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Shō Poetry Journal

Established in 2002, revived in 2023

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Sita Martin Prize

A black-and-white photo of a Black man gazing up to the right. His face is bathed in light, his gaze is soft, and he wears a turtleneck sweater.

Ernest Ohia – somehow [Sita Martin Prize Winner]

Jun 28, 2025 · Shō Poetry Journal

“somehow” by Ohia, Ernest Chigaemezu, Winner of the Sita Martin Prize for Shō No. 7 (Summer 2025):

it begins with dreams where your heart flutters nonstop in an airplane bound for america used to be a part of your dreams now are like cicadas throwing a wild party & you're clueless as fuck your papery heart

Black and white photograph of a woman with short hair wearing a dress.

Nina C. Peláez – Doubt [Sita Martin Prize Runner-Up]

Jun 27, 2025 · Shō Poetry Journal

“Doubt” by Nina C. Peláez, Runner-Up of the Sita Martin Prize for Shō No. 7 (Summer 2025).

At the cattle farm, I fell in love with a boy
who thought he was a god. I too, believed
this sometimes.

A Caucasian woman with a slight smile on her face stands in sunlight on the balcony of a tall apartment building. She has shoulder-length light blonde hair and wears a black v-neck top with short ruffled sleeves.

Maja Lukic – Your Mother Knew Many Words for Beauty and Used All of Them to Call You [Sita Martin Prize Winner]

Feb 27, 2025 · Shō Poetry Journal

Winner of the Sita Martin Prize for Shō No. 6 (Winter 2024/25).

In shop windows, you are strange / to yourself, your face a drifting moon, / eyes and mouth dark shafts.

A young South Asian woman is sitting indoors and is turned to face the camera, smiling. She wears large black-framed glasses and a set of black headphones.

Ranudi Gunawardena – Girl Cousins, Pixelated [Sita Martin Prize Runner-Up]

Feb 5, 2025 · Shō Poetry Journal

Runner-Up of the Sita Martin Prize for Shō No. 6 (Winter 2024/25).

The fruit / hung bending the branches, like a hundred // small stomachs, bird-eaten and naked / where the beaks had pierced.

Publishing Stats

Since our revival issue was published in Summer 2023:

260

Poems Published

170

Total Poets Published

73

Audio Features Published

28

Poems Nominated for Prizes

1

Poem chosen for inclusion in Best Spiritual Literature

Shō Poetry Journal


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