The 2008 Zygote Abstract poetry contest was a blind judging event. Our judge, Donna Bonner, did not receive any information about the contestants. Each poem received a number and nothing else. The following are her statements and ratings. "The submissions were imaginative and lyrical. Many of these poems stood out as unrestrained and quite provocative. I am proud to have judged these excellent poets. These are my top three picks followed by four honorable mentions." First Place - Convalescent Rain Upon Lunchtime Soup by Jay Halsey is a piece that captures the way people can come together crossing social boundaries in everyday situations, yet still remain on the edges. It gives one a bit of hope. Second Place - Steady Disintegration by Sophia Argyris also spoke to me forcefully. The author captures the monotony and seeming meaninglessness of a life defined by an occupation, in particular the disconnection between knowledge/capability and job performance. I love the idea of “Value Added” s/he introduces, as well as the idea that people in a situation like this often “dissolve intensely,” rather than “boiling over.” Third Place - A Note to My Son by Chris Sabatelli wonderfully captures how a writer might feel about his “product.” Visit the competition page for a list of published poets. |
| March 2008 - Our zine is no longer operational. We do not have the resources to devote to this online project. However, we will continue to publish anthologies. All submissions will receive anthology book publication consideration. Zygote Abstract will remain an annually publication and we intend to publish one or more additional titles per year, depending upon the quality of submissions. Order the book and read it to receive an understanding of what we are looking for and please visit our submissions page for details. |
| Copyright 2007 Red Pulp Underground |
Honorable Mentions Young Karl Marx by Chris West Academics by Sarah Rose Seeds by Gail Gray |
