This April, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month. We challenged you, our readers, to craft a poem using only the words that appeared in one of our newsletters (here are the original contest guidelines if you want to give it a try).

Turns out, you’re all poets and we didn’t even know it. We were beyond thrilled to read the original, creative, and awe-inspiring poems Indy created from our newsletter copy. Check out the finalists' poems below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite.

“For Love of Poems” by Sara Evans

Please excuse the dust,
this evolution
of words to poems.
Mix and match
of articles and form
as the foundation
that builds into artwork.
These remarks
start by appearing simple
and launch the creative endeavor
we call poetry.
The idea
to showcase the greatest spectacle
we find most interesting.

“Red Symphony” by Matt Brown

We built a red symphony from the sound
made by the Machinery of Experience.
Music that, in its process,
pulls,
pistons,
and pits dead history
in the direction of creativity,
of evolution,
of love.
Use it in effort to find,
to see, then
to form
the feature of your future renovation.
The center of the stage
is open for you to unveil your art.
Honor the dust with the announcement of your name.

“INDYtoday FTW” by Kaitlyn Cross

You catch the 6 am Indy newsletter?
It has news, events, and even the weather.
Don’t forget Hoosier rock bands at the Melody Inn
Or the Beer vs. Wine 5K and Arts Center new exhibition!
Keep an eye out for signs that have “no turn on red”
And a new bar (The English) – order cocktails + a flatbread.
The Indy Cars will be on Monument Circle in May.
Know about all Indianapolis events with INDYtoday!

"The Pull of the Poem" by Peggy Breidenbach

The practice of poetry
invited me to honor
the here and the now
the found
the most interesting and
the simple
the hidden gem.
Experience it for yourself...
be open to the process
the form and direction.
The pull of the poem is unlike any other.