Winners of the Winter Poetry Contest

We asked the writers of Ithaca College to write a poem that includes the words twilight, end, flurry, and nor’easter as concisely as possible.

"December Keeps Me” by Sofia Nolfo

I know we’ve seen it end here before 

By twilight- wet eyes, starchy sheets, weary heat 

Left each other in a nor’easter 

An empty cup of tea, a ghosted room below

But now we are here 

I hold you so tight while the rain turns crystal  

As you see a flurry fall down, I watch how you wince 

Don’t you know we’ll be alright this year?


Sofia Nolfo (she/her) is a senior Communication Management and Design major with a Sociology minor. Her previous holiday writing experience includes penning annual painfully lengthy letters to Santa in her youth. (Instagram: @sofianolfo)

“when we parted at twilight” by Colin Nacion

with twilight's hush, our paths diverge 

like a nor'easter wind, an emotional surge.

whispers of farewell in shadows stay

through telephone wire, recalling that day.

as twilight fades, love falls like a leaf,

a new beginning, inviting my grief.

in the silent flurry, compassion and bitterness blend,

I miss you now, but silence is better in the end.

Colin Nacion (he/him) is a senior double-major in English Literature and Theatre Studies. Along with an Education Studies minor, he plans to continue at IC and earn his Master's degree in English Education the year following his graduation. While he enjoys writing poetry, he is most passionate about playwriting (which he shares on New Play Exchange) and songwriting (which he shares on Spotify). (Instagram @colin.nacion)

Stay tuned for upcoming contests, and check out our previous winners below!

  • “The Crib” by Joshua Pantano

    Ever since they brought the newborn home, the dog kept her quiet at night, so when they bought her a bigger crib, they let the dog sleep in it too. But one night the dog gnawed through his leg, biting and yowling until, to the shock of the parents, his body laid silent in the red-soaked crib. The vet told them he had developed parasites, just a day before the baby started screaming too.

    Joshua Pantano (he/him) is a Senior Journalism major with minors in Spanish and Writing. He loves to eat cheese!

  • “One Flesh” by Joey Goodwin

    My Love reaches into my chest, pulls skin apart, and separates muscle from bone. They crack ribs with wanting hands and reach inside to pull at my most precious organ until the veins snap. My Love holds my heart in their hands—as they always have, and now, always will—and puts it to their mouth.

    Joey Goodwin (they/them) is a Sophomore Writing major with a concentration in Creative Writing. They love writing queer horror in all forms (even cannibalistic ones).

  • “In the Corner It Lurks” by Gwenalyn Abrams

    Eyes cast away from the shadow-covered corner.

    It watches you with its deep black eyes.

    If you look, the one you call your lover will turn into a mourner.

    Gwenalyn Abrams (she/her) is a Freshman Writing major. She hopes to be able to publish many books and be a well-known fiction author. Halloween is her favorite holiday and she loves to decorate her room with all kinds of skulls and creepy things.

  • “Untitled” by Augie Brightman

    It walked the midnight streets—

    Through my bedroom window, I saw its distance decrease—

    I turned over, suddenly not alone.

    Augie Brightman (he/him) is a sophomore studying Cinema and Photography, with a concentration in Film. He loves playing the guitar.

  • “Calluses” by Z Prince

    They held a war in the palm of their hands. I could feel the battle scars whenever we touched—warm and wanting and waiting for the chance to breathe.

  • "Cataclysmal" by Rebecca Rivera

    I remember how cute our cat looked when we tried to kill it; how hard we threw it from the bedroom window. But when we popped our heads out, all we saw was a mangy tail disappearing into the bushes.

  • “Green Gloves” by Marisa Thomas

    The boy with green gloves smiled at me in the middle of the street and he ran across. If someone simply showed him how to cross the road, then once more those green clothed hands would have waved to me.