1st prize: ‘On Mother’s Day, Gabby Asks Me What Superpower I Wanted But Didn’t Get’ by Richard Allen Taylor
2nd prize: ‘Pre-Existing Conditions’ by Tracie Renee
3rd prize: ‘Symbolism’ by Julia Webb
[{"id":2604,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/symbolism-by-julia-webb\/","name":"symbolism-by-julia-webb","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Symbolism' by Julia Webb","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:33:58","modifiedDate":"2025-12-03 03:19:35","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-03 03:19:35","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":9},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Because perhaps we were that shell in some way; the shell\nthat you brought me back from a trip you took to Scotland\nwithout me. Bought rather than found; as it was too big,\nexotic, to be found on these shores. Like the shell of a giant\nsnail, resplendent spirals of white and orange. Ostentatious,"},{"id":2586,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/meal-for-two-by-philip-byrne\/","name":"meal-for-two-by-philip-byrne","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Meal for Two' by Philip Byrne","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:09:32","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 22:41:31","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 22:41:31","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":44},"status":"publish","excerpt":"There\u2019s a salty, briny breeze redolent\nof cliff walks, white-washed cottages,\na woman with whom I\u2019d shared meals,intimacy. In the warm Azorean air,\n\na black cat, its curiosity circumspect\nin the way of island creatures,\n\nambles across my path. Ballerino-like,\nit leaps onto a street-side rock-ledge\n\n& gifts a ripped rodent into the open"},{"id":2584,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/years-pass-by-mary-gillen\/","name":"years-pass-by-mary-gillen","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Years Pass' by Mary Gillen","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:06:23","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 21:50:18","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 21:50:18","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":20},"status":"publish","excerpt":"and what is\ntime\nin any case?\n\nI danced\nwith you\nonly yesterday.\n\nWere we not laughing\ntogether\njust two minutes ago?"},{"id":2576,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/love-song-ii-by-esther-lay\/","name":"love-song-ii-by-esther-lay","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Love Song II' by Esther Lay","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:50:05","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 21:02:54","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 21:02:54","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":56},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The children are away.\nLight slants in\non the upstairs landing,\nbright as the end of the world.\n\nNew daffodils,\nclosed tight last night, have burst:\nruffled, exuberant,\nshouting in orange and white.\n\nSome are a day behind,"},{"id":2612,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/on-mothers-day-gabby-asks-me-what-superpower-i-wanted-but-didnt-get-by-richard-allen-taylor\/","name":"on-mothers-day-gabby-asks-me-what-superpower-i-wanted-but-didnt-get-by-richard-allen-taylor","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'On Mother's Day, Gabby Asks Me What Superpower I Wanted But Didn't Get' by Richard Allen Taylor","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-12-01 20:48:51","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 20:54:12","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 20:54:12","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":18},"status":"publish","excerpt":""},{"id":2610,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/pre-existing-conditions-by-tracie-renee\/","name":"pre-existing-conditions-by-tracie-renee","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Pre-Existing Conditions' by Tracie Renee","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-12-01 20:45:27","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 20:46:13","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 20:46:13","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":34},"status":"publish","excerpt":"After\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nthey cut the cord\u00a0\u00a0\n\nwhen his pink cheeks\u00a0\u00a0\nfade to dusk-blue\u00a0\u00a0\n\nthey ask me\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\nto flatten his fists\u00a0\u00a0\nfor the needle\u2019s nip\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\nlay my hands\u00a0\u00a0\non the cage of his heart\u00a0\u00a0\n\nhold my breath\u00a0\u00a0\nwhile counting \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 his\u00a0\u00a0"},{"id":2599,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/habitats-by-fulya-pinar\/","name":"habitats-by-fulya-pinar","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Habitats' by Fulya Pinar","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:15:57","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 14:16:00","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:16:00","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":46},"status":"publish","excerpt":"I don\u2019t have a homeland.\nI have habitats.\nA bus window. A stool at the bar\u2019s elbow.\nTwo tiles near the stove\nwhere steam translates itself\ninto turmeric-stained maps.\n\nHabitats, what holds.\nNot by choice,\nbut by the long arm of papers,\nthat\u00a0airless room beyond passport control,\nthe body, mind, spirit moving\nthough the plane has long landed."