Dancing Poetry Contest Winners List, 2026
Artists Embassy International is proud to present our winners list for 2026.
This year, 68 poets submitted 264 poems from 4 countries and 15 states.
Entries are in alphabetical order by poet’s name for each prize category.
4 Grand Prizes
- Symphony of Silence, Gerard Becker, Bronxville, NY
- Silence is a Shadow Language, Evie Groch, El Cerrito, CA,
- Galactic Flowers, Mary Lindberg, Bronx, NY
- Wings, Kathleen L. Meadows, El Cerrito, CA
5 First Prizes
- Chochenyo Voices, Nanette Deetz, Oakland, CA
- Band Practice, Mary Kennedy Eastam, San Jose, CA
- The Orange Guy, Dorothy Gilbert, Richmond, CA
- Star-Nosed Mole, W. Wayne Lin, Modesto, CA
- Spring Awakening, Louise Moises, Richmond, CA 94804
10 Second Prizes
- What the World Needs Now, Cathy Dana, Alameda, CA
- Mid-Hudson Bridge, Dorothy Gilbert, Richmond, CA
- This Body, Arya Hackney, Salinas, CA
- Just Let Them Try, David Holper, Eureka, CA
- Hushed Hint of a Sneer, Mary Lindberg, Bronx, NY
- A Pantoum, to the Passing of an Oak, Kathleen L. Meadows,
- El Cerrito, CA
- Peace Lily, Louise Moises, Richmond, CA
- As the Clock Ticks, Ruth Wildes Schuler, Novato, CA
- Franz Kafka, Ruth Wildes Schuler, Novato,
- Dark Goddess Dance, Deborah Tash, San Francisco, CA
15 Third Prizes
- Bathed in Light, Lourdes Costales, Alameda, CA
- Litmus Test of Love, Shinko Fushimi, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
- Dumbfungled, Evie Groch, ,El Cerrito, CA,
- Dawn Dancer, Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
- Avalanche, Mary Lindberg, Bronx, NY
- On Halloween I Rearrange My Spice Rack, Katharyn Howd
- Machan, Ithaca, NY
- Life as a Doormat, Garrett Murphy, Oakland, CA
- Blow Kisses to Yourself, Roopa S. Ramamoorthi, Berkeley, CA
- He Only Eats Rx Food, Kay Renz, Santa Rosa, CA
- On Using Pruners to Cut a Rug, Christopher Scribner, MO
- Written, Deborah K. Tash, San Francisco, CA
- Days of Awe, Lisa Tener, Saunderstown, RI
- Never Mind, Diana Woodcock, VCU, Doha, Qatar,
- Towards the Light, Diana Woodcock, VCU, Doha, Qatar,
- Let the Earth Be Your Muse, Sherri Wright, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Youth Category
The only entry into our Youth Category was Nala Brock, 14 years old, Alameda, CA
- 1 st On the Deck of My Mind
- 2 nd What the world needs now is poetry
