Saturday

Loyalty and Joy

2018 Shambhala Day Poetry Contest, Winner and Runners Up

We were honored to coordinate the annual Shambhala Day Poetry contest again in this, the year of the Earth Dog. As in years past, we enjoyed entries from the United States, Canada, and several European countries.

The “prompt” for this year’s contest was “Loyalty and Joy.” Entries were limited to one poem per person, and to poems of no more than four lines.

Below, we are delighted to share the winning poem as well as three excellent runners up. In coming editions of Poetry Space, we will publish all of our entries for this contest. We hope you enjoy them!

With gratitude, yours in the Great Eastern Sun — Poetry Space

Winning Poem

this dark and bitter night
this good horse — come

carry us home into morning
carry us home, into light

by Jeff Fink, Park City Utah

Runners Up

Heart-mind connected to forever
like wings to a bird,
flight is possible

by John Cowan, Victoria British Columbia

sad eyes open heart
your ruff shimmers endless joy
unblinking Dog Year

by Heather Midori Yamada, Victoria British Columbia

Riding together
Even within this traffic
Heart’s embrace is here

by Susie Cook, Sonoma California