‘Blackout Poetry’ winners are in

By Manor Ink Staff

In its September issue, Manor Ink challenged readers to submit verses to a “Blackout Poetry” contest, offering prizes to the top three poems received. The way blackout poetry works was explained to the Ink by Sullivan County’s Poet Laureate Kevin Scot Graham. He said the potential poet takes a newspaper and, using a marker, crosses out all the words except those that are interesting, engaging or otherwise appealing. The poet then arranges those words to form a poem. The result can often read like anything from a haiku to a mad-libs composition.

Here, then, are the winners. First place goes to young Jay Nguyen, who will receive $25; second place for $15 goes to the Ink’s Rachel Zuckerman; and Lindsay Fredenburg takes home $10 for her third place poem. Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all who submitted poems!

FIRST PRIZE

“Wings”
Cup-shaped creepy crawlers
Forty miles
Swallow, catching
Insect wings, unique things
High, high fliers

Jay Nguyen, age 6
Pleasantville, NY

SECOND PRIZE

“A Golden Query”
The new golden question
Such a powerful act
It may be right,
It may be wrong
Some question where
its place is held
But, there will be a
spreading of positivity
Although, there is a
thought of mine –
What is the golden question?

Rachel Zuckerman, age 14
Livingston Manor, NY

THIRD PRIZE

“The Challenge”
162 intrepid competitors
Beer Mountain
in the hamlet
Runners shifted nervously,
horn sounded
Off they went

Lindsay Fredenburg, age 23
Livingston Manor, NY