Announcing the Winners of the 2024 Kingfisher Poetry Prize!

A Bright Set of Poems

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2024 Kingfisher Poetry Prize with commentary from final judge Jude Neale.

Look for these winning poems in Pulp Literature Issue 46, Spring 2025!

Winner: ‘Apiography: A Fragment’ by Sandra Kasturi

“‘Apiography: A Fragment’, transforms bees into calligraphers of existence. The title combines “apian” and “biography,” hinting at a fleeting life inscribed mid-flight. Equally profound is “the hum of creation, the calligraphy of sleep,” blending sound and vision to evoke Taoist dreams and the sacred rhythm of existence. This poem fuses beauty and philosophy in a luminous, ephemeral meditation.”

1st Runner-up: ‘Hideaway’ by Angelle McDougall

“‘Hideaway’ evokes a fleeting sanctuary from life’s storms, where urgency and intimacy collide. The opening line, “While there’s still time to run through the wheat fields—”, captures the poem’s golden-hour vitality. Meanwhile, “angry clouds chase from the lightning-bright skies” mirrors nature’s chaos and human emotion, blending beauty and tension seamlessly.”

2nd Runner-up: ‘What Else Am I Wrong About?’ by Nicole Moen

“This poem turns a leaf into a mirror, reflecting the quiet assumptions that shape our gaze. “Why do I see this as upright?” it asks, unraveling the interplay of nature, orientation, and cultural symbol—a graceful meditation on perception.”

Honourable Mention: ‘My Dad John (Jack to Mom) Gives Medical History’ by Callista Markotich

“This understated poem distills memory and loss into a poignant refrain. The line “Lou in bed, silent, shrunken, their mother weeping quietly at dawn” juxtaposes familial tenderness with the inevitability of mortality, encapsulating its emotional weight in just a few vivid strokes.”

Thank you to all submitting poets for sharing your words and supporting Pulp Literature!

Thank you to final judge Jude Neale, for the care you have shown to the Kingfisher. And thank you again to our first judges Emily Osborne and Daniel Cowper for their shortlist this year!

Keep the presses rolling!

Our 2024 Pulp Literature Silent Auction is open until the 17th of December. Bid now on prizes ranging from books to writing services to fabulous experiences, and help us to cover our printing costs!

Meet Kingfisher Judge, Jude Neale!

Jude Neale is a master educator, Canadian poet, vocalist, spoken word performer, workshop facilitator, and mentor. As well, she has has written twelve collections of poetry. She is a beloved mother, grandmother, and wife.

Jude’s book A Quiet Coming of Light: A Poetic Memoir (Leaf) was a finalist for the Pat Lowther Memorial Award, a recognition of Canadian women poets. Her manuscript, Splendid in Its Silence, won publication in the UK. Her poem, ‘Blue Bowl’, was a finalist for the prestigious Irish Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Award. ‘Emptiness in the Garden’, selected by Britain’s Poet Laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, rode the buses in the Channel Islands for a year.

Drawing on her musical background, Jude collaborated with violist, composer, and visionary, Thomas RL Beckman, to write a poetic prose narrative for the three-movement orchestrated suite, The St. Roch Suite, performed live by the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.

We have a Jude Neale Collection up for grabs in our silent auction. Check it out here>>