Free Poetry Contest at Utmost Christian Writers

Our Free Poetry Contest #2

You Be the Judge (3 prizes)

Utmost Christian Writers is the home of contests for Christian poets—and poetry contests require judging.

We're giving you a chance to be a poetry judge! We've provided three poems below, and we want you to choose the winning entry. These three poems are not part of any current poetry contest—they're each available in our Gallery—but if you are chosen as one of our best three poetry judges you will be the winner! We'll send you a free poetry book.

The winners of this contest will be chosen on the basis of the explanations given in the judgement. Simply state which poem you think is the winner and tell us why. The "why" is crucial!

After December 31, 2009, we'll choose three winners and send free books. The winners will be announced right here!

Here are the contestants

(a link for sending your judgement is at the bottom of this page)

Entry #1

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.

Entry #2

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.

Entry #3

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