Poetry Contest

Prize: $50
Jennifer Galey

Manifest
Spirit of God rising from
wisp of baby’s breath,
Trinity piling into straw—
truth enough to spill the
manger of my mind.

Prize: $50
Laurie Flanigan

Night frigid
Hearts ridged
Insipid hope lingers on

Bright star implicit
Christ, God explicit
Advent's exquisite
Luminous dawn

Prize: $5
(Free Contest)
Andrew Kooman

Ur cry that split the night open
@ your birth
came from the future
from a maimed body
spilling blood that fell 2 earth like the purest snow

Prize: $5
(Free Contest)
Richard S. Barnett

Dove Psalm
A white bird takes wing tonight,
Bearing news of peace on Earth.
May it bless you in its flight,
Bring you joy in Jesus’ birth.

Prize: $5
(Free Contest)
Holly Orr

I imagine how her fingers met her Child's:
with conviction to shame Shakespeare's palming lovers,
each warm whorl and ridge a hum of wonder.

Prize: $5
(Free Contest)
Jay Cookingham

What child is this?
Meek breath of infancy
mingles with songs of angels.
The Word of God made flesh,
announcing miracle ways.

First Prize: $80
Terry Wiechman
Topeka, Kansas

Proof of God's Existence
he's working on vivaldi's concerto
in g minor
a teenage boy
with a piece of wood
cat gut
and some horse hair

Second Prize: $20
Lorraine Buck
Charlottetown, PEI

Dashed off an E-mail to God
Lost in heavenspace
Fired off another
Bounced back
Resent it Urgent
Deleted, unopened
          God ignores prayerspam

Honorable Mention: $10
Wanda Hilyer
Marienville, Pennsylvania

A Ω
How many characters
Need define Heaven's Lamb?
"Alpha and Omega"
God's own great cry, "I AM!"

Honorable Mention: $10
Dena Haselwander
Enid, Oklahoma

Ruby-red the Sacred Heart glows,
Crystals explode; prisms of praise.
Gold-fire halos circle our hearts—
In adoration they burn, blaze…

First Prize: $80
Temple Cone
Annapolis, Maryland

Emily Dicksinon
her name rubbed with dust
Born
a paper sail of breath
Returned
volcanic flower
crystallized in ash

Second Prize: $20
Abigail Knudson
Alexandria, Virginia

born:
sirens sing high
low notes
swirl
deep white wall
pick up skirts
twirl again
fall
called
from womb
:in a blizzard

Honorable Mention: $10
Terry Wiechman
Topeka, Kansas

before dawn
grace came to me
early
like dew before dawn
on bluegreen clover
resting lightly
before i was even aware

Honorable Mention: $10
Sarah Rehfeldt
Renton, Washington

Ruth's Song
I want to be
held out to the Sky
lifted, opened
blue Sound filtered
distance scattered
Prairie holden.