2022 Writing Contest Winners
Adult Poetry
First Place: Halloween 1997
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Second Place: Erosion
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Auburn and golden leaves fall to the pavement,
just like you did walking to the car for a doctor’s appointment. My strong uncle dead lifted your bone frame like a giant sack of sweet potatoes, you gasping for air like an orange koi on dry land. In the hospital after school, I tried to be “cool,” smiled confidently wanting to believe you would beat cancer as I leaned in to hug your pale neck. Halloween. I struggle to breathe through rubber mask like you did in your last days. I stroll streets with skeletons while your skeletal body lay tomb-still. At the end, as though possessed, you jerked upright from your coma, looked around the room, were you looking for me? Your family pleaded, even your abuser husband, “It is ok to go." Slowly, back to bed you fall Eyes shut Heart doors shut ECG line falls Tears fall. How many bags of candy I would trade to have been there, to see and be seen by your spirit's fall and rise up to the heavens, above ghouls and ghosts parading Halloween night. |
It’s finally starting to show
If you look close The sheen has diminished Tiny cracks Specks of rust Faint squeaking sounds The door latch sticks The rug keeps wandering The dishwasher has a new noise We used to clean under there It’s been awhile Who’s going to notice Opening up things takes more effort It’s in our tone of voice Our conversation Or lack thereof Do the cracks let the light in Or just reveal the weathering This unusual time Is wearing us down We knew we could weather it But it wears us more More than we thought But we are not freaking out I SAID WE ARE NOT FREAKING OUT Mostly just tired Wishing back to “normal” Tired of something else to fix Still, the next morning We get up Thankful for our Somewhat eroded life And get out the toolbox Honorable MentionStorm Blown Bird
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