top of page
Ghostlight of Hope
Reading through the submissions for Ghostlight of Hope wasn’t just an act of judging; it was an act of witnessing. There were moments that felt unbearably raw, lines that carried grief like a heartbeat, metaphors that crawled under the skin and stayed. But there were also so many small resurrections tucked between stanzas: laughter in loss, tenderness in trauma, hope stitched into the very fabric of hurt. What moved me most was how universal the ache felt. Every poet, in their own way, was saying: ‘I have been through the dark, but I am still here.’ And that “still here” became the quiet pulse of the entire contest.
Warm regards,
Sushravya Shetty
Winner announced for the Ghostlight of Hope
Ghostlight of Hope – Winners Announcement
We are honored to present the selected works for this year’s Ghostlight of Hope Anthology. Thank you to every poet who trusted us with their voice.
WINNER - WOHOOOOO!
THE ALCHEMY OF THE NIGHT
By Ashok Jahagirdar
This poem holds sorrow gently and allows it to unfold into understanding. It moves with a quiet patience, showing how shadow can reshape the inner world without denying the ache that lives there. The language is steady and luminous, offering a voice that feels both intimate and enduring.
About the Author
Ashok Jahagirdar writes to find the light in the long shadows. His poetry is a map of the heart's hidden territories, charting the profound truths that can only be discovered in descent. He believes in the alchemy of sorrow and the quiet power of a darkened sky.
FIRST RUNNER-UP:
WHERE THE DARK BLOOMS
By Holly Keehn
About the Author
Holly Keehn is a teacher and writer from Gig Harbor, Washington. Her work reflects the intersections of motherhood, memory, and the natural world. When she isn’t teaching second graders, she can be found writing poetry or exploring the Pacific Northwest with her family.
SECOND RUNNER-UP:
APATHY (THE WEIGHT OF ONE’S HAND)
By Lina Buividaviciute
About the Author
Lina Buividavičiūtė was born on May 14, 1986. She is a poet and literary critic. Lina is an author of three poetry books in Lithuanian language. Her poetry is published in "Matter", "Masters", “Proverse poetry prize" contest anthologies, "Drunk monkeys", "Beyond words", "The Dewdrop", "The limit experience", "Poets choice", "HOW", "Beyond queer words", "Maudlin House", "Cathexis northwest press", "Poetry online" magazines and "Versopolis" poetry platform. Upcoming publications will appear in “New millennium writings”, "Cathexis northwest press", "Quillkeepers Press", "The Stardust review" and “Beyond words” magazine. This piece is translated from Lithuanian by Ada Valaitis/
FINALISTS:
Our finalists brought forward voices of courage and reflection, illuminating the many shapes of hope.
LESSONS IN THE BRAMBLE by Gabriel McLeod
A CHRISTMAS PRESENCE by LindaAnn LoSchiavo
BLACK ROSES BENEATH A FULL MOON by Ryan Rahman
I CALLED UPON THE BONES OF MY GRIEF by Lora Butcher
SWALLOWTAILS by Devon Borkowski
SOFTER FOR THE WORLD by Hope Craig
LES MONSTRES SACRÉS by Lara Dolphin
ABANDONED by Matthew Christian
STATIC by Jkimrab
THE VIOLINIST by Fatima Lalla
CONTRIBUTORS:
* MY CHILDISH FEARS - VIVIAN DANIELLE WATT
* SLIPPING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS ALL THE TIME - CASSIDY RAAB
* ENGLISH WATERING PLACES - TERRY BRINKMAN
* IN THE DARK OF THE LIGHT - ALEX ANDY PHUONG
* THE LIZARD - AJ CHILSON
* FIRSTBORN SHADOW - HOWARD OSBORNE
* ALCHEMY OF SHADOWS - JENNY KATHERINE HART
* SHE READ A GREAT DEAL - K. J. WATSON
* SOOT - MAXWELL BAUMAN
* THORNS AND ASH - SHARON TAYLOR
* THE NIGHT-LIGHT - KAILEY CRUZ
* EVERY DREAM WE’RE MEANT TO LIVE - TANIA PRZYWARA
* THEY WASH THE SOUL CLEAN - JENNIFER WEIGEL
* CONTENT - HANNAH VARGA
* THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS - R.M. CAIN
* ONCE AGAIN - ELIZABETH AGRE
* “AFTER TWILIGHT” - BILL SIMMONS
* SOON - ARDA ÜNAL
* WHITE TAIL DEER - JAMES TREACY
* “ON CONSUMING GRIEF” - AMANDA SWENSON
* I STILL FEEL YOU - SAM DYER
* A PLACE IN THE MOUNTAINS - ADONYMOUS
* STARDANCER - ROLLIN JEWETT
* BAPTIZED BY FIRE - MELISSA NICKERT
* DOMESTIC ABUSE - TATA STEELE
* OH, DARLING THING - BAILEE RUDOLPH
* EXPOSED PLAYERS - REEBIE ANN FLOWERS
* THE VIOLINIST, TEMPERATURES OF TIME - FATIMA LALLA
* SLIPPING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS ALL THE TIME - CASSIDY RAAB
Congratulations to each poet. Your work will stay with us.
bottom of page