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Blackout Poetry Contest 2023

Thank you for judging the 2023 RCHS Blackout Poetry Contest! The RCHS staff was able to narrow down the 95 entries to 13 finalists. We would love for you to look at these and vote for up to FIVE poems. When you judge, the poem should correlate with the art and not be all long phrases. (Meaning, poems should vary from the scene in the book.)

Please use the Google form in the email or click here to access the form. We can't thank you enough!
Poem #1
Poem #2
Poem #3
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The final hours come
after a flash,
time repeated itself.
And still
In the end it was the smeared blood in the kitchen
Insane pain, rage, and jealousy
I told you, "Why? I loved you!
I loved . . . you.
Why did you have to make pain?"
"Sorry."
his eyes locked on to his,
and his heart, a killer,
carried the worst kind of offense:
a temper for his lips;
a plague with no real hopes
Poem #4
Poem #5
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I must be too high to care
I could see the blackness close around me.
My hands felt like lead.
I promised God I'd never touch heroin again.
I promised.
The black crow's extended wings
rose up, enormous,
among the shadows beyond
to the witch atone in the forest.
Poem #6
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             The Kiss

Red-colored silk blouse,
Little velvet-colored box.
Small, chaste kiss.
This very moment,
She was what he wanted.
Poem #7
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cannon fire
erupted into heaven
and there's nothing
we can do
but watch
Poem #8
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Hope to God
Panic rising
Down a cold 
Water well down
Helpless and frightened
Poem #9
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Misty September
Dardest crimson, like congealed blood
I laid my palm
Looking down, the winter sunlight churned
I see a Messenger,
I can't make it, 
I run past the silent pond.
Over the bridge,
The messenger wreathed . . .
We Are Ghosts Ourselves 
Poem #10
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On clear night
like this,
stargaze
into the heavens,
wonder the answer
to the question:

Where
was
home?

The only home
was freedom
Poem #11
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The extreme thought of
The weeks,
Explain the key to
Live,
They point through
Each and
Return to man.
Poem #12
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Darling
I want you
She smiled and stuck out her hand
Both standing closer together
Her voice was honest
Loyal
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