My favorite fragments & pieces - part two

Destiny Perkins, your poem translates an agility in writing, and the author's own softness and sensitivity. "My mother grows to revel in the empty space in my sister's life, and makes her home in my sister's loneliness"... wow Derek Song, first and foremost, I applaud your courage and bravery in approaching such a personal matter. Your talent is undeniable; your poem is shocking and heartbreaking in all the ways (I suppose) it should be. But even more so, it matters, your voice counts, your "no" is heard. Sandra Chen, clearly, you have immensely suffered from your eating disorder. However, you manage still to be honest, to confront it, to humiliate it. And you do so gracefully, in a fiercely communicative manner.

Julian Riccobon, I can only commend you for using your voice to speak the dirty little secret that actually simply is the truth; a whole nation's one, a minority's everyday truth. Your technique and the union of your ideas and talent are impressive. Clio Hamilton, thank you for After Eden, it is a phenomenal and rare piece, complex, bitter, sweet, chilling. Congradulations on your win, you certainly deserve it. Victoria Carl, the last two verses of The Definition of Insanity sum up a very essential and urgent issue. I applaud your clever and raw piece. Dana Dykiel, your poem is one of my most-liked ones. For once, it was refreshing to be gifted love and romance not as absolute and perfect, but as actually attainable, constructable, breakable. "A subway map, Looks like a disembodied heart, with colored lines Spilling blood from broken vessels" Lauren James, how does one come up with such an elegant, archaic, frank, paradoxical piece? Talent. Haemaru Chung, your pieces may be succint but remain powerful through their imagery. "Red coral bleaches pink, then white, then ash"

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.