Read the winning poem from our 2023 poetry contest

We challenged our readers to turn one of our newsletters into a poem — here’s what you came up with.

A graphic with the words "2023 poetry contest finalists"

Drumroll, please.

Graphic by 6AM City

This April, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month. We challenged you, 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).

Turns out, you’re all poets and we didn’t even know it. We were beyond thrilled to read the original, creative, and awe-inspiring poems Seattleites created from our newsletter copy. Check out the poems below, including the contest winner our readers voted for.

Winner: “The New Gods” by Rebecca O.

It is the power of the beastly edifice: while whimsical, intoxicating, epic, dazzling, fascinating.

Concocted of diversions with-out exception, do we not know it is deception?

We enter, invited, flowing in from anywhere receiving, with no direction.

Pour your elixirs on the picture.

Pledge yourself –

We are but bits in a gorgeous spell, reducing us into submission.

Commemorate a new commission.

From the forge sounders out a challenging question: Forget! Erasure, a burned farewell.

Finalist: “Invitation to Weather Seattle Springtime Together” by Sarah M.

Like a hall of cozy pink perennials, mischievous tulips, and whimsical shrubs— a garden of gusto — in that spring’s early flowers make sculptures of your name.
We runoff like teardrops from the heavens.
Beastly edifice of colossal trees on display above while our dreams divert rain after sundown, come down here – be buzzed by tongue-tingling rhapsody, we’ll forge a trailhead through this nightmare.
Even wistful jokers like you need love.

Finalist: “Seattle Spring” by J.S.B.

Spring appears with style, originality, artistic quality, and creativity
Nature shakes with flowers, trees, shrubs, perennials The season juices the heavens to indulge the community garden
Tunes sprightly and beloved pour from invigorating rain
Artists run to the dazzling show and offer wistful dreams and whimsical delights
Citizens celebrate the intoxicating elixirs and delectable provisions
Spring has sprung in the Emerald City

Finalist: “The Close of Natural History” by Amy G.

Crossing a stone history of our mix-match Seattle
We talk of poetry and April, a snap into flowers and trees — art
Liars on the surf of our beloved pink dust and emerald tulips a trail of head-lock and foot-stomping art
We are finalists celebrating a legendary rhapsody, equal parts buzzed and burned, highlighting our garden and art
Our talk of music and sand, a natural erasure, you and I, the art of April

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