This poem felt like witnessing the first light of dawn, quiet yet powerful, vivid yet delicate. Each word shimmered, capturing us completely. A standing ovation for this breathtaking work!

AMEYTHIST MORELAND - AURORA

Ameythist Moreland holds a B.S. with concentrations in English, language, and health from Western Michigan University. She is the author of two new-adult science fiction novels and an emerging poet whose work has been featured in Wingless Dreamers Books' Night Worship collection, the Poet’s Choice Seven Jumbled Words anthology, as well as From Whispers to Roars arts & literary magazine. Her passion for the written word continues to drive her creative pursuits.

This poem soared with vivid imagery, capturing the essence of grace and strength in a way that was impossible to ignore. It’s a piece that left us in awe, flying high in its unique way. Congratulations!

DAN LOCKERIDGE - SUPERB BIRD OF PARADISE

Daniel Lockeridge is a thirty-year-old Australian who has self-published a series of poetry consisting of three collections. He has had poetry and prose publications in Gasher Press, Literary Revelations, Quillkeepers Press, Querencia Press, The Winged Moon Magazine, and Reverie Magazine, among others.

This poem captured the quiet power of surrender with stunning grace, immersing us in a landscape of raw beauty and deep introspection. With every word, it painted a vivid scene of acceptance and peace, reminding us of the strength found in letting go. A truly mesmerizing piece.

KAITLIN WEISS - SURRENDER, AN ODE TO WYOMING

Kaitlin Weiss (she/her) is a 22-year-old poet based in New Jersey. She is a senior at Bowdoin College majoring in Government and Legal Studies and Africana Studies. Her two greatest loves are performing spoken word poetry and leading backpacking and hiking trips for teens.

Each finalist brought something unique to the table, stories that resonated, emotions that lingered, and voices that needed to be heard. Here’s to these incredible writers who made Roots and Rivers unforgettable!

CLAIRE KROENING - THICKETS OF YELLOWSTONE

Claire Kroening is an award-winning poet and writer based in the upper Midwest. Their work has appeared in a multitude of publications worldwide, including Vellichor Literary Magazine, Young Writers Journal, and Bitter Melon Review. When not working on their latest endeavors, they appreciate visiting art museums and exploring the coastlines.

HOPE COTTER - BLESSING THE DEAD MONARCH

Hope Cotter is an author and writer. She is a graduate of New York University. She lives in Hopewell, NJ, with her husband, three sons, and peacock. She has been published in Red Door, Wingless Dreamer, Poets Choice, and other publications. She loves the smell of old books and new ideas.

BROOKE DALY - 까마귀 (THE CROW)

Brooke Daly was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. She graduated in 2022 from Emory University, where she majored in German Studies, English, and Creative Writing. Daly's work has been published in Bridge: the Bluffton University Literary Journal and Stonecrop Magazine. She is inspired by writers such as Yoko Tawada, who question the bounds and functions of language and relate these questions to their personal lives. She worked as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Germany for the 2022-2023 school year and now teaches in Busan, South Korea. She enjoys writing in English, German, and Korean, often mixing all three. She hopes that her writing, whether plays, poetry, or nonfiction, can resonate with readers and provide a place for rest and laughter.

LINA BUIVIDAVICIUTE - REMOTENESS, AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS

Lina Buividavičiūtė was born on May 14, 1986. She is a poet and literary critic. Lina is the author of two poetry books in Lithuania. Her poetry is published in "Matter," "Masters," “Proverse Poetry Prize" contest anthologies, "Drunk Monkeys," "Beyond Words," "The Dewdrop," "The Limit Experience," "Poets Choice," "HOW," "Beyond Queer Words," "Maudlin House," "Cathexis Northwest Press," "Poetry Online" magazines, and the "Versopolis" poetry platform. Upcoming publications will appear in “New Millennium Writings," "Cathexis Northwest Press," "Quillkeepers Press," "The Stardust Review," and “Beyond Words” magazine.

CHRISTIAN LOYO - BOY OF WONDER

Christian Loyo is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studies how bacteria defend themselves against bacterial viruses, known as bacteriophages. He is a Chicano scientist and poet and sees these two disciplines as ways of understanding the world we live in. He was previously featured as a scientist in "The Poetry of Science," which aims to increase the representation of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and People of Color’s lived experiences in poetry, photography, and the sciences.

ERICA BERQUIST - ULMUS

Since graduating from Towson University in 2014 with a BS in English, Erica Lee Berquist has worked for KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. as an editorial associate and Cloudmed Solutions LLC as a recovery analyst. Grub Street Literary Magazine's volumes 65 and 71, Levitate Magazine issue 7, Sheepshead Review's Spring 2023 Edition, OFIC Magazine issue 6, German Poems anthology by Poet's Choice, Marathon Literary Review issue 24, and Nat 1's anthology Star-Crossed and Other Tales of Intergalactic Love have all published Erica's work. In her free time, she enjoys making jewelry, researching family history for herself and others, gardening, and spending time with her cats.

CORRIE THOMPSON - AN ECOSYSTEM

Corrie Thompson is a poet and photographer from the suburbs outside Chicago. Her writing appears in Eclectica Magazine, Mantis, In Parentheses, Poet’s Choice, Good Life Literary Journal, Haiku Journal, and Flash Fiction Magazine. She would love to become a birch tree in her next life and be one with the natural world she loves so much.