This April, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month, challenging you, our readers, to craft a poem using only the words that appeared in one of our newsletters (here’s the original contest guidelines + newsletter if you want to give it a try).
Turns out, y’all are poets and we didn’t even know it — we were beyond thrilled to read 30+ original, creative, and awe-inspiring poems Ashevillians created from our newsletter copy. Check out the poems below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite out of our top five finalists.
Our finalists
“Denatured Haiku” by Susan A.
How you match and mix
The words you use to instill
Fiction in my love
“Foragers” by Leah S.
Ramp season comes.
First, we’ll pick a direction for the hunts.
Those that move, exploring,
will learn the brook
and the rock
and the plants
to guide:
following pathways
to the question she just provided.
She’ll celebrate mountain morning,
our happy years building
a French Broad River poem,
the nature of words calling out
from here, the mountain,
and here, the field,
every pretty spring afternoon.
Today, the chestnut will bloom,
this last new sign,
to discover you need but little:
cups of rain,
hands of light.
“It Is Science Exploring You” by Jessica M.
Your eyes are the twilight that light my way
Your hands guide the tall mountain
Your love is solar
You are the fortitude in all nights and each day
Every word from you is fireworks
The direction you’re on is colorful
You exhibit a simple balance, unlike the world today
The plants and animals call you home
Highlighting the resilience of you
To clarify what is meant to say
Nature is in you and around you, a lifespan in bloom
It is science exploring you
“Along the River” by Connie C.
Love, plan ahead
This poem has eyes that craft a warning
My words turn a simple circle
Through rock and rain
Crossing pathways with the spring
Plants pull in the light and bloom
Opening to their bravery
You found them calling
Don’t forget this mountain season
Or the track we take along the river
As you fly home
“How to Watch a Sunrise” by Adam T.
Enter from the colorful fields
Of morning.
Seven grey birds circle high
To the west, call
Your name. Narrow
Your eyes to see
The river turn
Your meditation from words
To form. Free all symbol
From poets.
You will learn
How everything can clarify,
Redeem you.
Share the covered hour
Only with the mountain
Cast your vote for your favorite poem out of our five finalists.
Haikus
“An Asheville Haiku Celebrating Spring” by Mark C.
Asheville - spring ramp up
Rare birds present their story
Celebrate nature!
“Bragging puppies” by Sean H.
Hello RAD science!
Asheville is community.
Please love, and subscribe.
“AVL Haiku” by Greg G.
Asheville poetry
Bragging rights for the winners?
Just send banana!
“Haiku on Asheville” by Madison B.
Asheville, what a kick,
Unique creativity home,
Hoppy and bluesy
“Today” by Edwin B.
pretty Asheville bloom
bluesy bragging hoppy brew
artisanal view
Acrostic Poems
“Asheville Poem” by Valerie H.
A poem about a place that is a poem? A challenge!
S ubmit to the nature bedlam
H ere is bluesy rock and brewing.
E very road-the artistic shows.
V alue a museum.
I nteresting community and spirit.
L overs of the more simple.
L earn the city and the people.
E njoy and celebrate Asheville!
“Acrostic Served Here” by Sarah S.
After popping in the Green Banana for cocktail hour
Vegan Ashlea, happy Laura, the bald artistic spy and you
Learn an upcoming Asheville expo will be
Total bedlam.
Outdoors yoga with hoppy fenced-in puppies below massive fireworks shows,
Dog and pony steeplechase races around rare historic sculpture,
At twilight the titular debut of bluesy rock with a content warning.
Your only question: Is there free name brand swag?
Psst…fact: this is your one and
Only chance for the trio and you to be attendees and
Earn bragging rights in this lifespan.
Must not be missed!
Poems about Asheville
“An Asheville Blossom” by Clint B.
Come April,
Asheville appears
in bloom
unlike any other city—
hoppy drinks
form artisanal crafts
for locals and tourists
on the hunt
for a 2 BD, 1 BA
below $200,000.
Yesterday’s rain
races down
every mountain
while poets
pick out words
between acres
of nature
popping
with poetry.
All are invited
to cocktail hour
on the open patio
to celebrate
award-winning creativity
with artistic individuals,
scientists, students,
chefs, and recreation lovers
who make Asheville
a unique peak
of interest
to people
around the world.
“AVL Bedlam” by Vivian B.
This bites.
A light rain at the Arboretum
dogs leashed, fenced-in
Asheville tourists nursing,
a French Broad parent calling kids cute.
You’re invited to this fun stuff;
to keep track of your limitations
narrow your form and direction
like animals…puppies providing a testimonial
to the spirit of resilience.
Open to all
a massive tailgate
one-of-a-kind demonstrations
a laboratory to plan ahead
for five years of Western Carolina bluesy meditation and erasure.
“CALLING ALL ASHEVILLE LOVERS” by Beth O.
