A message from: Sara Bauer

Thank you to everyone who submitted to this contest, as your poems were the basis of some lively discussion on Valentine's Day Eve.

"Indecision" maintained my interest because of its two-part structure and its reference to relationship foibles that made me think, I've been there. The scene with the menus and the perceived distance between the couple was interesting because the poet worked a metaphor to new advantage, I think, with the introduction of sushi. I always wonder at diners needing a sushi menu when they've been eating the stuff for years. For me, this hinted at indecision and disaster. I've also had some first-hand experience with a large vocabulary being a liability in a relationship.

"In Summer" combines technical merit with mature insight, and was the strongest of the submissions. This poem deserves the win because it addresses the theme and transcends it, opening the door to hopefulness and personal fulfillment, not simply revenge. It's difficult to be funny in a poem without the punchline threatening to undermine the entire piece. This author snuggles a hilarious Starbucks reference in the middle of the poem, and manages to build a poem that's much, much bigger than the joke. Though this poem seems to have been inspired by an abusive relationship, the poet makes those details quite powerful through subtle means. "In Summer," effectively addresses what I believe to be the silver lining of break-ups: the opportunity to examine one's own desires and preferences irrespective of a partner. The speaker in this poem re-claims her sense of fashion and her sense of self, which I found incredibly gratifying.