2026 Derick Burleson Poetry Contest Winner
Poetry by Mercedes Otten
Knowing My Parents
Holding my knees,
Staring at the chipped floor.
My hair is still soft
And my nails are
Dirty from the playground.
I could hear the mug
I made in art class
Break in the other room.
I had a family riddled with addiction.
I lived with the droplets of their shame
And breathe in their regret every day.
Hearing them whisper,
“You look just like your mother.”
My heart has -
Shattered
And now it festers with resentment.
I feel confused,
Full of mixed emotions.
But my mind holds sweet -
Hope
Because it knows
Tomorrow is waiting.
Do the Birds Know?
An arctic warbler trills,
Northern hawk owl hoots,
And the pot is boiling hot.
Full of carrots, potatoes, and fresh meat.
I look into the fire,
As the caribou stew cooks and I wonder,
Do the birds know?
I think about those who have done the same as I have.
Hearing the birds chirp their pretty songs,
The wind plays with the birch branches,
And the river bubbles on.
I bet that all those who came before me.
With sun-kissed faces,
Dirty hands from working in the woods,
Head full of awe in the face of nature,
Has heard the same and wondered,
Do the birds know?
My Job is Not My Identity
I stack the boxes of chips in the back of the store,
My brightly colored vest is hanging loosely off my shoulders.
Co-workers try to make small talk,
And I do my best to keep up with the social charade.
It’s past midnight,
My hair’s greasy,
My legs tired from walking around for so long.
I can feel the cheap fast food I picked up
On my walk towards home
Comfortably sit in my stomach.
I pay the feeling no mind,
My eyes drift off to the left,
To the unfinished beadwork on my desk.
Above hangs the painting of a pair of ducks
Sitting on the pond near my apartment.
My calendar is decorated with my penwork,
Reminding me of dance practice tomorrow afternoon.
I wash off the makeup I wore,
The kind with gemstones and bold lipstick,
Then stretched my limbs on my exercise mat.
I yawn as I walk towards my bed,
Covering myself with my first crochet blanket,
Finished a week ago,
And drift off to sleep,
Looking forward to my day off.