We are pleased to present the winners of the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy’s 2023 poetry contest. This year’s contest judges were Major Jackson and Cara Dees. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

First Place: “In my ASL class today, we learn how to sign UNITY” by Sophie Kaiser, Vanderbilt University

Second Place: “Her eyelids were a lovely yellow-green” by TaKya Hughes, East Tennessee State University

Third Place: “Non-Immigrant” by Shlagha Borah, University of Tennessee, Knoxville