Seventeenth Annual Poetry Contest Winners

Narrative congratulates the winners and finalists.

FIRST PLACE

FRANKE VARCA
The Trees Their Axes


SECOND PLACE

DION O’REILLY
Oh for Fuck’s Sake


THIRD PLACE

MATTHEW GELLMAN
Weddings of One


FINALISTS

Katie Condon
This Wednesday

Maria Giesbrecht
White Birds

Yong-Yu Huang
Sweeter

Cate Lycurgus
Illicit

Johanna Magin
My Son

Luisa Muradyan
My Daughter’s Daughter Is Sad

Kyle Okeke
Gate of Opening

Ananya Shah
A Posteriori

Chelsea Woodard
What My Father Taught Me about the Snow


And Don’t Miss:

The Spring Story Contest, with $5,000 in prizes.
Contest opens May 1. Entry Deadline: June 26, 2026.

The Eighteenth Annual Poetry Contest, with $3,300 in prizes.
Contest opens May 6. Entry Deadline: July 29, 2026.