Poetry Contest Winners
Read our winning pieces below!
Cruel Summer
by Asa Illahi
Poem
hot Virginian summer,
sizzling my earth tone skin
under the scorching blanket
of suffocating heat
grueling work,
swing my sickle
again
and
again
and
again
toiling through the fields.
I’m almost automated
it’s like a rhythm
that I sing to
beneath each note
is a cry of agony
I can’t see anything but a fog
the pain used to cut through it
but now
it’s like the hum of the flies
persistent
and never relenting
a cry
from the left
one wrong slice
she faltered
fell to the earth
I rush
to catch her
I don’t know why.
the others lock their tired eyes
on the scene
pausing their perpetual plod
I don’t know who she is.
but I put her arm around my shoulders,
and wrap my arm around her waist,
we limp
what seems like an eternity
down the rows of yellow corn
it gives a friendly wave
almost mocking
we approach the plantation doors
the farm overseer is bended over his desk
shuffling paperwork
he gives us a glance
and continues his shuffle
she releases from my hold
stumbles
grabs onto the doorframe
steady now
she’s holding back tears
I finally get a close look at her face
the features are
rusted and worn
by time and endless work
pain is written on her face
she’s pretty enough
enough to be prey
to old white men
but my good deed has run out,
as much
as i want
to continue my benevolent act
A prognostication
o’ 30 lashes
is enough cause for me to
stop.
she nods her silent thanks to me
and I leave.
from a small distance away,
I hear male shouts
and a pained “Yes sir,”
in response
every.
time.
it makes me pause,
cause’ i know he’s fixin’
to be givin’ her a whippin’
till’ her body cries rivers of red.
till’ her blood pools beneath her feet.
till’ her back is raw ragged red.
till’ her voice is hoarse
from screaming and begging
relent is something foreign to him
but still I pray he will.
as I walk away
from the towering building
voices getting smaller
my chest aches with sorrow
of the deepest kind
I yearn to help her
but I know
there ain’t no heroes
out in this cruel cruel summer
that knows no mercy
If I Died
(Something
Holy)
by Cody Herwald
Poem
If i died today,
Would you make it holy?
Would you make it pure?
Oh, how the angels sing of our demise.
it's our last night alive, love.
The clock is ticking.
We don't have all night.
So if i died today,
Would you cry for me?
Would it be too soon?
Would you mourn for my life?
Would you let me rot?
Whisper my name like a prayer to God
but the sky is empty.
you go unheard.
May my body be cleansed
at the church up the hill.
Bury me in the dirt outside, darling.
Maybe something beautiful will grow of me.
Maybe something holy
Firebird
by Charis Wong
Poem
They may act like I’m invisible,
but I’ll flash before their eyes.
They may slice their harsh words at me
but I’ll sail through the lies.
They may tear me,
taunt me,
torch me,
But I’ll rise from the embers
Like a firebird
They may say that I’m a nobody,
but my flames will prove them wrong.
They may twist their scowling faces,
but I’ll soar, wings spread and strong.
They may shame me,
spite me,
scorch me,
but I’ll rise from the dust
Like a firebird
They may scorn me like I’m worthless,
but I’ll blaze over fears.
They may turn their backs on me,
but my sparks will dry the tears.
They may beat me,
batter me,
burn me,
But I’ll rise from the ashes
Higher
fiery wings flared wide
Higher
heart kindled, hate denied
Higher
spirit ignited and revived
Higher
into the golden sky
Like a firebird.