2023 Honeybee Prize Winners
June 22, 2023
Hello friends and happy Thursday. We trust the summer solstice was a good one and now that we’re officially on the other side of it, we’re excited to announce the results of the 2023 Honeybee Literature prize! As previously mentioned, the competition was even more fierce than last year and we had to narrow the field to a short list of five to seven finalists in each of the three categories–poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction.
We’re extremely grateful to everyone who participated with special thanks going to this year’s judges – Roxane Gay, Rodrigo Toscano, and Hugh Reilly – who were wonderful to work with and generous with their time and expertise.
Without further ado, here are those results:
Fiction Winner:
Birds of Prey by Tiffany Promise
Here’s what Roxane Gay had to say about Birds of Prey:
Birds of Prey is a confluence of contradictions. There are events in a person’s life that are often joyful but as this economic story unravels, it is clear that there is no happy ending to be found here. Written with a bold and unique voice, this language-driven story about predator and prey is a masterful example of what flash fiction can be.
Runners-up:
The Language of Family by Hemmy So and Pretty Women by Blake Kinnett
Poetry Winner:
“For Kenny” by Kelsey Smoot
Here’s what Rodrigo Toscano had to say about “For Kenny”:
Too often these days, poems either lack sufficient words or phrases that culturally locate a text, or worse, they are overstuffed with such cultural markers. “For Kenny”, strikes a compelling balance between the two extremes. While the poem is plainly sympathetic to the subject of its portraiture (“Kenny”), it doesn’t lapse into simplistic sentimentality. A stoic attitude pervades the whole piece. And it is by way of this moral-ethical distancing that the reader is given space to imagine scenarios in their own life that call out for poetic treatment. But not so fast! Despite the poem’s narrative drive, expressed by an ardent commitment to finely wrought detail, akin to the beginning of a great epic novel, the last line, “I’m not sure that I do”, separates this poem from the legions of wannabe novelettes that litter most poetry journals. The cathectic rupture caused by the line is instant and irreversible, and resets all that came before it as an unrecoverable alternate reality. That is, our grimy readerly hands are kept at bay, as the poetic subject, narrator, and reader are all tossed up into midair. And where we land is on a newfound desire to live a more observant, more judicious, and ultimately, more compassionate life. And of course, “For Kenny”, leaves us plenty hungry for more poetic works by Kelsey Smoot.
Runner-up:
Ras Tafari Ghazal by Oak Morse
Creative Nonfiction Winner:
“Selfishly, I Planted Flowers by Rachel Sussman
Here’s what Hugh Reilly had to say about “Selfishly, I Planted Flowers”:
“Selfishly I Planted Flowers,” is a lyrical exploration of lifelong friendship. Insightful commentary like, “You can share what you love with anyone, but for scorn you need a trusted friend,” stopped me in my tracks and made me read the line again and savor its power and truth. I thought of my own best friend and what it would be like to lose him. Authentic anecdotes like pulling weeds in your pajamas, help this story ring true. The careful word choice, the judicial use of repetition, and the consistent and memorable metaphor of a flower garden resonate and make this story unforgettable. The final paragraph reminds us that there is a finish, an end to all things, and an inevitable new beginning. Sorrow and hope intertwined.
Runner-up:
Coyote by Nicki Orser
We also want to recognize two other poets who received honorable mentions for their work:
To Brother-Ghost on Halloween by Pell Williams
Amnesty Week by R.J. Lambert
Our congratulations goes out to all these fine folks for their amazing writing and to the winners for snagging those beautiful jars of honey!
We’re not done yet, though!! The best is yet to come as all of these award winning pieces will appear in our summer issue alongside two poems from Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason, a stage play by playwright, Milton Joseph, and poetry by Isabel Andres with translation by Kiran Bhat. It’s gonna be so, so good and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Cheers,
~The Good Life Review Team
