Dear Poets,

First, thank you to everyone who submitted poems to the 2023 Local Accent Contest.

Second, please accept our deepest apologies for taking us three extra months to announce the results.

Third, to say that it was difficult to decide on a winner and finalists would be an understatement. Amazing poems landed in the Accents’ inbox and we delighted in the talent and craft of the work we considered.

We’re happy with our choices and thrilled to announce that Lexington-based poet Renee Rigdon‘s poem “Thoughts &” won the Local Accent Contest.

The finalists, in alphabetical order by last name:

“On Burning the Hijab” by Sylvia Ahrens
“Jones Women” by Libby Falk Jones
“clean (n.)” by Jay McCoy
“The Lie” by Leslie Moise
“Broken Ghazal for a Yet-Unbroken Porch Lamp, Purchased Fall 2019” by Jason McKinley Williams
“Will Heaven Heal My Broken Heart or Do They Just Administer Local Anesthesia?” by Mike Wilson

Watch our blog and YouTube for an interview with Renee and for a post with the winning poem!

Yours,

Katerina