The Winners of the "Time Travelers Challenge"

Congratulations to all the writers who entered the Time Traveler Challenge.

I and the three judges want to sincerely thank every participant for the creativity, imagination, and effort that went into each submission. The range of time periods, voices, and interpretations made this an exceptionally strong and memorable collection of poems. In fact, the judging process was incredibly difficult because so many entries stood out in powerful and unique ways. I knew this would be a hard decision and that's why I choose three judges to determine the winner.

While three winners were ultimately selected for placement, the judges wish to emphasize that the decision was not easy because there were many moments where more than one poem could have justifiably taken each spot. In their eyes, every writer who submitted a poem contributed something meaningful and deserving of recognition. Each piece brought a different lens to the idea of time travel, and together they created a rich and imaginative journey across eras.

So, although there are official 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, the spirit of this challenge is clear, every participant is a winner for daring to explore history, future, and imagination through poetry. Thank you again for supporting this challenge and celebrating poetry month of April.

A tip has been sent to each of you. Thank you again!

1st Place: Jesse Lee (A poor Man's Sheep (2 Samuel 12:1-4)

This poem best embodies the Time Traveler Challenge by vividly moving across multiple distinct historical eras, from Washington crossing the Delaware to Shakespeare’s Globe and even biblical scenes. Its sweeping journey through time creates a strong sense of immersion and scale, making the reader feel the witnessing history unfold firsthand.

2nd Place: Vicki Lawana Trusselli (Time Folded Twice)

This submission powerfully captures the psychological experience of time travel through a single, disorienting shift from 2026 to 1978, blending identity confusion with sensory detail. The emotional core, questioning age, selfhood, and reality and makes the time displacement feel intimate and believable.

3rd Place: John Cox (turn towards home)

This poem effectively uses a time machine framework to transport characters between eras, especially highlighting the cultural contrast of the 1970s with clear, nostalgic detail. The playful yet reflective tone helps ground the time travel experience in lived, tangible moments that connect past and present.