Here are the winners and finalists (selected by contest judge Octavio Quintanilla) and semi-finalists for the 17th annual Narrative Poetry Contest. Their poems will be published in Naugatuck River Review issue 35 contest issue, which will be coming out by the end of January, 2026. Thanks to everyone who submitted!

Contest Winners

First Prize Mary Beth Hines
Second Prize E R Lutken
Third Prize B J Buckley

Finalists

Elizabeth Ambos
Ruth Bavetta
Jill Bronfman
Rafaella Del Bourgo
Christine Dutton
Charles Grosel
Don Hogle
Edgar Lavoie
Grace Lynn
Ed McManis
Robin Michel
Emily Portillo
Lori Rottenberg
Linda Serrato
Karen Elizabeth Sharpe
Julia Meylor Simpson
Tara Zafft

Semifinalists

Camila Aguirre Aguilar
Partridge Boswell
Patrick Chapman
Lexi Clidienst
Joanne Durham
Andy Fogle
Bill Glose
Gene Grabiner
Jonathan Greenhause
Marika Guthrie
Jennifer Randall Hotz
Lorraine Jeffery
Ellice Jeon
Wanzhen Jun
Danielle Lemay
Cecile Marcado
Patricia McMillen
Michael Milburn
Jimmy Pappas
Nancy Kay Peterson
Tony Peyser
Kristin Radakovits
Kara Schneider
Lindsay Tsohantaritis
Sherry Weaver Smith
Wally Swist
Tony Wassom
Hallie Waugh
Sean Whalen
Laura Hodes Zacks
Claire Zoghb