Winning Work

"Countdown" follows the last few days of an astronaut’s time on Earth before attempting to save the world.

"Shine Early, Spring Salmon" is as reflective as it is somber, illustrating what we've lost while "The invaders are at the gates."

Our Silent Spring finalist, "Caddis,” navigates the way our natural world is tightly woven together—and what happens when it frays.

An erasure of the letter hundreds of trans Kansas residents received in March 2026, nullifying their driver’s licenses overnight.

"Body Count" is a poem that is both cognizant and defiantly blunt about violence as a means of erasure.

Our Redacted finalist, “Slumber party,” uses the burning haibun form to explore meaning-making, truth, and autonomy.

A poem about coping, fear, and history.

An essay about the folly of ignoring the lessons from our past.

A poem about colonialism, democracy, and the spaces left behind.