Ghadeer Yousef - ASHES OF PLAYTIME

Ghadeer is an assistant professor of Neuroscience in his mid-thirties, hailing from Syria. Fascinated by the intricate dialogue between neurons and human behavior, he bridges science with empathy — exploring how memory, emotion, and resilience shape the mind. Beyond the lab, Ghadeer often speaks about the power of education and loves travelling solo.

Blow the whistle for our first runner-up:

Gavin Bourke - THE ‘SURVIVOR’ , WHAT IF

Gavin Bourke grew up in the suburb of Tallaght in West Dublin and lives in County Meath. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Human Development and Irish from Dublin City University, a Master of Arts Degree in Modern Drama Studies and a Higher Diploma in Information Studies from University College Dublin. His work in English and to a lesser extent in the Irish Language broadly covers the natural and socially constructed worlds. Gavin has won international competitions for both book-length manuscripts and individual poems and is published widely internationally.

Thuds of applause for our second runner-up:

Brenda Mox - WHEEL IN THE HAND , BEFORE THEY DISSOLVE

Brenda Mox is a poet and visual artist from Virginia. Her work has been published in Wingless Dreamer, Bewildering Stories, Blaze Vox, Ariel Chart, Neo Poet, Discretionary Love, Corporeal, Heart and Mind Academy, Poetry Pacific, Poetry for Mental Health, The Amazine, BarBar, Basilisk Tree, Edge of Humanity Journals and Eber Wein and Eastern Sea Bard Anthologies

Here are our top finalists:

These three poets captured the ephemeral with a steady hand and a keen eye. Each voice brought a unique texture to the anthology, grounding us in specific places and feelings. They beautifully expressed the solitude of a motel room, the inescapable bonds of the natural world, and transcendent visions of literature. Together, they rounded out Petals, Pebbles, and Passing Hours into a complete meditation on time, where every line celebrated the significance of the small.

HANDS ON A MOTEL CLOCK - JAMES REDFERN

James Redfern was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Teacher, editor, printmaker, artist, writer, and poet: Redfern has built up a long rap sheet of artistic creation. Redfern’s collection, THE BAKER, was published by Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia (2022). Recently, his poetry has appeared in High Shelf, Beatific Magazine, The Raw Art Review, Transcend, We Are Antifa (Into the Void), 2020: Good Writing/Bad Year (Dutch Kills Press), Verity La: The Clozapine Clinic, Dime Show Review, Swimming with Elephants, Montana Mouthful, Anti-Heroin Chic, Pen-2-Paper, Wingless Dreamer, The Closed Eye Open, Plants & Poetry Journal, Genre: Urban Arts, W.E.I.R.D., Pensive, and elsewhere.

BOUND BY NATURE - ANN PRIVATEER

Ann Privateer is an artist, photographer, and a poet. She grew up in the Midwest and now lives in California. Some of her poems have appeared in Poetry Now, Suisun Valley Review, and Voices to name a few.

THE VISION OF ANDERSEN — OPHELIA’S TRANSCENDENCE - COURTNEY LIU

Courtney Liu is a Taiwan-based interpreter, English teacher, and writer with a degree in the Art of Foreign
Literature and Translation. Her works have appeared in publications such as Unleash Lit. Through her
writing, she often explores the delicate interplay between grief and renewal, where sorrow becomes a
quiet act of transcendence. In her recent work, she turns to the dialogue between Shakespeare and
Andersen—how the tragedy of Ophelia inspired The Little Mermaid—to uncover the hidden thread of
transformation that runs beneath despair. Drawing upon the imagery of petals, pebbles, and passing hours,
Liu reimagines the fall of a tragic figure as spiritual ascension: an offering to the divine feminine that
receives all grief and reshapes it into grace. Her poetry seeks not merely to mourn, but to illuminate how
beauty and tenderness persist, even within the fragile tide of impermanence.

PEBBLES IN THE HOURGLASS - JENNY KATHERINE HART

Jenny Katherine Hart is a writer and poet whose work wanders the borderlands between language and
imagination. Drawing inspiration from folklore, memory, and the secret lives of words, she crafts stories
that blend the uncanny with the lyrical. Her poetry and prose have appeared in multiple anthologies and
creative publications, and she was recently featured on the Wingless Dreamers podcast, discussing how
personal experience shapes creative voice. Jenny believes every sentence carries a heartbeat and that
\stories—like ghosts—refuse to stay quiet once summoned. When she isn’t writing, she explores the intersections of art, identity, and emotional resilience, often finding meaning in the strange music of
everyday moments. The Lexicon House continues her fascination with the dark, witty, and word-haunted
corners of storytelling.

INCONVENIENCE CREATES BEAUTY - VIVIAN DANIELLE

Vivian Danielle is a poet and author from Pascagoula, Mississippi who has been writing since the age of six. A devoted mother of two, she draws inspiration from both life's challenges and its beauty, weaving heartfelt stories and poetry that resonates with readers. Vivian has published three books, each reflecting her passion for words and her ability to capture raw emotion in a way that feels both intimate and universal. Beyond writing, she embraces creativity in everyday life, always seeking new ways to inspire and connect with others.

A REMOTE THAT NOONE CONTROLS - REEBIE ANN FLOWERS

Reebie Ann Flowers is thy name. Thank you for such for your interest and support. Books: Progress Over Perfection 2023 Manifested as I Waited #suckafree 2024 #Laced (Intertwined Intellect) 2024. Instagram: viewerzchoice35

A huge round of applause for our respective contributors.

FORTY ROBBERS, FLYING LIKE BLACK SWANS - LINA BUIVIDAVIČIŪTĖ
LIFE’S SMALL MOMENTS, ENDURING IMPACT - ASHOK JAHAGIRDAR
STORM BEADS - AMEYTHIST MORELAND
DREAM IN INK - EMMA WELLS
FEBRUARY - PATRICK TROMBLY
BEFORE AND AFTER - MELISSA NICKERT
A TEMPORARY FRIEND IN OCTOBER - RYAN RAHMAN
THE DEVICE - DYLAN NIGHT
THE LEMON LIZARD’S DAY IN THE SUN - AEKA V. JOSHI
THE TOUCH - TERRY MILLER
TO MY SOON-TO-BE DEPARTED - A.J. CHILSON
IF DEPRESSION WAS THE QUESTION? - TATE STEELE
A COLD SEPTEMBER MOURNING - BRYNN TESKE
RUNNING IN SNOW AFTER A BLIZZARD - GREGORY ASHE
ANNIHILATION - BRANDON HOLLISTER
HEART FULL, BREATH STILL - ADAM TWISS
AVOIR LE CAFARD - ANDY BETZ
TICKING CLOCK - SHARON TAYLOR
LIFE CHANGES - ALEXANDRA GRANT
YOUR GARDEN - SARA VALENTIUK
SYNESTHESIA - NADIA ALAVOSIUS
THE MOMENT BETWEEN RAINDROPS - BRITTIANY LEMA
A GLANCE - RICHARD PETTIGREW
MOSAIC MARCESCENCE - ASHLEY MARTUCCI