2026 WINNING POEMS (L through M) AND BIOS
BY HEONA LIU
Heona is a rising-senior at Newton North High School. Besides writing poetry, she has many hobbies that include digital art, ballet, badminton, piano, and computer programming. She loves finding ways to bring together her passion for tech and the creative arts. When school doesn't hold her back, you'll find Heona running the badminton courts or building a web app.
BY ROBIN MAYER STEIN
Robin Mayer Stein, a native New Yorker transplanted to Massachusetts, has published poetry and fiction in: the new renaissance, 50 Give or Take, Fiddlehead Folio, The Paterson Review, and Persimmon Tree Review. She teaches memoir and poetry workshops and presents programs at schools about her book, My Two Cities: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration. Her Shakespearean-themed crossword puzzle appeared in The New York Times. She enjoys swimming, dancing and spending time with her grandchildren.
BY ROXANNA MYHRUM
Roxanna Myhrum is an exuberant grown-up who loves poems, playgrounds, and public art. Professionally, she is a theater producer and director who specializes in opera, puppetry, and site-specific activations. When she's not building fantastical worlds on stage, she enjoys exploring Greater Boston with her family. Originally from Springfield, MA, she now lives in Newton Highlands.