Mesa Arts & Culture Week
A Fond Farewell to Arts & Culture Week
Arts & Culture Week has come to a close, and what a joy it has been. From thoughtful poetry submissions to quiet moments spent savoring inspired confections, this week has been filled with words, flavor, creativity, and curiosity! And we are profoundly grateful to everyone who joined us, in whatever way the muses moved you.
Whether you submitted a poem to the contest, stopped by to enjoy a literary‑inspired treat, shared a kind word, or simply let the week unfold around you, thank you for being part of this celebration of art, language, and imagination. Seeing poetry and pastry meet at the same table is always a delight, and this community made it truly special.
Before we close the book…
Where Words Took Wing - Arts & Culture Week Poetry Contest Winners
The verses have been read, the metaphors savored, and the lines lingered over long after the kettle cooled. We were deeply moved by the creativity, vulnerability, and craft shared during Arts & Culture Week, and we’re honored to have hosted such a thoughtful exchange of words.
After much deliberation, we are delighted to present our poetry contest winners.
Prompt Winners
Our warmest thanks to every poet who took part. Your words made this week richer, stranger, and altogether lovelier. The prompts were offered in curiosity, and these poems answered with spirit. For their wit, depth, and imaginative reach, we are pleased to award the following prompt winners. From this remarkable gathering, the following poems stood out for their distinct voice, emotional resonance, and imaginative engagement with their prompts.
Edgar Allan Poe
✨ Winner: “Still It Watches, Still” by Anonymous ✨
Awarded for its masterful use of voice, echo, and psychological doubling, this poem unfolds like a whispered confession overheard by candlelight. Its hypnotic refrain and sentient mirror conjure a delicious unease where identity frays, silence speaks, and the watcher is never quite done watching. This piece lingered with us long after the flame guttered low.
Maya Angelou
✨ Winner: “Sorry, Not Sorry” by Shimeqka Aigner ✨
Awarded for its clear‑voiced empowerment and emotional honesty, this poem carries the quiet might of self‑knowledge. It honors responsibility without self‑erasure, strength without hardness, and the brave act of guarding one’s own fire. In its measured resolve and luminous dignity, we hear the echo of Angelou’s enduring truth: that freedom begins with knowing, and claiming, one’s worth.
Homer
✨ Winner: “Ambrosia of the Morning” by Martin Thompson✨
Awarded for its joyous command of epic simile and its elevation of the ordinary into the heroic, this poem transforms the morning’s first cup into an odyssey of spirit and strength. With lions roaring in kettles and ambrosia poured from humble hands, it reminds us that endurance, ritual, and return belong as much to dawn-lit kitchens as to ancient shores.
H.P. Lovecraft
✨ Winner: “The Ruined Garden” by Patrick Kennedy✨
Awarded for its unsettling re‑visioning of the familiar and its quiet devotion to cosmic unease, this poem reveals how beauty persists even when stripped of comfort. One that leans not on warmth, but on vastness, decay, and inevitability. In this quiet estrangement, we recognize a Lovecraftian whisper that what unsettles us most is not the grotesque, but the subtle sense that familiar reality has slipped a fraction sideways.
J.R.R. Tolkien
✨ Winner: “Thousand Footprints” by Anonymous ✨
Awarded for its buoyant spirit of adventure and affection for the well‑worn path, this poem delights in the music of travel for travel’s sake. With mossy boots, peculiar cities, and journeys measured not in treasure but in footprints, it captures Tolkien’s enduring magic: that the truest tales are carried home in memory, laughter, and the soles of one’s shoes.
The Grand Poet of Distinguished Crumb - I.C. Blackmoon
From a remarkable gathering of voices, one poem rose gently and unmistakably to the fore. Chosen for its artistry, resonance, and lasting impression, our Grand Winner captured the spirit of Arts & Culture Week and lingered with us long after the final line.
Awarded for its masterful atmosphere and creeping cosmic unease, this poem folds the mundane into the monstrous with chilling ease. Beneath iron grates and familiar corners, it summons an ancient patience. Suggesting not confrontation, but inevitability. Its restraint is its terror: what is hinted claws far deeper than what is shown.
Poems of Particular Delight - Honorable Mentions
Some poems linger at the edge of thought, tapping softly until invited back in. We offer heartfelt recognition to these works, each deserving a moment longer in the light.
Poetry. Pastries. A touch of dramatic flourish.
From March 4–14, Elysian Fields happily joins Visit Mesa and fellow local artisans in celebrating Mesa Arts & Culture Week with poetry, pastries, and properly indulgent confections the sort of which that leaves one blissfully speechless… or at least politely dramatic.
Across the event, we will be hosting poet spotlight features inspired by beloved voices, each paired with thoughtfully indulgent confections and fresh poetry prompts. It’s culture you can taste, creativity you can nibble, and an open invitation to play with words and pen adventures.
There will be prizes, there will be glory, and there will be pastries. In that order, mostly.
Putting Pen to Paper
Throughout the event, we will feature five poets, each spotlighted over a two‑day window. Every poetly appearance includes:
A featured poet with a themed pairing of flavors and mood
Two themed confections: one starring role, one charming supporting act
A fresh poetry contest prompt, unveiled with that poet’s feature
You may write one poem, several poems, or attempt all prompts like a daring literary adventurer or, we daresay, the dramatically eloquent bard you secretly are. Or choose the equally noble path of enjoying the ambiance, the confections, and the poetry of others. All levels of bravery (and restraint) are warmly applauded.
