On April 5th, Literary Cleveland unveiled an online special edition of blackout poetry in its literary journal “Gordon Square Review,” inspired by the solar eclipse.
Blackout poetry involves covering or obscuring original text to reveal new meaning, echoing the way the moon eclipses the sun.
From over 150 submissions for the Blackout Poetry Contest, editors of “Gordon Square Review” selected 15 finalists. Local poet Alyssa Perry chose the winner and two runners-up.
Lisa Turner’s “Be Kind 2 Her” emerged as the winning poem. Using torn images of sky, buildings, and home, Turner transformed Anne Sexton’s “Her Kind” into a profound reflection, earning praise from Perry for its depth and grace.
Sarah Ferrato and Sarah Nichols were named first and second runners-up for their pieces, “Others Would Get Jealous” and “Los Angeles Disappeared,” respectively.
Turner received a $500 prize, and all 15 finalists’ works, including those by Ferrato and Nichols, were featured in the journal, showcasing the talent of ten northeast Ohio poets.
As part of the Cleveland Humanities Festival, Literary Cleveland presented a staged reading titled “The Gift of Darkness” on April 6th at the Cleveland Public Library. Local actors performed pieces by 20 authors exploring the theme of awe in relation to the eclipse.
