Dark Before Dinner

The Prompt

You glance out the window and it looks like bedtime. It’s 4:30. Somehow, the sun has called it a day before you’ve had a chance to.

Let that disappearing daylight be the starting point for a poem. Maybe you love the excuse to pull the curtains and disappear under a blanket. Maybe the walk home feels different, or you’re personally offended by how little daylight you’ve been given.

Get cozy, get strange, or have a few words with the sun about its working hours.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

• A poem (any style or structure is welcome)
• Between 50 and 600 words.
• Submitted to the Poets community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before December 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $1000
• 4 Winners: $200 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $15 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 50 and 600 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until December 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Dark Before Dinner Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win, you must be over the age of 13 and reside in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.