Submissions for Poetry are open to one poem that was completed for coursework during the last calendar year. Submissions should not exceed 5 pages. Raine Baker wrote the 2nd place submission in the Poetry Category for the 2026 President’s Writing Awards.
About Raine
Raine Baker (she/her) is based in Marin, California and Boise, Idaho. She is currently studying psychology and writing. When she’s not writing, Raine can be found walking by the river or trying to make the perfect cup of tea.
Winning Manuscript – In Any State
Tea makes patterns as it spirals, water into more of the same. Adding milk doesn’t change this. It’s all one base: water.
As a kid you loved the creek. You were small boots and small hands. You stood at the mouth to catch bugs and chase water.
Keep a rag and sponge by the stove for when you boil over. You’ve almost done your best but you can’t erase water.
Neglect and new seasons make your gutter a sleeping shock. Every barrel full, the only other option is to displace water.
Questions don’t come with shovels. You have to dig with dirty nails. A dirty truth: It’s all on you. (There are no sticks that will trace water.)
There is no easy way to crawl inside your own lungs on a good day And, instead of breath, to find in that space water.
You heard the place between shipwrecked and safety is luck.
This might be true. What kind of rehearsal does it take to race water?
Dive in with an expectation. Whether butterfly or bellyflop You will reach your goal. In any state, you must encase water.
A bath is almost medicine now. Let the practice fall out around you. Lift up your leg and watch it all trickle home. Lace water.
You’ve seen the dry sponge snap in half. Are you going to soften? You are everything to your shadow, rain. Embrace water.