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Announcing the Winners of the
2022 Assumption of Mary Writing Contest

Our judge this year for the Assumption of Mary: Glorious Radiant Holy Queen Writing Competition was Fr. Nicholas M. Divine, C.P. We were delighted to have received many excellent submissions in both poetry and prose.

We think you'll find Fr. Divine, C. P.’s comments below illuminating.

Third Place: “The Light That Holds Us” by Tamara Nicholl-Smith

THE LIGHT THAT HOLDS US
On the Feast of the Assumption

I find you in the constellations:
moon queen, sky lily, bursting bloom of
silence, your starry petals pressed
into the aging page of night.

Were you there in the palm of time,
at the first moment of exhale,
lustrous and radiant, before
there was light or eyes to see?

First, there was silence, then a single
word, a sustained note, hanging like
a dewdrop on a leaf, heavy
and pregnant, filled with possibility.

Even in our not yet, you were –
always and steady, holding us,
rocking us, in the whispered cradle
of solar song, of heaven’s chant.

I search the truth of my own face
in the still reflection of the moon,
thankful for its kind shadows, its
forgiving shield. I’ve learned enough.

Or rather, I have learned all I
can handle, seen all I can see,
without becoming mad, or blind.
The moon’s mute light’s a welcome mercy. 

It is not yet time for the sun’s
bright burn to scorch me clean, consume
me in blue fire. First, make me willow
so, when you bend me, I won’t break

or splinter. Shade my eyes, so I
may turn them, to the face of noon.
Or lead me to the edge of night,
where slow dawn stirs in quiet glow.

Veiled star, you bore all brightness. Birthed
the sun.  And when your eyes were weighed
with sleep, you scaled stairs of stellar
light, your head, haloed, crowned with stars.

Fr. Divine, C. P.’s Commentary
This work invokes an appreciation for God's creation and the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi's,  “Canticle of the Sun" and "Laudato si" of Pope Francis, while bringing to the fore the intimacy of Mary with her Son, with us, and with all of creation.

Second Place: “Assumption” by Jeffrey Essmann

ASSUMPTION

The sky could not contain in all its blue
The purity that soared to its embrace;
Even the sun felt oddly out of place
When virgin brilliance sent its rays askew.
For all creation held its breath anew,
As once it did when, young and full of grace,
She said her yes and changed the human race,
So now, fulfilled, as heavenward she flew.
And Gabriel, serene and strangely proud,
Observed her climb to glory cloud by cloud.
My earthly eyes can such things hardly spy,
Though sometimes by God’s grace I seem allowed
To glimpse that which I cannot disavow:
The richer blue her soul has lent the sky.

Fr. Divine, C. P.’s Commentary
This work's creative but friendly expression fuels an appreciation for Blessed Mother's Fiat and vocation, an example par excellence for the modern world in discerning and answering God's call in one's life within His providential and paternal care.

First Place: "Throne and Glorious Bloom " by Maura Harrison

THRONE AND GLORIOUS BLOOM

A place prepared for Zion’s Daughter, bower
Abounding at the world’s first watery hour,
A circle on the face of firmament’s
Deep where the rays obey and love consents:
It’s here, at radiant, the throne from which
The stars proceed, where she’ll abide in rich
And everlasting light, His ark of might
And majesty.
Illuminated night,
She contradicts corruption: starry crown,
Slippers of moon, and silks of sun, her gown
Clothes us in hope, in perseverance, bold
And joyful promises. Instead of gold,
Choice silver, wealth, and gilded treasuries,
She fills her heart with flesh, with charity’s
Embrace, the union of her body and
Her soul.
Transfigured Eve, she gives her hand:
Bring censer, cast the incense, fly to her,
Fall into fragrance and perfume, the myrrh
Of paradise. She sees her time has come.
She hears the angels singing hymns, the hum
Of glory cloud, assumption of the saints.
After three days, relieved of death’s restraints,
She feels the hand of Jesus. Leaving the tomb
She’s taken up to throne and glorious bloom.  

Fr. Divine, C. P’s Commentary
This work's active playful yet sophisticated imagery and vocabulary, astute theology, and expression reminiscent of the works and style of Gerard Manley Hopkins, S. J., make for a grand entry and winner.

Contest Information

As we approach the feast of The Assumption on August 15, we reflect on the singular graces awarded to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her response of humility and faith.  So much so, in fact, that God chose to also award to her the Queenship of all Creation.

 We are eager to read your unpublished poetry or prose on the meaning of The Assumption of Mary: Glorious, Radiant, Holy Queen.

Three pieces of writing will be chosen (first prize, second prize, third prize) by Rev. Fr. Nicholas M. Divine, C.P.

We will feature the winners on our website and award a cash prize of $50 to the first prize, $35 to the second prize, and $35 to the third-prize winner. Each winner receives a one-year membership to Catholic Literary Arts.

In addition, the winners will be published on the CLA website.

 Guidelines:

The contest closes at 11:59 p.m. CST, Monday, July 18, 2022.

• Entry fee:  $5.   One entry of a poem or prose piece per author. 

• Poetry and prose limited to 250 words/piece. Please note that the word limit applies to both poetry and prose.

• Unpublished writing only.

• Minimum age of author, 16 YOA, at date of entry.

• International entries in the English language are accepted.

• Submissions begin Wednesday, June 15, 2022, and end at 11:59, CST, Monday, July 18, 2022.

• To submit your writing, use this link to Submittable.

Winners will be announced on this website on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.  We will send you an email with the winners chosen by the judge. Please add us to your contact list so that you can receive our emails.

Your submission confirms that you have read and fulfilled all the above requirements and conditions. Each winner will complete IRS Form W-9 before payment of award via direct deposit.

Please register here for the Celebration of Winners on August 9, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. CST.

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