From Across the Room Poetry Challenge Winners

From across the room (or rather, the screen), the Vocal Team fell head over heels in love with nearly 3,500 poems submitted to the Vocal+ “From Across The Room" Challenge. Inspired by the idea of love at first sight, the Vocal creative community once again delivered with heart and soul. After a month and a half of reading love poems, and with final judging by Kirun Kapur, esteemed editor of the Beloit Poetry Journal and creative writing professor at Amherst College, we are thrilled to announce our winners.

To all of the entrants, thank you for your thoughtful work. Remember, there’s always another Vocal Challenge around the corner! To the runners-up (listed at the end of this story), congratulations on your success! And, to our winners, you'll find Kirun Kapur’s thoughts on your award-winning work below:

The Winners

1st Place: "chartreuse" by Prinxe Danny | $2,500

& why does the silence

sound different

when i am with you?

With vivid language and spooling syntax, “chartreuse” paints a tender picture. It renders love, ink-stained and unraveling, somehow fresh and magical once again.

2nd Place: "Dance of the Unsquared Circles" by Lori Lamothe | $1,000

If you want me to love you

write a graffiti of rain-slick roads

across the Sahara of my distance

“Dance of Unsquared Circles” knows there must be salt in the sweet and anger in love. It’s energetic lines trace love’s sharp edges, turning the love poem inside out.

The Runners-Up

*Results are listed in no specific order*

1. Romance is Dead by Tammy Castleman
2. Never by Caitlin Cross
3. Pietro by Joe Nasta
4. #1 by S. A. Crawford
5. At First Sight by Julie Allen
6. Finally I See by Angel Whelan
7. Teeth by Jennifer Parkhill
8. Wayward Birds by Carly Bush
9. Sapphire Serenity by Karissa E.L. Cuff
10. God Damn I Want to Buy You Stuff by Eric Dovigi
11. Love at Hindsight by The Aspens
12. Love on a Screen by Lisa Gott
13. The Colors of My Room by Karlie Steadman
14. The Love Hermoine by Danielle Urciullo
15. Like A Pricking Of The Skin by Nicole Stairs
16. The Tube Ride by Kimberly Hinds
17. Soundwaves by EJ Ferguson
18. Letter to You on Our 20th Valentine's Day Together by Penny Fuller
19. Fireflies by Cristina Pineros
20. (Don't) Tell Me by Rachel Carey
21. Here and Then by Ryan Smith
22. March by Jonnie Walker
23. In Bloom by ayvamitchell
24. I Heard You First by Bugsy Watts
25. Dream Weaver by Amy Walcker
26. Allemande by Dane BH
27. Anomaly. by Nagata.
28. Stars by Jerica Floyd
29. An Older Translation by Vivian R McInerny
30. The Ballerina by Clara Clarke
31. Quiet Love by Kiki Le Tigre
32. When I saw you by Bibi Craig
33. Falling in Love: SIDE A/SIDE B by Hala Numan
34. Breathing is better with you by heyitsfye
35. Empty Vases by Bella Leon
36. the eyes have it by nathanael
37. Love at First Write by Bianca Serraty
38. Pragmatism by Zachary James
39. Voyage by Sophie Colette
40. mutual assuredness. by paisley
41. What Does it Feel Like? by Teresa Renton
42. Some Street in Philadelphia by Majique MiMi
43. Paint me, love by Mei Lin
44. Galaxy Collide by Britt Blomster
45. you have to stop by Chloë J.
46. Nights in Your Doorway by Rachel M.J
47. Lady in Red by Crumbs
48. Magic was a Cup of Water by Flora
49. Marigold blossoming by Coalstream Poetry
50. The Ruins by Ali SP