Monthly Themed Poetry Contest
At the beginning of each month, the Berlin Poetry Society invites community members to propose themes for the upcoming poetry contest via Instagram.
Submitted themes will be shared publicly, and the theme receiving the greatest community engagement will be selected and announced.
Once the theme is announced, poets are invited to submit original work for that month’s contest. Entries may be submitted through the designated submission form or via private message on the Society’s social media platforms.
All submissions will be reviewed by the Berlin Poetry Society’s Advisory/Editorial Committee, which will select the monthly featured poet.
Submissions must be received no later than the final day of each month.
Selected poets will receive recognition that may include Berlin Poetry Society merchandise, featured placement on the Society’s website and social platforms, and/or a complimentary Berlin Poetry Society membership.
Theme for August 2026:
LIONS
July 2026 Poetry Contest Winner
Raven Oracle Card
stars I am stars I am stars
shadow under black shadow
lost in the old western sky northern
they put mother there and father to rest
the white sheets that would not fold
as they drape those old man fingers you had
lay down in dust or small celestial parts
hold me closely then vanish into poor vision
sullen and solitary soldier and chestnut tree
sleep there are stars upon stars upon star light
this card I hold is purple blue azurian and
I feel dead inside
as old stars would not have you believe while
they masquerade in pure and brilliant white
—Katie Rosenblatt
June 2026 Poetry Contest Winner
The best days were the June days
When the night loses its footing
When the sun tries for the summit despite the breathless air outside.
We lived long days well, in forests and forts built from fallen sticks and evergreen boughs
Those sticks still holding the rains of May
Still remembering the wind and storms
They bent to our will when we shaped our little sanctuaries
The shoreline invited us to stay late on those shining days
And the Atlantic held its cold waters fast in the virgin heat of summer
Slowly warming, surrendering to June’s smoldering brothers
On those days our ice creams melted, and our hearts ignited
And in the last days of June when the tide of night begins its return
The sunlight is carried in green-white embers by the fireflies
Across dark fields of soy beans and corn
Across our gardens and into our jars, where we hold them captive
If only for a little while
AQ Giska
First Place
May 2026 Poetry Contest Winners
Second Place
Third Place
April 2026 Poetry Contest Winner
Poet: Jolynn Freed Regan
FLOWER SHOWER
“Out of all the flowers, me thinks a rose is best.” - William Shakespeare
The morning I walked in, saw you sitting at a table, tiny in the chair
maybe six-years-old
roses in my hand for our meditation, intention to do something rooted, special
to make you feel special
because flowers don’t grow here.
“Wanna play a game,” I ask?
“Have you ever played flower shower,” I exclaim!
“Whaaaaaaaaaaat,” you giggle.
“Let me show you,” I smile.
You squeeeeeeeel!
This game is full of wishes in petals and petals of wishes
with our wonder and will, with the dozen I brought
peel petal place wish, peel petal place wish, into our basket they fall
one, two, three, four
silken soft tissues of hope.
You stand in the middle of this musty, dusty-cornered, dank room as I sing, “Twirl, twirl flower girl!”
whirling around, making me dizzy, your eyes closed, me by your side dropping petals from above
falling all over you, around you, beside you, below you
stuck in your hair, on your shoulders, on top of your two-sizes too big slippers
everywhere you smell of sweetness.
Fresh, clean and free in your shower of flowers
gone, rank stink of judgement
I whisper, “Put these in your pocket.”
You delicately place petals one by one by one until all your pockets are full
Inhale possibility.
Later that day, I walk out of St. Francis, front door
see you across the street, crouched on the curb hiding under your mom’s arm
you notice me, hop up
reach into your right front pocket and gently pull petals
your smile lights Hope Street.
This poem was written over ten years ago
I never saw this little girl or her mother again after that day
I often wonder about her, send her love
I could have been that girl but I was adopted by two loving hearts, placed roses on my table
I hope she thinks of me and forever remembers that day we shared our flower shower.
March 2026 Poetry Contest Winner
Poet: Amy Rodeffer Thompson
(Namastebitchesbook.com)
Poet: Linda Lee Adams
Thundersnow
After the clearing of a hazy clementine sunset,
a cascade of snowflakes surprised a frozen early morning.
Layering a white afghan over the barren earth,
the snowfall reminded me of my mother’s plum cake,
when she sprinkled vanilla ice sugar.
I listened …
the whispers of snow were hushes playing a soft melody of kind disciples;
each one unique, each one gifted.
As the snow danced and dangled
above the eaves of a slanted roof,
its pure glaze shimmered
beneath the street lamp.
A miracle began with a brave ascension,
like a shining Orion in the sky.
Nothing was broken or hurting or needed mending.
My body felt the beauty of peace,
while the world was spinning.
Then a cacophony of rumbling
thunder boomed three times.
I thought machines were plowing,
but life remained innocent.
A concurrent color of neon blue light
beamed through a corridor of space.
I believed I was dreaming.
I witnessed a natural phenomenon;
electrically charged ice crystals escaping from cloud lightning.
During this transcendence,
I also experienced my own
fluorescent constellation of freedom.
Freedom to welcome my divergent mind with all the luminous colors, the shyness and sensitivities,
electrical impulses of music;
and the blooming of a million thundersnow moments.
February 2026 Poetry Contest Winner
Poet: D. S.
Poet: C. S.
Weather, I stay inside now
My friends, they all ask me how?
I try to make them see
That the weather, it scares me
Rain, it’s in my eyes
And for some reason
It makes me want to cry
But instead I just ask why?
I’m screaming at nothing but the sky
And I think it’s time I go back inside
But deep down I know, I cannot hide
Cold, they said I would be fine!
That is what I was told
But I just feel cold
I just wanted to stay warm
But I think I'm learning
That I cannot control the storm
Wind, it's making me stumble off my
path.
The wind pushes me back, and I think of the aftermath
Strenuous steps make me ponder the fall.
That is why, I don't go outside at all
For don't think I can take another fall
Maybe, I'll find my way to the sun
Maybe, I'll try to run
Maybe, I wouldn't be here if I didn't fall
Or maybe, this is the weather inside us all.
January 2026 Poetry Contest Winners
Catherine Schwind & Linda Lee Adams
