Eugene Lee, you have managed to make your piece both humane and sound like a fairy tale.
Love "because you're supposed to
carry on and
let her echo abate"
Jillian Clasky, your poem is like a bouquet of artistically and morally satisfactory verses. It takes talent to craft
"from the places where broken glass and bottle caps and wild
gin-soaked fingers
had colonized the territory of your skin"
Nicole Li, you have managed to make of the blood pumping organ in our chests, where "they say, lies the crown jewel of the body" a masterpiece; your poem is the masterpiece.
Grady Trexler, thank you for reminding us that some children grow up too quickly, too soon. Your piece is so speedily alarming, and yet, still proves to be poetic.
Diva Venkatraman, your maturity and awareness is surprising, but even more astounding is the poise, sweet manner in which you transcribe topics such as identity and faith.
A pupil of Hafiz is especially lovely.
"The Adoptee" really stood out to me, too. I read it to be about the relationship between two adopted siblings, and I think that's a kind of relationship that isn't represented very often. So many images in the poem show incredible warmth and closeness, especially "twin larvae in a single cocoon."
And I can't forget "there are no kids at a funeral." Grady Trexler has mastered the art of deceptive simplicity. I love how it all rushes out breathlessly, as if reminding readers that they may not have many breaths left.
Mai, even though you didn't mention this one yet, I'd also like to say how much I liked "Car crash in Busan." It's such a brilliant concept, an accident that bridges a generation gap and brings aunt and niece closer together.