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A Chorus of Selves Poetry Contest
When we first opened the doors to A Chorus of Selves, we knew we’d be inviting complexity—but we didn’t expect this kind of alchemy. What arrived were voices unfiltered, honest, aching, alive. Poems that didn’t just speak—they revealed. Fragments of identity turned into something whole through the act of being witnessed.
Reading through the entries felt like walking through a hall of mirrors—each one catching a different slant of truth. Some pieces whispered. Others cracked something open. But a few refused to leave us. They stayed. They echoed.
To every writer who dared to speak from the in-between, to write the version of themselves that isn’t always easy to name—thank you. Your work reminded us that the self is not a single shape, but a shifting, shining chorus.
A Chorus of Selves Takes Center Stage!
And now, with full hearts and deep respect, we’re honoured to share the voices that rose to the surface. The ones that sang a little louder, a little longer.
LORA BUTCHER – MOMENTS THAT GIVE HOPE
Lora Butcher was the moderator of a channel on Disqus called Poetry Park that had over 200,000 subscribers. It published poetry, flash fiction, short stories, and plays. She has been published in The Hedge Apple Literary Magazine; Chaos, Crisis, and Conflict, by Moonstone Press; Awakening Within, by Wingless Dreamer; The Heartland Review; Ink To Paper Vol. 8 & 9; The Lyric and Time Of Singing. She writes to capture and make visible the inspiration felt at the crossroads of life and in the crosshairs of the mind’s eye.
With a voice that feels both intimate and expansive, Maroula Blades captures the delicate balance between vulnerability and strength. In Seeds, she explores the quiet moments of growth and possibility—the small beginnings that hold the promise of something much larger. This poem invites us to lean into hope, even when it’s just a whisper beneath the surface. Truly a marvellous piece.
MAROULA BLADES - SEEDS
Maroula Blades is an Afro-British multifaceted artist living in Berlin. Maroula is nominated for the German 2023 Amadeu Antonio Prize for her multimedia project, “Stones in Symphony”. She received the 2021 INITIAL Special Grant from the Academy of Arts in Berlin. In 2020, Chapeltown Books published her short story collection, “The World in an Eye”. Her works are published in The Caribbean Writer, Thrice Fiction, Abridged, The London Reader, Ake Review, and Aji, among others.
With a tender and reflective voice, Alex takes us on a journey through memory and longing in Nostalgic Echo. This poem gently unfolds the ways our past conversations with ourselves shape who we are today, reverberating like echoes we can’t quite forget. It’s a quiet reminder that nostalgia isn’t just about looking back—it’s about understanding how those echoes live inside us. This brought some real nostalgia.
ALEX ANDY PHUONG – NOSTALGIC ECHO
Alex Andy Phuong earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University—Los Angeles in 2015. He was a former Statement Magazine editor who currently writes about literature, film, and culture. He also earned an Associate of Arts in English from Pasadena City College in 2013, and tutored there. He has written hundreds of film reviews for MovieBoozer, and has contributed articles to Mindfray. His writing has appeared in The Bookends Review and The Society of Classical Poets. Emma Stone inspired Alex to submit writing actively to publications after hearing the Oscar-nominated song, “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from the “Best Picture” nominee La La Land (2016). His poetry collection is An Altruistic (Cyberwit.net, 2020). Currently residing in Alhambra, California, he now writes with the sincerest hope to inspire readers while fully supporting the ones who dare to pursue their dreams. The link to his blog is http://alexandyphuongengl492playlist.blogspot.com/
The voices that rise just behind our winners are no less vital—they bring richness, depth, and diversity to this chorus. These runners-up remind us that every story matters, every voice deserves space, and every poem adds its own unique note to the whole.
To everyone who shared their truth and trusted us with their words: thank you. Your courage and creativity are the heart of this anthology. This celebration is as much yours as it is anyone’s. Keep speaking, keep writing, keep being the many selves only you can be.
NATALIE ROSE - RAIN
Natalie Rose is a poet from Havelock, North Carolina who now lives in Saco, Maine. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with an English degree in 2024. She also self-published her debut poetry book The Girl I Used to Be in October 2024.
BILL SIMMONS – ON AMERICAN AVENUE
Bill Simmons lives and writes in the San Joaquin Valley after living twenty years in Iowa.
NOAH JIMINEZ - ON CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE AT THE HEAD OF YOUR BEST FRIEND’S BED
Noah Jimenez is an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona studying English and Creative writing. When he is not working on essays you can find him exploring antique stores, messing with his typewriter, or hanging out in a JFK themed bar.
KERSTEN CHRISTIANSON - ALL THE NEVERMORE
Kersten Christianson derives inspiration from wild, wanderings, and road trips. She authored Curating the House of Nostalgia (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2020), What Caught Raven’s Eye (Petroglyph Press, 2018), and Something Yet to Be Named (Kelsay Books, 2017). Her newest collection, The Ordering of Stars, is forthcoming (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2025). Additionally, she is the poetry editor of the quarterly journal, Alaska Women Speak. Kersten lives in Sitka, Alaska where she keeps an eye on the tides, shops Old Harbor Books, and hoards smooth ink pens.
MARSHA SOLOMON – ONE MOMENT AT A TIME
Marsha Solomon has been living and working as a poet and a painter in New York. Her work has received extensive critical attention and has been written about in international, national, regional and local publications like Long Island Pulse Magazine, The Guardian UK, Chelsea News, Art Week, The Suffolk News, Art Slant, and the Daily Record.
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