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Read the winning poem from our 2024 poetry contest

We’ve narrowed down our poetry contest to these finalists: read and vote for your favorite poem.

A top-down view of a laptop sitting on a table with an open notebook and pen sitting on top of it. Next to the laptop is a latte in a mug atop a white saucer. The latte has a foam heart on top.

Drumroll, please.

Photo by Pixabay via Pexels

This month, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month. We challenged our readers to craft a poem using only the words that appeared in one of our newsletters (here are the original contest guidelines if you want to give it a try).

While prose is our newsletter’s bread and butter, it turns out that you all certainly aren’t op-prose-d to verse; we received several creative, intriguing, and beautiful poems that we narrowed down to our top five finalists.

Check out the poems below, including the contest winner our readers voted for.

Winner: “The Last Night of March” by Matt R.

The electricity of the city knows no resistance.

“Ready the Band! Play the horne!”

“We will meet at the village tower!”

A landmark win notched in history.

The Duke isn’t invited to this party.

This champagne sharing soirée is for Cinderella.

We Raleighites state only four can come.

Onward, Pack, on your historic run.

Raleigh is rooting for you.

Finalist: “From Limitation to Liberation” by Lisa B.

Mobility Limitation Ambivalent Vibes Beyond the Arc Resistance Rundown Practice Liberation Share Your Landmark Pieces Feature your Curated Collection Fuel Your Lifestyle Be the Exception to the Rule Get Started, Click Here to Enter Subscribe, Refer, Share the Good News Out Underdog, Hello Cinderella

Finalist: “75 Words or Stress (Trimming My Submission into Submission)” by Marc M.

Calling Editorial Team: Once you narrow our submissions, process this influential winner!
In this, less-than stellar, poem season, ditch the hollow Cinderella story arc for this original (fun)gi poem; honor artistic creativity, form + originality, an impeccable fit: visual poetry is fun to r u n d o w n.
Craft 75 rockin’ beats; match or mix ambivalent words — as you please. Forget English rules (yes, you red that right).
-Champ of the powerhouse poetry Wolfpack.

Finalist: “Inner Peace” by Samantha B.

Tired Rundown Used up
As you get to this point in your lifestyle
Don’t fret, this isn’t the end.
You are so much more than that.
Forget today’s issue and start focusing your energy on the good.
Be filled with power.
Honor yourself and your practice.
Find comfort in yoga.

Finalist: “The Magnificent Red Tower” by Tori W.

Now there stood impeccable red tower in downtown Raleigh, Made with red raspberry and iced coffee,
A scoop of frozen custard and a package of champagne,
And creative juices of espresso and a biz of tonic.

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