Announcing…the winners for 2024’s Crystal Ox!

First Place: “Burnout” by Garnet Juniper Nelson
Second Place: “Black Beauty” by Piper S. McKeever
Third Place: “Not My Love” by J.J. Stewart

---

Winter 2023

For this year’s winter edition of Crystal Ox, we are interested in free verse and form poetry that captures the raw elegance of nature. We value poetry that has a strong command over language, poetry that illustrates the unbound allure of a tranquil snowfall, and the sincerity in a white-tailed deer’s gaze. Send us your single BEST poem which illustrates an appreciation for nature’s inherent charms. (If you send more than 1 poem, we will not read it.) Cover letters are not necessary, but a brief reader bio is required (about 50 words).

Winners

First Place: Cathy Bryant, “Nature Has Gone Paintballing”
Second Place: Michael Mingo, “Koi in Winter”
Third Place: William Doreski, “The Blizzard Dream”