It couldn’t be more simple —in the spirit of fast-paced fun—
an AVLtoday poetry contest to celebrate more then one
Ways residents present their story to learn how Asheville is their home
Highlighting in strong language with words that appear only in this poem!
From bragging rights on beer, award-winning chefs, and peak mountain blues
You’ll find arts, crafts, comedy + everything in between that is featured on the news.
The grand City of Asheville makes her most interesting proposals to friends, family and community —
Providing exceptional opportunity —
to question, to instill hands-on learning, to share, to take part, to be cultural, to move, to help out, to award initiative, to be humane.
“40% chance of rain” by Joan D.
Psst! Ready?
It’s that time,
in advance
just around the corner
Bluesy summer
green popping bloom
is calling hello,
energy upcoming
Fireworks not,
just a little ramp up
the turn of the year
a solar crossing
Grey closed space,
appearing to move out
on its own fast-paced road trip,
its peak narrow
Bring it on!
that bald grand spirit
original every season
that one-of-a-kind
local mix calling
So…
Circle the people,
bring them a sign of strength
with the help of some
(of course) fun stuff
Eyes on Asheville,
exceptional community
quality craft
history brand new
“We’re Already Here” by Starla K.
Solar exposure popping plants into their exceptional open.
Animals are hoppy to celebrate the colorful neighborhood.
Birds prize their eggs as Spring spirit bites our exploring nature...
We should road trip to anywhere!
And tailgate with beer and fireworks and a fast-paced cocktail hour! 100% bedlam!
Not today?
Any friends love twilight yoga with a meditation?
We’ll enjoy Asheville Spring in our backyard. 💗
Poems about nature + love
“Just Another Eagle seeking Freedom” by Victoria R.
Hello Sanctuary,
Eye spy bravery in a season of twilight
Calling all to open pathways forward
Submit to the spirit of meditation
Get to know yourself
Narrow the VOICES filled with limitation
Quality and creativity are just around the corner
And can’t wait to debut
The lifespan of happy times discover new habitats
Find your resilience
Fly how you please
Be the eagle featured for exploring the exception
And everything in between
Circle the Sculpture of fortitude
Question the symbol of FREE
Forget the spirit of submission
Hideaway in colorful love
Representation invited
Fireworks appear like the spring in bloom
You’re officially fair game
Share your exclusive stage
Redeem community fenced-in yesterday’s story
Make a safe space to celebrate
Every EAGLE must be FREE!
“Survivor of an Erasure Poem” by Hannah C.
The rules are simple:
Craft a winning submission.
So here it is:
Spring is in bloom,
A mural of mountain
And brick-garden cities
And light rain—
It’s April once more— and you aren’t here.
Two years before, you invited us
To a museum, every
Exhibit featuring nature, European cities,
Determination.
The year before that, a cute bungalow
With a fenced-in backyard, three puppies,
A grand-opening to us.
And now?
Every road trip is a poem,
The process of erasure,
Highlighting the fact that
In crossing us out
Only one can remain.
“Reflections From The Sunflowers” by Hannah J.
You are more to all that see
or forget how simple
the limitation of your rights
can craft bedlam
We’ll wait while some will not
submit to the rules of the game
They’re of use to pull yourself
in the fair direction
into the mix
excluding the rule
We can’t be
behind every spirit of quality
your course appears unlike them
in an open throw
you turn once
and enter a season of exception
to please the last ones out
And you find the erasure
appearing
crossing today’s readers—
And winning the process
“Some Direction” by Jackson W.
She plants her stuff on the road,
Still nursing a beer.
The Asheville debut comes,
With the French Broad below.
A bluesy singer and bassist,
From just up the mountain.
An artistic community,
Their pathways narrow.
After twilight, a start:
Opening with an original.
To tourists and locals,
Admission is free.
But to the artist,
A lifespan and plan,
Are in the balance.
Buttons that say:
“Nature,” “Love,” and “Energy.”
A sign in the case,
Reading help out please!
It’s empty for now.
The trip ahead,
Like a rare eagle,
Or big river crossing;
Fiction, really.
Wait...
Today, the artist found:
Bravery.
Fortitude
Resilience.
Spirit, unlike before.
Will an opportunity appear?
With Spring upcoming,
New chance to provide,
Some direction.
To see the way through.
“Who Can Love the Spirit Young?” By Christin N.
Every fact is a vehicle for fiction.
The park is closed only the hour
you don’t have a home
while a few
throw a million at the fields.
For them, it’s easier to own, to buy
(how do you love?) a mountain,
the right to title its bald grey
birds fly from, Hideaway Cove
and stage an artisanal garden.
Inside a crossing light, a new bird
makes a door in the mortar of its egg.
On a continent we can’t see,
match tip blues bloom tall
like little fireworks in a game
for the last square of space rock.
Notes of a bassist ribbon
up the once narrow avenue
to the great world. People appear
comfy and cute as buttons
although free
as laboratory animals.
