Much later than expected, but here are the 2016 November PAD (Poem-A-Day) Chapbook Challenge results! I can’t wait to share the winner, as well as a few finalists and honorable mentions.
Nearly 100 chapbook manuscripts were entered, and I loved reading them all. In fact, the quality of entries made it very difficult to get down to the top 10, let alone pick a winner. But here we are.
*****
Master Poetic Forms!
Learn how to write sestina, shadorma, haiku, monotetra, golden shovel, and more with The Writer’s Digest Guide to Poetic Forms, by Robert Lee Brewer.
This e-book covers more than 40 poetic forms and shares examples to illustrate how each form works.
Discover a new universe of poetic possibilities and apply it to your poetry today!
*****
Like I said, it was tough, but the winning manuscript is Uncoiling the Serpent, by Deborah Purdy.
Congratulations, Deborah!
Here are a few poems from Uncoiling the Serpent:
“Cleaning House,” by Deborah Purdy
We tie knots
to hold our place
in the place we live now.
We tie vines
to tether ourselves
to the selves of these moments.
We reconcile
with the snake in the grass
along with the past
we fold and put away.
“After,” by Deborah Purdy
Once the serpent
had his say
there was no going back.
No return
to a radiant
garden, no art
without
disillusionment.
Ever after, after
would be scarred,
scared,
and searching for a way back.
“For the River Before Us,” by Deborah Purdy
Not all of us can swim
but we can select
a side. The river is ravenous
but not a king.
We don’t need to bow
our heads before it–
only open our eyes
to the bridge at the serpent’s bend.
We do what we must
for not one of us can walk
on water.
“Herpetophobia,” by Deborah Purdy
Pity the sickness
surrounding the snake–
All it takes is one
glimpse
to invoke
instant
hate.
*****
Again, congratulations, Deborah!
But wait! There’s more!
I have, of course, picked a few other chapbooks to recognize as well, including a collection of villanelles, haiku, byr a thoddaid, free verse, and a variety of forms. Honestly, it was an incredible honor to read though all these collections. While I could list more than 20, here are my Top 10 chapbooks, including the winner:
- Uncoiling the Serpent, by Deborah Purdy
- Keepers, by Taylor Graham
- All That Falls Away, by James Von Hendy
- Origami Moon, by De Jackson
- In the Current, by C.B. Wentworth
- Wet, by Sarah Cooper
- Words on Paper, by RJ Clarken
- Sing for Me, by Jane Shlensky
- The Autobiography of Ulan Ferrer, by Mariejoy San Buenaventura
- Souvenirs, by Emily Bowles
Congratulations to all the finalists! And to everyone who entered and wrote poems!
I often receive notes of success from poets who’ve entered these challenges and found success with their poems–both individually and as collections–elsewhere. I expect great things from the poems and collections submitted this year!
And remember: the 2017 November PAD Chapbook Challenge begins in a few days. Details to come!
*****
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community and author of the poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems (Press 53). Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
*****
Find more poetic posts here:
- Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 416.
- Why I Write Poetry: JR Simmang.
- Call for Submissions: 2019 Poet’s Market.
Congratulations to the top ten and to the winner! I love this challenge: it urges revision of November’s poems (and by extension, all poems), with the end result being a chapbook. A big hurrah to all of us who participated and an especially loud cheer to Robert for hosting the competition. Thank you so much.
Congratulations, Deborah Purdy! And many kudos to the top ten! Like Bruce Niedt – I just couldn’t get it together enough to take part last year (sorry, Bruce – I know that’s not exactly what you said …) but hopefully, I can get my poet on this year too.
Congrats to Deborah Purdy and all the finalists! I am stunned and honored to be included among you. Thank you, Robert, for the inspiring opportunity to poem all November long. 🙂
Congratulations top 10!!! I recognize many of you from April PAD! How wonderful!
Thank you for your kind comments and congratulations to everyone on the list!
Congratulations, Deborah. Your poems evoke a tender feeling and sensitivity for snakes and folks, for me anyway, Congratulations also to everybody else who made the list. This is a dilly of a community.
Congratulations to Deborah (fantastic poems) and other top tenners. It’s always good to see my friends doing well. Thanks to Robert for the effort it must take to read so many chapbooks.
Thank you, Robert!!! Congratulations to Deborah Purdy for her brilliant poetry about snakes! Also, congratulations to the Top Ten. Totally awesome! I am so proud to be included in this truly talented group of friends!
And…thank you to the wonderful community of poemers at Poetic Asides – you’re all amazing, and I am proud to be a part of it!
Congratulations, Deborah! Your poems are wonderful. This line is going to stick with me for awhile:
“The river is ravenous
but not a king.”
I’m thrilled to be part of such an amazing top 10 list, among friends and new names alike. CONGRATULATIONS to all.
Thankful for all you do, Robert, and looking forward to digging in to another November Challenge.
Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard with poeming! Go Winners and go writers!!
Congratulations to Deborah and all the winners. Good work!
I was wondering if there is any announcement of the April 2017 PAD results. I thought it was supposed to be announced around September 15.
Well done to everyone, and look forward to connecting with old friends again in November.
Congratulations, Deborah Purdy! Your four poems featured here are amazing; I admire how they explore all the possible meanings of a snake. And congratulations to the others in the top ten, and to all who succeeded in writing a poem every single day last November. I look forward to the challenge next month.
Congratulations, Deborah! And congratulations to the other top tens, so many of whose poems I’ve admired over the years! Yeah Bruce! Go for it!
Beautiful poems, Deborah! Congrats to you and to all who made the top ten. You all are such an inspiration.
FABULOUS!! CONGRATULATIONS to Deborah and the top tenners!
Congrats to all! Well done you guys 🙂
Congrats to Deborah Purdy, and everyone else in the top 10, especially friends like Taylor, James, De, RJ and Jane. I didn’t really participate last year, but I hope to “get my poet on” for this November.
I recognize many of the top 10 List of poets from the RLB Poetry Asides who I always look forward to reading.
Congratulations to all these awesome poets & special Congratulations to Deborah. Hope to see ya all in a couple of days for a month 🙂