A heart felt thank you to everyone who participated in the Pink Ribbon Blues Poetry Jam. The poems that were in the final round-up challenged taken-for-granted assumptions, values, beliefs, and norms in pink culture. According to the popular vote, there are three contest winners. Congratulations to all!!!
grand prize
$100 donated in the winner’s name directly to the cancer-related organization of their choice; a signed copy of Pink Ribbon Blues; and the winning poem with a short bio of the poet displayed on the PRB website through the month of Pinktober.
“Who Loves Boobies?” by Stevie Free
Pink Boobies
Smeared
on Barbie Posters
Given Out
Free
To all incoming
Kindergartners
Swimming Against the Tide in
a flotsam sea
of Pink, Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Bellied Boobie
Monitors
Afraid of Death
And Women’s Bodies
2nd place prize
$50 donated in the winner’s name directly to the cancer-related organization of their choice; a signed copy of Pink Ribbon Blues; and the winning poem with a short bio of the poet displayed on the PRB website through the month of Pinktober.
“A Snarky Limerick” by Cancerfree2b
There once was a disease that killed many
But, then big pink cured it with money
Oh, wait that’s not true,
It still kills me and you
Does big pink think me a big dummy?
3rd place prize
$25 donated in the winner’s name directly to the cancer-related organization of their choice; a signed copy of Pink Ribbon Blues; and the winning poem with a short bio of the poet displayed on the PRB website through the month of Pinktober.
“The Walk of No Cure” by Jan
The rosy walk of good intentions
is littered with broken promises
and cancer cells left
to grow like weeds,
is worn down by once-hopeful feet
stumbling over pink ribbons
that morph to bloody red,
is marred by deep potholes of grief
for those claimed as victims
while still looking down the road
where the cure is dangled
like a cruel mirage.
Good choices!!! Congrats to all!! These really get across the dangers and broken promises of the “pink culture” as it currently exists.
What an amazing contest and such wonderful poems. I thought they all were amazing!
Those are great! What a terrific idea. I love to write, but poetry doesn’t come easily to me. XOXOXO, Brenda
Thank you so much for putting on this contest and for your very generous donations! I can’t wait to read your book (thank you)!
All the best,
Lisa
Congratulations to you!!! Would you send the specific contact information for Breast Cancer Angels to me at pinkribbonblues@gmail.com.
GREAT JOB! These are hilarious and painful.
Everyone of these are a winner. I’m a 20 year survivor and Thank God for his blessing for letting me still be here.
Love and blessings to all survivors, and Loving memories for the ones that lost their battle.
God bless,
Joyce
Great contest. Great winners! Another perfect example showcasing the power of words, more specifically in this case, the power of POETRY! Congratulations to the winners! Thank you Pink Ribbon Blues.
Congratulations to all the winners! These were fabulous poems, every one of them. Poetry is indeed powerful!
Jan
A big CONGRATS to the winners – some really slicing stuff here, it’s clear emotions are running deep and strong.
Oh, these are wonderful, Gayle. Congrats to all the winners!