“The Stirring” by Kirsten W.
We missed our only sister
– a singer named Caroline –
Missed her pretty words
and summer tunes.
Pathways form a story
a direction –
Now with limitation.
Plans just off-season
a narrow year not scheduled,
a lifespan west of spring.
Thursday afternoon
the massive river calling:
Spirit, turn and clarify.
You’re invited to appear
Before our twilight eyes.
Between door and hour,
continent of would
And only at the crossing
she’ll appear.
An Eagle will circle
around the host.
April rain will fly
Until a million plants
are found here
Hosting a word garden.
Little creek cutting a course
to track our great
and open language
Anywhere words enter this space
and instill warning:
Words of the sister
are not fiction anymore
Calling in our green fields.
“The Fireworks Are For You” by Sarah S.
Be interesting today.
Pull your one-of-a-kind spirit out
from its brick and mortar,
out from its fast-paced, high-stakes
virtual world
into the space of style and
fun-filled original tunes.
You and your pretty interior world
are fair game in this city.
Bragging rights aren’t just for
the finalists.
“No Contest” by Nancy S.
Fenced-in pretty favorite
will spy birds from below
on a low-stakes road trip
to a twilight bungalow.
The artist must tour inner
space, celebrate equity,
and bring strong language
to a bluesy hideaway.
An eagle can fly from any
building to discover freedom
in a river of air, sanctuary
on a rock, and love in a bloom.
“Mud Season” by Whitney A.
The narrow winning of a western April at the Cullowhee house
all bloom and brick block
and birds there
in the Highland
on the hunt
free
save a leashed few with their little eyes
who spy rain coming
Carolina rain
a 3 hour twilight
on this mountain afternoon
Spring
my Hi-Wire, green ribbon love
you
are
bedlam
“Creative Path” by Karen D. + Karen M.
Bluesy twilight
Exploring the interior river
Opening pathways to the bedlam spirit
Poets celebrate creativity
Artistic sixth sense of originality opening
Inside fireworks popping one-of-a-kind ideas
A directional language in bloom
To know a sanctuary of meditation
“What’s Important?” By Glenn N.
Walks on pathways to a high peak,
April in bloom,
A road trip with a friend,
An afternoon in nature,
See the eagle fly in a circle,
Scoop up a massive dinner.
Enjoy highlighting a day with any of them,
All will move on in place and time.
There is no need for that kind of limitation on new found love.
Poems that put the free in free verse
Untitled poem by Elizabeth G.
bluesy meditation on spring
interior season of rain
solar steeplechase of the spirit
colorful resilience redeems
“Submit your Poem Here” by Nick B.
Mix and match words
Highlight titles
Crossing out words Makes the Process Easier…
Poetry is
a six-story building
named “bedlam”
“Ideas” by Megan B.
Rules and bedlam,
fair spirit pull free from time,
bloom between the brick and mortar.
Comes and call, new eyes open,
more unlike what has been.
Pretty, young form- a warning,
hideaway strength ready to kick or bites or hunt,
also nursing bravery for love, to be held, and help.
Nature rare, a will, meant to be.
“While Visiting an Old Friend and Her Dogs after Her Husband’s Sudden Death, I Laugh at Sadie Who Snoops in My Purse for Candy, but It’s Sam, the Dog with Dementia, Who Breaks My Heart” by Barbara C.
One-of-a-Kind.
An original prize.
Simple spirit in bloom.
Say Hello to our four-legged Pop Up.
Symbol of bravery + fortitude,
brick and mortar of the bungalow,
meditation circle + fireworks
+ everything in between.
To clarify:
My little eyes spy in this dog
a sanctuary of bedlam space,
directional marker closed,
mix + match of fact + fiction.
Admission is not free
+ eye for one, love it.
“The Chase” by C. Fairview
Dogs will require its first event — the six-story building. Will be leashed at a courtyard — dogs also spring prize eggs into the chestnut boys. The eagle bites the bookmark. A brick races a house. The pop up cheese fenced-in a world chef rewards vegan kids for free high-stakes birds mix and match… reading the cheese kids hunt local companies.
“A Rose Banana Challenge” by R. Fairview
The banana is in a challenge on fri. April 15 for dogs cute birds. Everything has bragging rights, and prize eggs. Dare the chef have an egg on ahead. Winning has this boys name on a six-story building.
“A testimonial from a French Broad on a Hi-Wire” by Patty M.
One-of-a-kind day egg hunt. The Editorial Team highlighting words to craft a debut with the help of a four-legged friend.
Eye spy with my little eyes: solar panels – cute and convenient and pathways to equity … dogs on yoga mats - puppies will be provided.
The race course a massive pony ride for the great adult egg hunt & hoppy hour. Egg hunts aren’t just for kids anymore. Invited bedlam on Eagle Street. Readers announced – The French Broad on a Hi-Wire winning bragging rights – prize vegan cheese. Second Place – Grey Eagle.
