20205 Poetry Prize Winners

We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Marvin Bell Memorial Poetry Prize. Our heartfelt thanks go to our distinguished judge, Maggie Smith, for her insightful selections and dedication to the art of poetry.

What for?

The first time I talk to Paul after his episode, my chair is uneven; it keeps rocking diagonally. We are on the outdoor patio of the Residence Inn in Florence, Alabama, and the front-right chair leg, upon landing, makes this uneasy scraping sound.

King of Infinite Space

The interview process is a gauntlet. Tomás is asked about rare illnesses and their absence from his lineage. He plays a virtual reality game in which he must make waffles while the kitchen tilts at unexpected angles.

Off the Page — NEW DATE

Please join december on July 17 for our inaugural Off the Page event, the first in a series of free online conversations with our Guest Judges. Learn and enjoy with some of your favorite writers and the december team. 

New name, same great contest!

We’re excited to announce that our poetry contest, previously known as the Jeff Marks Memorial Poetry Prize, has been renamed the Marvin Bell Memorial Poetry Prize. This change honors Marvin […]