Paperblanks is pleased to announce the winners of the Paperblanks Facebook Poetry Contest, as voted by Paperblanks fans. The winners of the Grand Prize packages of 4 Paperblanks journals are Franco Bejarano, Mark Dante Troiano and Beckii McCarley. In addition, several Secondary Prizes have been awarded to other entrants, all of whom will be contacted via email.

Thanks to all who entered!

No Longer Am I a Child, by Franco Bejarano

No longer am I a child,
with that innocent look,
with that innocent smile.
And now that I’m all grown up and mature,
fantasies fade away,
of that I’m sure.
No longer am I a child,
with that innocent look,
with that innocent smile.
And as hard as I try to hold on to my dreams,
life bends around me and everything smears.
Fairy tales, daydreams, and everything I once had,
has been taken away from me,
for childhood has pasted.
As a young adult,
the walls that I’ve been building for years are suddenly breaking,
and reality is slowly taking over my world.
The spell no longer works.
Escapism has been my getaway since I was a kid,
I thought I could keep it that way.
I was wrong,
for dreams can shield you away from reality,
but they cannot change it.
No longer am I a child,
with that innocent look,
with that innocent smile.
It’s time to grow up.

The Long Walk Home, by Mark Dante Troiano

I will walk on Through the darkness
Until I reach The shining Face of God and realize that it is my
Own reflection in the Mirror
Then I will truly have found my Way Home

Pressed, by Beckii McCarley

Pressed I am wearing your dress
The one that makes me Beautiful.
Strange, we are plain
Yet somehow beautiful.
This is your dress.
It never belonged to me.
You know I never fit It right.
It is falling down Around me,
despite the measures I took, despite the pins
Designed to hold You, to hold Your dress to me.
Pink flower-shaped stars Pink tulips, two lips
Pressed Like the new pink Flesh you left Inside my womb.
I wore your dress
Though it did not fit.
And I wear it still.
I've tried to take it Off, but the pin Just will-not-give.
I pinned it.
I wanted it to stay- I wanted you to stay.
I hoped that the pins would Hold you, but knew
That no one could.
I've worn it. I wear it. It holds me
Even Still.