By Sarah CR Clark

First Place: “How to Ignore Math Homework”

Second Place: “Aubade: Starting Over”

Third Place:“The Caterpillar”

What an honor it has been to read and judge the poems submitted to the Bugle’s 15th annual poetry contest.

In February, managing editor Scott Carlson challenged poets to write pieces inspired by the words “joy” and “perseverance.”

In the 12 submitted poems JOY burst from roses, springtime, the divine, and baseball while PERSEVERANCE was revealed through mothers, lighthouses, trees and growing older. Some of this year’s entries were praise poems, some employed humor, and one played with the acrostic form.

(Editor’s note: All poems were submitted anonymously to Sarah)

First place winner

I chose “How to Ignore Math Homework” as the winning poem because the poet masterfully incorporated—in a wonderfully understated way—both of this year’s theme words.

The child-like speaker of the poem shows great perseverance in ignoring their math homework. As a reader, I was immediately drawn to the deep sense of joy found in the poem’s list of ordinary distractions; a strand of hair, a Cheerio, ants, a garden hose, and a myriad of other charming things that in no way includes math.

The poet took me on a wandering ramble through their microcosm of house and yard and I immediately felt like I was 9 years old again, avoiding my own math homework, finding simple joy in everything except for the task at hand.

I appreciated this poet’s use of simple language to create movement and wonderfully vivid images. And what a satisfying end; a mother’s voice and the longing to be free.

Second place winner

Our second place poet immediately sent me to a dictionary to look up the word ‘aubade’ (a song or poem greeting the dawn). This morning poem captures a fleeting vibe that leaves a lingering, wistful kind of joy.

Phrases like, “I slipper through the house” and “the lustrous white ceiling … summons all the summer porches” not only add a softness to the poem but also sound amazing when read out loud.

This gentle morning song feels like a fragile secret; quiet ­slipper-ing through the house, a solo mug of coffee, and the one present voice a whisper so that the neighbor will remain unaware. It’s a quiet joy, indulgent and well-practiced.

Perseverance shows up in the end as the poet reveals that each aubade must end with “the petty imperfections/ of the coming day” and yet, the speaker will rise again and again to greet each morning anew.

Third place winner

The third place poem was simply a delight. How many times have I seen a caterpillar crossing the sidewalk? Many. How many times have I thought of that caterpillar as either brave or obese? Never. But maybe I’ve been wrong to not.

This poet points out that nature demands incredible perseverance. Of the caterpillar, “there was purpose to his movement/ despite the dangers/ the unknowns/ the challenges.” The poet concludes with a bit of self reflection, “I ponder if I would have taken the risk.” And aren’t we all asking the same question of ourselves, dear neighbors?

May we all find great joy and practice good perseverance. Happy National Poetry Month! 

You can read the winning poems here.

Sarah CR Clark lives in St. Anthony Park and is a regular contributor the Bugle. She recently took some time off from the Bugle to pursue a Poetry Apprenticeship through the Loft Literary Center.