First Frost Award

First Frost #2, Fall 2021

redwoods the rain that never reaches us

Cherie Hunter Day

After living in California for many years and often visiting redwoods (and sequoias) in various places around the state, including protected groves on the San Francisco peninsula just half an hour from where I lived, I came to appreciate these tall wonders of nature. Is it literally true that rain wouldn’t reach us on the ground because of how tall the redwoods are? Obviously not, but at least some rain wouldn’t reach us. But that’s beside the point. What matters, I think, is how this poem deepens our awareness of the height of these trees and perhaps makes us feel pleased that at least some rain is being caught in those far-away redwood canopies.

—9 November 2025

First Frost #6, Fall 2023

indigo dusk

the town quietens

star by star

Ron C. Moss

This poem’s first line is irresistible. What a beautiful line! But there’s more beauty in store. As a town begins to go to sleep, each home switching off its lights for the night, in contrast, the stars are blinking on. As each star appears, a light in the town goes out, and this is how the town “quietens.” It’s possible to imagine where the poet lives in Tasmania, where the southern stars stitch a familiar tapestry overhead. The poet is up to see this and may feel a touch of melancholy for those in the quieting town who are missing it.

—9 November 2025

First Frost #10, Fall 2025

prairie stars

the faraway flicker

of a drive-in movie

Eric Sundquist

That faraway flicker is not just distant physically but metaphorically, perhaps also distant in time. Drive-in movies have been increasingly rare in recent decades, down to less than one tenth of the number that used to thrive in the United States. There’s even a website devoted to drive-in movie theaters. In this context the poem shimmers with nostalgia. The poem has a strong prairie setting, a sense of distance (the poet is not actually watching the movie), intimacy (with the stars instead of the movie), and attention (being aware of the movie even while focusing more on the stars), together with engaging implied feelings (a touch of longing). The poem also employes effective and natural line breaks, alliteration (f sounds), and effectively repeating r and v sounds. This is a scene where I would like to be.

—9 November 2025