Our first Touchstone Award Nominations from the – Issue 01, Spring 2026

evening prayer fades
the dust of marigold
in my palms

— Dr. Anish Kumar Gupta, India

faded marigold —
the bride’s father lingers
at the doorway 

— Vaishnavi Ramaswamy, India

second day of snowfall…
the warmth of your
(c)love mulled wine

— Steliana Cristina Voicu, Romania

balmy spring day 
a toddler in the yellow hat 
almost stands

— Keiko Izawa, Japan

summer stars
a pushcart vendor sells
his last mango 

— Neha Singh Soni, India

lone beach stroll
wave after wave 
of old grief

— Chen-ou Liu, Canada

creeping jenny
recalling names
more slowly now

— Leon Tefft,USA

angel’s wing mushroom
not a flutter
on the ultrasound

— Adele Evershed, USA