WOW! In May I was informed that two of my poems were honorable mentions in the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Prize (Tor Foundation). They also told me that this was the first time that a writer had two winning entries in the same year. The prize awards one first place which went to Story Rhinehart of Shaker Heights, Ohio. And my two poems were there with two other honorable mentions. YAY!
You can read all five of the winning entries here: https://www.torhouse.org/prize
And you can read my winning poems below. Enjoy!
Shutta
What I Bring to the Asking
–don’t despair of this falling world, not yet didn’t it give you the asking
Jane Hirshfield: Counting, This New Year’s Morning, What Powers Yet Remain to Me
it doesn’t weigh much
a modest bundle of breath
which i carry like a vagabond
i’ve drawn twine through each why?
and rested it on memory’s shoulder
each day a balance of questioning
of walking with one hand open
a penitent, risen from her knees
and come through to the asking
some days what I carry is heavier
and see—here in my hand—lies a simple ask
it’s wanting attention
it’s what I bring
