"Should I Depart Early" Unofficial Challenge WINNERS!

HARK! The time has come to announce another batch of winners!

(in fact, the time came two days ago...oops. Tardiness is my fatal flaw. One of them, anyway.)

I know I've written it before, but it truly is a thing of joy and wonder to me every time people choose to participate in unofficial challenges. For a group of writers from all different locations, perspectives, and walks of life to come together, create poetry, and encourage each other in that endeavor - for that to happen - is truly a remarkable thing. And for that I am deeply grateful.

This particular challenge received fourteen FANTASTIC entries, all of which I have deeply enjoyed reading, rereading, savoring, and mulling over for some time now. You all absolutely showed up to this challenge - and Vocal must agree! Because out of those fourteen pieces, we got five Top Stories. And one or two of those even ended up on the Leaderboard! I simply could not be more grateful and proud of this crew. Thank you, thank you, thank you, all.

But enough mushy stuff. Let's get on to the reason you all are here - the winners of this, the "Should I Depart Early" Unofficial Challenge!

FIRST PLACE: "For Eternity, and Now" by Cristal S.

Cristal's first-place piece taps into every one of the five senses to draw readers into a place of warm and bittersweet recollection. We encounter the taste and smell of tea, the feel of grass and hot sand, the sound of harmonica (and her humming along!), and the sight of golden rays at sunrise - and so much more. I love that the piece opens with mention of not looking to church bells for her presence, and closes with a line about not needing to ring the doorbell to find her - a wonderful bookend of little, of the traditionally expected places where she will not be found - and then those final lines, gently rhymed, bring the whole thing home into a place of wistfully hopeful comfort. Incredible work, Cristal!

SECOND PLACE: "Find Me Where I Used to Live" by Sasha Desideri

Sasha taps into scenes, scents, and sounds rich with nostalgia and bubbling with feeling (like the cappuccino she mentions in her piece!). Towards the conclusion of her piece, the sensory things meld seamlessly into moments bearing even deeper connection: a shared, snuggly blanket, and a little one in a 'hidden auburn shadow.' (that was the line that fully won me over!). Outstanding work, Sasha!

THIRD PLACE: TIE!!

Between "Should I Depart Early" by Matthew J. Fromm

and "The Cartography of a Soul" by Paul Stewart

Alright, get out your pitchforks, if you must, y'all. Take me to the stake for throwing in an unexpected tie. But I STRUGGLED to pick a top three - even with many more pieces which are not on this list! I'm the only, highly subjective, judge of this thing...and I don't know how to break my own ties. After MUCH struggle, I narrowed the winners down to these four - and simply could not remove one more. And then, after far too long, it occurred to me...the rules are made up by me. I can do what I want. And I have concluded I simply must declare these two a tie, and award them both accordingly. The prizes are just going to be artworks by me anyway, and I (almost) literally never stop drawing. So it's not like we're going to be in short supply, in the realm of prizes.

Regarding Fromm's work: I was caught up in the magic of this one - the lilting rhymes, quick lines, and beautiful imagery read like a lovely children's storybook, elevated with the genuine, grown-up hope of connection healing. "like a stone / so merrily we roll / unsettled in our grace," was a particular line that stuck with me. Brilliant work, Matthew!

As for Paul: I am absolutely a sucker for his work written in rich Scottish brogue; as I read it, I feel I can hear the words being narrated aloud. The lovely scenes of lochs, trees, and highlands come alive with the spirit of the author and the music of a living, breathing, and green place. Stellar work, mate!

Regarding prizes: I do not have SPECIFIC works of art picked out for first, second, and third place. In fact, I'd like to try creating new pieces specifically for each winner - we can talk details in a bit! Winners, please get in touch with me either via private message on my art instagram page, keep_telling_stories_, or by emailing me at [email protected]. I am so excited to create and send off some of my work to dear friends and creators on this site! Someday, I hope to have given most every one of my dear fellow creatives with whom I've connected on this site something drawn me. Happy to know that three more out of, like, a hundred, will be checked off by this challenge! All this to say, if you are disappointed to not be receiving an original artwork via this challenge, FEAR NOT! I plan on keeping this going for as long as I can, and sending off many more of my artworks.

Thank you again, all of you, for taking part in this - whether that is submitting entries, reading and supporting other people's work, or a lovely combination of the two. Every read, comment, and poem is a part of the wonderful tapestry that is this virtual space. And remember - if you didn't win, it's just because of the misguided and subjective opinion of a random, over-caffeinated twenty-something.

See you in the next challenge, all!