It is with great excitement that we announce the winning poems in the 2023 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest: Individual Sonnet winner “Driving North from Florida in March” by Brian Brodeur, and Sonnet Crown winner “after The Planets” by Matthew Moniz. They each will be awarded a prize of $500 and are invited to read the pieces in May at Poetry by the Sea 2023.
As we announce the winning sonnets, we do so with gratitude to Julia Griffin for serving as the contest’s final judge, as well as to all the writers whose enthusiasm made this contest possible through their submission of traditional sonnets and artful variations that pushed the boundaries of the form. Thank you for submitting your fine work. The competition was stiff, and all submissions were judged anonymously.
Please join us in congratulating the winners, as well the poets whose impressive work made the shortlist:
SINGLE SONNET
FIRST PRIZE: “Driving North from Florida in March” by Brian Brodeur
Shortlist of Individual Sonnets
“Driving North from Florida in March” by Brian Brodeur (FIRST PLACE WINNER)
“The Poem I Tucked Into the Frame” by Barbara Lydecker Crane
“On Reading the Encyclopedia” by Claudia Gary
“Erasures” by Midge Goldberg
“On a Beautiful Afternoon in August” by Matthew King
“Some Familiarities of Apis Mellifera” by Libby Maxey
“To the Handsome Young Firemen Chopping it up on the Sidewalk Outside the Cafe” by Kathleen McClung
SONNET CROWN:
FIRST PRIZE: “after The Planets” by Matthew Moniz
Shortlist of Sonnet Crowns
“after The Planets” by Matthew Moniz (FIRST PRIZE WINNER)
“The Necklace of Harmonia” by Elijah Blumofe
“In the Beginning” by A. Gee (Arthur Goikhman)
“The Woman on the Island and the Woman in the Diner” by Jean Kreiling
“The Lost Boat” by Rick Mullin
“The Enchanted World” by Marly Youmans
Thank you again to contest judge, Julia Griffin, and to all the poets who helped make this year’s contest a success!