Here they are: the sixteen longlisted poems from our 2020 Poetry Contest!
Poetry Contest
Interview with Canisia Lubrin, Room’s Poetry Contest Judge 2020
In celebration of our 2020 poetry contest, Room editorial board member, Hope Lauterbach, had the opportunity to ask Lubrin a few questions about her book-length poem, The Dyzgraphxst, writing craft, and what she looks for in a poem. Our 2020 Poetry Contest judge,...
Dead spider frozen in ice are you dead.
“Dead spider frozen in ice are you dead.” is the honourable mention for Room’s Poetry Contest 2019 as selected by judge Pamela Mordecai. Dead spider frozen in ice are you dead. If I melt you will you wake up again and give us all polio. Is polio even that bad. You are...
A ballad for messy brown girls
“A ballad for messy brown girls” is the honourable mention of Room’s Poetry and Fiction Contest 2018 as selected by judge Vivek Shraya. Brown girls with combed out curls that frizz and fly and fuzz, Baby hair halos, - angels - of the 43 Kennedy bus.i Shorts that...
mother’s tongue
Our 2017 Poetry Contest Honourable Mention. mother's tongue They often ask: Will you teach your children your language? As if it is a weapon I carry. Of course I will, ensure they are more fluent than I was. Hope that they can read and write it too....