Imagine having access to the finest debut poetry from a diverse array of emerging poets, all conveniently compiled in a single volume. The second instalment of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize maintains the exceptional standard set by its inaugural edition. Representing a collaborative effort among poets worldwide and from various backgrounds, this second volume offers a poetry collection unparalleled in its depth and breadth. Within its pages, readers will find a tapestry of emotions--heartache, longing, laughter, and the essence of life itself--each poem capturing the essence of human creativity and experience.
From humorous anecdotes to poignant reflections, from tales of beauty to moments of raw truth, this collection celebrates the multifaceted nature of poetry. It serves as both a tribute to the art form and a poignant reminder that writing is an extension of living--an act of self-expression that allows us to both reveal and connect with others.
Industry Reviews
"It's amazing when an anthology of different voices still manages to feel like a cohesive, breathing whole. These poems, together, are a choir, a song of hope and longing you will feel vibrating deep in your bones long after reading. "tell me everything you know / of tenderness" this book asks of its reader, and I am here, with my chest unlocked, ready to speak of it." — Grant Chemidlin, author of What We Lost in the Swamp
This collection reads like a secret, some whispered truth offered in hushed tone on the edges of a crowded room. It sticks with you that way, too. These poems, these raw and varied, diverse and vulnerable bits of ache, of joy, of sorrow, and mostly of beauty, burrow into your mind and keep the whisper going long after you’ve put it down. So much talent, I’ve never envied the judge of this contest less." — Tyler Knott Gregson, author of Chasers of the Light
Praise for the 2024 Edition
"The Central Avenue Poetry Prize is an astounding collection of poems. As you read each page and meet new poets from different countries and life experiences, you'll be reminded of the joy and pain that make us all human: the love we crave, the loss we endure, and the lives we live." — Shelby Leigh, author of Girl Made of Glass and From Sand to Stars
This book is filled with poems that’ll change your life and if not your life, then perhaps at the very least, your morning or your coffee break because that’s what poetry does, which is something other kinds of writing can’t." — Iain S. Thomas, author of I Wrote This For You and The Truth of You
"This felt like a homecoming to the interconnectedness of the human experience. With so many different poets, so many different lived lives, it's a reminder that there is both immense beauty and pain in being human, and yet, we are never alone in it either." — Makenzie Campbell, author of 2am Thoughts and Self Portrait
“The Central Avenue Poetry Prize makes its debut with an incredible array of diverse and talented poetic voices. This anthology is a stunning showcase of the contemporary poetry scene.” — Catarine Hancock, author of shades of lovers
