Our Free Poetry Contest Winners
Results of Our Second Poetry Judging Contest
We received a total of 125 votes for the poems in this contest. Four winners were chosen, based on the quality of the responses. We have provided a sample response for each poem.
The winners are Carole Davis, Louis Joseph Barbier Jr, Victoria Nwosu, and Donna Wallace.
Entry #1: Received 18% of votes
Heaven's Olympics
God somersaults into our bewildered hearts,
Swims us smoothly through pools of perdition,
Vaults us effortlessly over poles of deceit.
Breathless, we sail through clean, blue sky—
He thaws the cold ice of denial,
Spins with us in triple axels of joy.
Souls spraying fountains of glittering diamonds,
We leap onto the highest platform;
Angels loop gold stars over and around us,
Laugh with delight, sing the celestial anthem.
Copyright ©2007 by Dena Haselwander
Entry #2: Received 44% of votes
One God
I have worshiped other gods.
In banks and bars, in shopping malls,
at tables spread with tarot cards
and halls of half light, jasmine rising.
I have praised the spirits, called on
the dead, and watched as the
seeker's eyes rolled backwards
to give vision without sight.
What magic they had. What power
to lead me down their path,
to shroud my soul in darkest night,
no stars to guide.
But none of their tricks
can compare to yours.
Offering your Son, before I had sinned.
Hearing my cries for help.
Then you raised me from the dead.
To stand like Lazarus,
grave clothes fallen
by the light of the cross.
Your love. Your grace.
I will worship only one God.
Copyright ©2007 by Christine Le
Entry #3: Received 38% of votes
Holy Comforter
You have moved into me
quietly
carefully
spooled across my thoughts with delicate maneuvers
ladled your warmth into the palm of my hand
You have held me speechless
with the pooling of psalms at my feet
prismed me in the light of Your laughter
You have entered into my place of holy
graced the altar of my heart with God's flame
burning bright in Your eye
gathered ashes from the hearth of my pain
and scattered them wide to retreating winds
You have moved into me
so quietly
so carefully
when the black hour comes
and I lean into the dark
I can hear You breathing
beneath
my skin
Copyright©1994 by Barbara Mitchell