Just in time for National Migraine Awareness Month, I'm pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 Putting Our Heads Together Migraine and Headache Poetry Contest.
This year Dr. Seymour Diamond and The Migraine Research Foundation joined me in judging the contest. Reading the entries was pure pleasure. Choosing winners from them was anything but pleasure because they were all so good and all were deserving of winning, making choosing winners excrutiatingly difficult.
Before I disclose the winners I'd like to extend our sincere thanks and congratulations to everyone who entered.
Now, without further ado...
First Place:
A Picture of Pain by Bear Peterson
I tried to paint a picture,
Of how I really feel.
But I could not find the colors,
To make it all seem real.
Not one color was hot enough,
To show the burning pain.
Not one color bright enough,
To make me wince again.
Not one was dark enough,
To show the isolation.
In the end saw one thin line,
Worn, frayed and almost broke,
To my mind that one thin line,
Is a single thread of hope.
Second Place:
Heading to Me - Ow by Jamie
If
this isn't an aura,
then
my cat
went on a diet.
'cause
I can only see
half
of him
and
he's thin.
Third Place:
Power Play by Laura K. Patterson
He's nine, brimming happiness
the afternoon is ours,
destination Power Play.
Through doors, darkness illuminates
attractions glowing, strobing invitation.
Weaving among shrieking children,
he practically runs, I follow
confusion taking over my senses,
flashing arcade games,
jarring bumper cars,
pulsating laser tag,
teetering rope walk.
Ceiling spins, carpet dances,
step becomes less sure.
You arrive, finally
ending tease to stay away,
not confiscate our afternoon,
char memories of a son's delight.
Your camera after-flashes
skip along edges of my vision,
soon consume without boundary,
bind a sickness to my throat,
begging urge to hollow my stomach,
protect my head from your entire grip.
I sort through the flutter of your torment,
find a bench, close my eyes,
press my face into cold hands,
powerless.
"Go on ahead," I say to him.
"Maybe later."
Fourth Place:
In All the Years by STM
Fifth Place:
Alice in Migraine Land by Sheri L. Tardio
Honorable Mention:
Dinner and a Movie by Eric Segaard
Headache Haiku by Janet Mills
Invisible Illness (My Wife) by David M. Chappell
Making Just Enough Room and No More by Pamela Hall
Migraine Life by Sara A. Borders
Migraine Trap by Tina J. Bembry
A Natural Progression by Paula J. Algers
On the Verge by Lisa Robin Bension
and
ALL entries from the contest
I hope you'll take some time to read this year's poetry and share it with others. It's truly magnificent.
To Dr. Diamond at the National Headache Foundation and Cathy Glaser at the Migraine Research Foundation, thank you for helping with judging the poetry. It's greatly appreciated!
We'll start accepting entries for our 2013 contest in April, 2013, so we can announce next year's contest winners during National Migraine Awareness Month 2013.
Live well,
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© Teri Robert, 2012
Last updated June 11, 2012.