THE 'DARK POETS PRIZE III'
RESULTS
We are thrilled to announce the results of the third edition of the Dark Poets Prize, our most ambitious and far-reaching competition to date. With over 2,000 submissions from 45 countries, this was not only our biggest edition yet — it was also the most powerful showcase of dark poetic talent we have ever seen.
The standard of entries was truly exceptional. We were humbled by the scope, originality, and emotional depth of the work submitted. From intimate grief to gothic transformation, from mythic horror to psychological collapse — you shared your darkness with breathtaking honesty and craft.
Given the sheer quality of submissions, the judging process was extraordinarily difficult. For the first time, we made the decision to include a shortlist and an honourable mention category, in order to highlight the breadth of excellence. That said, we want to emphasise:
❗ If you were not selected for the shortlist or honourable mentions, please do not feel disheartened. This in no way reflects the quality or worth of your work. The final decisions were incredibly close, and we had to be exceptionally strict in our selection process. We were, quite simply, overwhelmed by brilliance.
To every poet who entered: thank you. Your work matters. Your voice belongs here. Please continue to write, to explore the dark, and to send us your shadows. The next Dark Poets Prize is already in planning — and we promise it will be even bigger, bolder, and darker than ever before.
Yours in darkness,
Dark Poets Club Editorial Team
Stay tuned for more updates as we celebrate the extraordinary talent within our community!
DORIT D'SCARLETT
Dorit is a Danish-Australian writer currently residing in Malaysia.
"It’s a rare thing to be rewarded for unsettling people, and I’m thrilled (and slightly spooked) to have won the Dark Poets Prize. There’s this idea that older women can’t write poetry that is sharp and skin-shedding. Not dripping with hunger or slightly haunted. How once we reach a certain age, we are supposed to be invisible or inspirational. Write about gardens or grief. Nothing too wet or wild or dark. Winning this prize affirms that there is power in writing what unsettles us.
These pieces came from the strange, feral corners of me, the ones that don’t tidy up before company. I wrote them because they wouldn’t leave me alone — because dread has a voice, and sometimes it sounds a lot like your own. I write for those who feel too much, too strangely, too sharply—who carry the unsayable inside them. If you’ve ever lit a match just to see what might crawl out of the dark — these poems were for you."
Congratulations to all the incredible poets that participated and to those who made it into our 'Shortlist' + 'Honourable Mentions', who's stunning work has also been selected for publication on Dark Poets Club, (you will be contacted in due course):
FOR THOSE DIGITALLY SAVVY AND WISHING TO SHARE THEIR SHORTLIT OR HONOURABLE MENTION, FEEL FREE TO DOWNLOAD THE CLEAN IMAGE BELOW AND ADD YOUR NAME (BOLD FONT IS ANTON):
