10 Apr JBWC Writers Finalists in UB English/Poetics & riverrun Poetry Prize

In March, young writers of the JBWC, Hannah and Trinity, performed at University at Buffalo’s North Campus as finalists of the UB English/Poetics riverrun Poetry Prize. As part of the Robert Creeley Lecture and Celebration of Poetry, the winner was announced by judge and Just Buffalo’s Artistic Director, Barbara Cole, following the finalists’ readings. The winner, a senior from Nichols School, performed her winning poem alongside our JB poets.

Below are a few excerpts from Hannah and Trinity’s poems:

From “THE FIRE YOUR MOTHER HUGS FOR WARMTH” by Hannah

Surrender to the waves.
Time and time again,
love
backwards and forwards
and inside out.
You are the shirt left
on the floor, bruised.
That’s inevitable, really.

From “full of it” by Trinity
you’ve got tricks
and i’ve got ways
to avoid them.

you’ve got a talent for taxidermy,
but i won’t be your next
glassy-eyed, cotton-stuffed
baby deer.

(note: Photographs by Bruce Jackson)