripts; some of which have been longlisted, shortlisted and published. Most recently Rod has had two poems published through Wingless Dreamer: Brother in War scars in my heart anthology, and Darkness of the storm in the Black Haven Poetry anthology. Two more poems are listed for publishing in the Dreams anthology and the Summer fireflies anthology. His writing spans a variety of genres with his most recent published works have had a darker theme.
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CHRIS MENEZES – SHORELINES

A poet, musician, and insatiable surfer, Chris Menezes holds a bachelor’s in creative writing from California State University, Long Beach, and an MFA in poetry from Converse University. In addition to the hundreds of articles he’s written as a freelance writer over the years, his work has appeared in literary publications like Switchback, RipRap, Goldman Review, Foliate Oak, Buck Off Magazine, Pearl, and others. He currently works as a communication & marking writer for a not-for-profit health plan in southern California, where lives with his wife and dog.

DOUGLAS COLSTON – THE SEA OF WONDER

Douglas Colston has played in Ska bands, picked up university degrees, supported his parents during terminal illnesses, married his love, fathered two great children, had his inheritance embezzled, transitioned into Counselling as a vocation and experienced debilitating mental and physical illnesses. Now, among other things, he is pursuing a PhD.


SKYE – PERHAPS THE OCEAN WAVES

Skye is a 2021 graduate from the Harvard Divinity School, where she earned her MA in Theological Studies. She’s originally from Iowa and currently resides there. She studies English, Humanities, the Study of Religion, and Creative Writing, and she is currently recentering herself on her inner passions, writing, and art.