By: Staff Writer
December 3, 2024
The winners of the Caribbean Magazine Plus (CMP) Poetry Contest, 2024 speak up on how they feel about placing in this year’s contest.
Caleb Dros, a native of St Martin, the first-place finisher, with his entry, “If there is Psalt after Death,” said: “I guess you can say I write professionally. I have been in university for the past four years.”
Caleb has notoriously sent his submissions to various contests just to see which one sticks and he said that being notified by CMP that he indeed finished in first place with our Poetry Contest gives him the boost that he needs to continue with his writing.
Michelle Glascow, also a native of St Martin, is the second-place finisher, with her entry, “Not anymore… This time I have chosen me!!!” also said that she was debating on whether she should enter the CMP Poetry Contest, but after feeling “restless,” on the morning she submitted her entry she decided to give it a try.
Michelle also said: “I always wanted to publish a poetry book, but then I was thinking it was not good, but now after placing second I have to.”
Michelle is eager to pursue her passion for poetry now that she has seen that she has talent and others have recognized her gift.
Jezell Walker-Franklyn, a native of Grenada, is our third-place finisher with her entry, “Tale of a Young Love.” She said poetry is something she does as a hobby. “Going through certain things, I was writing a lot and the contest happened to pop up on Facebook and I clicked the link.”
The CMP Poetry Contest advertisements ran from May to August, on both Facebook and Google ads.
We wish to thank out finishers for their participation and all of the entrants to this year’s CMP Poetry Contest. We had fun revieing each submission.
A selection of the best entries will be entered into a book of poetry in our “Signs of the Sun,” collection, making this our fourth installment of the Signs of the Sun with all previous editions available on Amazon.
The award ceremony and conversation with Dr Amina Blackwood-Meeks and the finishers will take place on December 7 at 1pm.
Youri Kemp, editor of CMP and chief executive officer of Arawak Media, said about this year’s winners that he is proud of all of these finishers coming from Caribbean countries that have not placed in previous contests. “All of the winning countries are brand new. We are proud that the contest is spreading around the region,” he said.