},{"id":2597,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/how-to-say-no-by-cathy-socarras-ferrell\/","name":"how-to-say-no-by-cathy-socarras-ferrell","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'How to Say No' by Cathy Socarras Ferrell","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:13:31","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 14:13:34","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:13:34","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":0},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Thank you for thinking of me!1 I\u2019d love to2, but\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I have social anxiety.3 Maybe Sometime I\u2019ll think about it I guess we could4 I don\u2019t really like that5 I don\u2019t want to6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No.7"},{"id":2593,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/salad-hands-by-elizabeth-walton\/","name":"salad-hands-by-elizabeth-walton","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Salad Hands' by Elizabeth Walton","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:03:45","modifiedDate":"2025-12-01 14:03:49","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-12-01 14:03:49","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":25},"status":"publish","excerpt":"When I look back at the garden,\nI think of my life this way.\n\nMy life as a salad.\nMy life\n\u2014as a diverse lettuce type.\n\nMy life, as a green heart\nchakra under a white"},{"id":2588,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/a-long-marriage-submits-to-his-parkinsons-forecast-by-melinda-lepere\/","name":"a-long-marriage-submits-to-his-parkinsons-forecast-by-melinda-lepere","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'A Long Marriage Submits to His Parkinson\u2019s Forecast' by Melinda LePere","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:14:56","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 10:15:00","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:15:00","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":6},"status":"publish","excerpt":"The current takes us.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sea-pulled waters of the Great Lakes\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass through shallow Lake St. Claire, flow\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 past Belle Isle, narrow in the straits\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 to become a silver river.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On the horizon, clouds mound\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 into rounded peaks,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a range of rolling lavender\u2014for Detroit flatlanders\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the closest we come"},{"id":2582,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/kingfisher-by-sara-valentine\/","name":"kingfisher-by-sara-valentine","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Kingfisher' by Sara Valentine","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:03:10","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 10:03:13","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:03:13","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":1},"status":"publish","excerpt":"I forgot to tell you about the umbrella in my drink, I think there\u2019s something caught in your throat but\nI promise it\u2019s not my fault. I don\u2019t think you should worry. Once the toothpick is clear\nthrough, nothing matters very much anymore.\n\nThere\u2019s a mess pooling in your clavicle. Rolling rich and ripe,"},{"id":2580,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/not-here-not-yet-by-jose-buera\/","name":"not-here-not-yet-by-jose-buera","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Not here, not yet' by Jos\u00e9 Buera","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:00:19","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 10:00:23","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 10:00:23","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":56},"status":"publish","excerpt":"A moon is going on somewhere\nbut you wouldn\u2019t trust me\neven if it wasn\u2019t cloudy.\n\nI tell you how a rabbit was misplaced\nbut you are distracted by the horizon\nnot knowing if it\u2019s upside down\n\nlike a skier lost to an avalanche\nor the baby you are carrying.\nThe Mayans sent him there"},{"id":2578,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/you-who-are-the-most-cherished-and-loved-by-me-by-shepard-distasio\/","name":"you-who-are-the-most-cherished-and-loved-by-me-by-shepard-distasio","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'you, who are the most cherished and loved by me' by Shepard DiStasio","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:56:16","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 09:56:19","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:56:19","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":29},"status":"publish","excerpt":"allow me\ninside.\n\ni want to know\n\nthe taste\nof your bones.\n\ni want to feel\n\nat home."},{"id":2574,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/break-up-by-james-ducat\/","name":"break-up-by-james-ducat","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Break Up' by James Ducat","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:43:31","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 09:43:34","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:43:34","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":42},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Across the event horizon\nof a black hole, the relative\ndistance between parts\nincreases, accelerates\nuntil hypergravity\nextrudes the component\nparticles. Spaghettifies\nthem."},{"id":2569,"link":"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/joyful-things-by-aileen-sheedy\/","name":"joyful-things-by-aileen-sheedy","thumbnail":{"url":false,"alt":false},"title":"'Joyful Things' by Aileen Sheedy","postMeta":[],"author":{"name":"Archive","link":false},"date":false,"dateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:40:28","modifiedDate":"2025-11-29 09:40:32","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-11-29 09:40:32","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/passionfruitreview.com\/category\/passionfruit-poetry-2025\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Passionfruit Poetry 2025<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":4},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Awakening alone in freshly laundered sheets. Morning sunlight playing hide-and-seek\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0with the curtains and trees.\nDrawing one\u2019s eyeliner evenly on the first try.\nA neighbor\u2019s cat rolling in the front yard, scratching his back on the warm paving stones.\nMeeting a stranger in the coffee shop and beco"}]