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2026 NORTHERN ISLANDER POETRY CONTEST OPEN FOR VOTING
The 2026 Northern Islander Poetry Contest is now open for voting!
The contest began in April and lasted through August 2026. Almost 25 poems submitted by ten different writers were published over the summer, with a few writers submitting more than one piece.
One common theme amongst the poems (besides the obvious) was the water. There were numerous mentions of splashing waves, but also glimpses of smaller wonders, too, like the sandpipers running back and forth or a collection of seashells lining a windowsill. The beaches on Beaver Island are special because they’re essentially untouched by the outer world. Being on the island means being separated from the mainland, and thus, its population. The footprints on our beaches are the same footprints who also help care, clean, maintain, and preserve the shorelines. The island runs on an honor system, and everyone who lives or visits regularly knows how important it is to keep the island how we found it—and in some cases, better than before.
A vast turn-out that covered many forms of poetry, these poems were more than mere words on a screen or page. By just reading the first line or stanza, we can hear the waves splashing on Donegal Bay, smell the mist in the air, feel the warm sun on our cheeks, taste the tartness of wild blackberries, and envision the ferry traveling across Lake Michigan in the spring. Special thanks to David DeGaff, Debra Foti, Lois Stipp, Juli Runberg, Diane Picotte, Rebecca Kenwabikise, Jim Bloch, Joseph Slaney, Mary Kay Gaddy, and David Bos for submitting their respective poems.
The winner of the contest will win a $150 cash prize and has the choice of either a free online subscription to the newspaper for one year, or free admission for one (1) child for the Beaver Island Historical Society’s annual Kids Camp for 2027.
Vote here: https://forms.gle/AsjT5Be3jHSgx9R86
Each poem is available to read and can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hyJGwrIJ1v3tqn-gDeiv_hfYdjbz-R8PdmIxF3J0XjI/edit?usp=sharing
The contest began in April and lasted through August 2026. Almost 25 poems submitted by ten different writers were published over the summer, with a few writers submitting more than one piece.
One common theme amongst the poems (besides the obvious) was the water. There were numerous mentions of splashing waves, but also glimpses of smaller wonders, too, like the sandpipers running back and forth or a collection of seashells lining a windowsill. The beaches on Beaver Island are special because they’re essentially untouched by the outer world. Being on the island means being separated from the mainland, and thus, its population. The footprints on our beaches are the same footprints who also help care, clean, maintain, and preserve the shorelines. The island runs on an honor system, and everyone who lives or visits regularly knows how important it is to keep the island how we found it—and in some cases, better than before.
A vast turn-out that covered many forms of poetry, these poems were more than mere words on a screen or page. By just reading the first line or stanza, we can hear the waves splashing on Donegal Bay, smell the mist in the air, feel the warm sun on our cheeks, taste the tartness of wild blackberries, and envision the ferry traveling across Lake Michigan in the spring. Special thanks to David DeGaff, Debra Foti, Lois Stipp, Juli Runberg, Diane Picotte, Rebecca Kenwabikise, Jim Bloch, Joseph Slaney, Mary Kay Gaddy, and David Bos for submitting their respective poems.
The winner of the contest will win a $150 cash prize and has the choice of either a free online subscription to the newspaper for one year, or free admission for one (1) child for the Beaver Island Historical Society’s annual Kids Camp for 2027.
Vote here: https://forms.gle/AsjT5Be3jHSgx9R86
Each poem is available to read and can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hyJGwrIJ1v3tqn-gDeiv_hfYdjbz-R8PdmIxF3J0XjI/edit?usp=sharing
