The 2025 Hurt & Healing Prize Winners and Finalists
We’re thrilled to congratulate Taryn FitzGerald, the winner of Frontier Poetry’s 2025 Hurt & Healing Prize! Their poem “UPON RECEIVING THE NEWS LOOKING OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW,” was selected by our guest judge Robert Wood Lynn as the first place winner. The Frontier Poetry reading and editorial team were humbled by the trust submitters gave in sharing their stories of hardship, heartbreak, and loss. As always, we are so grateful for the continue support of our submitters, readers, and friends.
Taryn FitzGerald has been selected for the first place $3,000 prize. Maxwell Putnam was selected as the second-place winner and Akhim Cabey as the third-place winner. We look forward to publishing the winners throughout the months of July and August!
Thank you to all who submitted, it was a pleasure to consider your work.
WINNER
Taryn FitzGerald
“UPON RECEIVING THE NEWS LOOKING OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW”
Taryn FitzGerald is an artist and writer. Her photo and video works have been exhibited nationally and abroad. Her photos have appeared in Radar Poetry and her drawings in Porter Gulch Review. She has studied at The Writers Studio and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Second Place
Maxwell Putnam
“LETTER TO YOU AS THE LAST PHOTOGRAPH OF GERA TARO”
Maxwell Putnam is a poet and essayist living in the Catskills.
Third Place
Akhim Cabey
“SEER”
A Pushcart Prize-winning Black author, their work has appeared in Colorado Review, Indiana Review, Florida Review, RHINO, Shenandoah, TriQuarterly, Callaloo, and elsewhere. Akhim Cabey’s debut full length collection of poetry is forthcoming from in 2026 from Black Lawrence Press. Originally from the Bronx, New York, Akhim Cabey now lives in Columbus, Ohio.
The Finalists
Elaina Edwards
Liza Katz Duncan
Jen Siraganian
Sophie Zaffina
Zixuan Xin
Jessica Chapnik Kahn
Lux Aeterna
Ann DeVilbiss
Hilary Rose
Ren Wilding
Kelley Outler
Meg McManama
Kevin King
Rosemary Davis
Anya Kirshbaum
Zeke Shomler
Conan Tan
