Coffee or tea? Apples or oranges? Poetry or Prose? 

There are some things people just expect to be rivalries, but here at eMerge we hold the conviction that you don’t have to choose sides. You can drink that coffee and follow it up with a tea. Mix those apples and oranges (oh, and maybe some strawberries). And enjoy some Nikki Hanna Literary Challenge–winning prose, just before we launch into the Woody Barlow Poetry Contest. 

In this issue, you will find our five Challenge winners, along with a delightful blend of other poetry and prose. Each of the winners had wildly different stories, but they all stood out to our judges for originality, creativity, and some for either humor or deep emotional resonance. All were read by the woman herself, Nikki Hanna, and given her stamp of approval. Thanks again to everyone who submitted—we are consistently blown away by the talent of our readers. 

But wait! There’s more!

The Woody Barlow Poetry Contest will begin June first, and we expect this to be the largest one yet. We even have two back-up judges on call, just in case the submissions are overwhelming! We have found so many of our regular contributors through this contest, so if you’ve been considering throwing a bit of ink to paper (digitally speaking), this is your moment. Submissions will be open from June first to the thirtieth.

Until then, enjoy this fresh offering of the best poetry and prose to be found from some of the best people on planet earth. As always, we can only do what we do through the generosity of readers like you, so thank you. And thank you to all the featured partners sharing the love. 

We’d have a cup of coffee (or tea) with you anytime.

Aubrey Green