Nutmeg Contest Winners 2026
First Place: Uxia Rose, Colchester, CT
Evanescent
Said Judge Sandy Lee Carlson –
“The poet creates a rhythm like the beat of a heart at rest with the text and the italicized subtext containing similes that link the speaker with the living, eternal world. This contemplation of death is about a returning, remaining a part of the whole in a new way. I have read this poem over and over—line by line, just the text, just the subtext, and then line by line again. With each reading, there is
something new to discover, and there is always peace.”
Second Place: Catherine DeNunzio, Ledyard, CT
the permission
Said Judge Sandy Lee Carlson –
“The poet’s use of space and structure to create pauses in this image of a father leading an adult child to a ‘perfect stump,’ which he calls a ‘perfect toadstool,’ beyond the mom’s clotheslines draws a picture of time’s passing with the poignant reminder that our parents see us as children, always. The gift of permission to think reveals a caring, thoughtful dad. Beautiful.”
Third Place: Deanie Rowan-Blank, Hamden, CT
Said Judge Sandy Lee Carlson –
“This poem shines a light on a face of American life that requires our attention—gun violence. The economical use of language and a deliberate structure captures exactly why we need to pay attention to what goes wrong in our world and to innocent people losing their lives to others’ baseless fears.”
Honorable Mention: Deborah Ketai, Waterbury, CT
Said Judge Sandy Lee Carlson –
“This poem is an audacious act of pure delight. Bravo to the poet who entered a poem that celebrates an
adorable rodent with humor, wit, and insight. Thank you for having fun with poetry.”
Sandy Carlson Nutmeg Contest Judge for 2025-2026
Sandy Carlson is a past prizewinner in the Nutmeg Poetry Contest who was born and raised in Connecticut, where her family has deep roots. She has published 11 books of poetry and edited 12 collections for Orenaug Mountain Publishing, of which she is a managing partner.
All her life, Sandy has marveled at the magical power of language to connect people to each other, to deepen relationships, and to open thinking. She believes well-chosen words in the right place for a right purpose become eternal touchstones of the experience of living, and that words are precious jewels to be respected, treasured, and used with extreme care.
Sandy has a degree in English from Western Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in Irish Literature from University College Dublin. She has been teaching high school and college English for more than 25 years. She is a member of the Connecticut Poetry Society and president of the Orenaug Poetry Group.
Open to Connecticut poets Only
All Poems are to be submitted via Submittable.
Made possible through the generosity of the Connecticut Poetry Society. Winning poems will be published on the Connecticut Poetry Society website and recognized in the Connecticut River Review. First Prize Winner will receive free one year membership in Connecticut Poetry Society.
- Contest runs from December 1 to January 31
- CPS members may enter with no fee; $10 fee for non-members
- Prizes: 1st $200; 2nd $100; 3rd $50
- Submit up to three previously unpublished poems, in one document, no more than one poem per page; 80 line limit. Only electronic submissions via Submittable will be accepted.
- Do not put any indentifying information on your submission. Submittable will collect that information separate from the actual entry. Failure to leave indentifying information off of the poems will result in elimination from the contest.
- We do not accept work that was in any way created with AI software.