The Feature Calendar: Poets, Pastries, and Prompted Mischief
Our Arts & Culture Week unfolds in poetic chapters. Below, you will find each featured poet paired with themed confections and a prompt for those inclined to write, and plenty to enjoy if you’re not. Join us for one feature or wander through them all, whether you are here to write, to read, or simply to linger with a pastry and a good line or two. Participation is optional; curiosity is encouraged.
Edgar Allan Poe
Wednesday–Thursday | March 4–5
Begin the week with shadows, suspense, and indulgence. Dark, dramatic, and deliciously unsettling, our Edgar Allan Poe feature invites guests to linger in the shadows where beauty and unease quietly coexist.
Featured Confections
The Tell‑Tale Heart Chocolate Tortes - A decadent chocolate torte, rich and unapologetically dark, layered with a deep cherry filling and finished with a heart-shaped flourish of chocolate frosting. Beneath its elegant exterior beats a tension of sweetness and shadow. Each bite luxurious, lingering, and just a little haunting.
The Fall of the House of Ganache - Fudgy chocolate brownies marbled with tart raspberry and sealed beneath a fractured ganache crown. The glossy surface cracks as you bite, revealing layers of richness and scandal below. Structured, dramatic, and deliciously doomed.
Poetry Contest Prompt: Write 4-8 lines in which a beautiful object (a room, a song, a keepsake) becomes unsettling. Use one repeated phrase to mimic a heartbeat or echo.
Homer
Friday–Saturday | March 6–7
Epic journeys need not span seas to be worthy of song. Our Homer feature celebrates the poetry of adventures both bold and dainty. Those small triumphs and trials that feel heroic in the moment and are best rewarded with a sweet treat.
Featured Confections
Odyssey of the Fig – Soft fig and pistachio cookies finished with a brush of honey, offering a balance of sweetness, nuttiness, and gentle chew. A satisfying companion for any journey, whether across seas or merely the afternoon.
Odysseus’ Bow Crescents – Sesame-honey crescent cookies touched with a spiced nuttiness, crisp at the edges and tender at the center. Subtle, ancient flavors meet careful craftsmanship in a treat both restrained and rewarding. Much like a well-aimed arrow fired from the bow of King Odysseus himself.
Poetry Contest Prompt: Write 6–10 lines in an epic‑leaning voice about a small, everyday quest - finding a lost item, making it home, finishing a task, or bravely making the bed while dodging the cat. Use at least two vivid similes (“like…” or “as…”).
Maya Angelou
Sunday & Tuesday | March 8 & 10
A celebration of resilience, joy, and unapologetic radiance, and inspired by Maya Angelou’s luminous voice, these confections and words invite guests to reflect, rise, and savor sweetness in all its forms, both on the page and on the plate.
Featured Confections:
Still I Rise Sunrise Honey Cakes – Golden honey cakes infused with ripe peach and bright citrus, glazed with warm spices that linger gently on the palate. Soft, radiant, and comforting, these cakes rise with grace. Sweet without excess, hopeful without apology.
Phenomenal Woman Berry Tarts – Buttery shortbread shells filled with vibrant mixed-berry curd, crowned with a swirl of warm-spiced honey cream. Bold in flavor and beautifully balanced, these tarts celebrate sweetness, strength, and unmistakable presence.
Poetry Contest Prompt: Write 4-8 lines of resilience and radiance. Begin with a hardship, end with a declaration. Include at least one image of sunrise, sweetness, or song.
H.P. Lovecraft
Wednesday–Thursday | March 11–12
This feature lingers at the edge of the known world. Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft’s talent for suggestion and unease, these confections and words invite guests to consider what lies just beyond the light…familiar at first glance, and stranger the longer one looks.
Featured Confections:
Call of Cthulhu Black Magic – Intensely dark chocolate petit fours with a hidden core of espresso and salted caramel, cloaked in a glossy dark-berry glaze that drips ominously from within. Rich, bittersweet, and impossible to ignore, these treats are best enjoyed with curiosity and caution.
Shadow Over Innsmouth Berries – Blueberry crumble bars with a deep, dark berry jam filling and a brown-butter oat streusel, finished with a whisper of sea salt. Familiar at first bite, then strangely complex, with flavors that linger longer than expected.
Poetry Contest Prompt: Write 6-10 lines that hint at something vast and unknowable just out of sight. Avoid naming the “thing” directly. Let atmosphere, sensory detail, and implication do the work.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Friday–Saturday | March 13–14
We close the week with warmth, wonder, and the quiet joy of a journey well taken. Inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien’s love of roads, hearths, and simple pleasures, this feature invites guests to linger, imagine, and enjoy a well-earned treat at the end of the path.
Featured Confections:
Lembas Bread Shortbread – A large, tender shortbread cookie richly flavored with honey and vanilla, lightly kissed with orange blossom. Simple in appearance yet deeply satisfying, it’s the sort of nourishment one might carry on a long road. Humble, comforting, and quietly magical.
Farmer Maggot’s Crops Carrot Cake – Mini carrot cake tortes spiced with chai and layered with brown-butter cream cheese frosting. Earthy, cozy, and generously filled, these cakes feel pulled (or perhaps stolen by a mischievous hobbit or two) straight from a well-tended kitchen after a long day’s work.
Poetry Contest Prompt: Write 6–10 lines that read like a travel‑song from an imagined journey. Include two place‑names you invent, one humble meal, and a moment of wonder.
"Books and doors are the same thing. You open them, and you go through into another world."
– Jeanette Winterson
Poetry Contest: The Gently Enchanted Details
A special and most splendid Poetry Contest will be featured continuously throughout Mesa Arts & Culture Week. Each featured poet arrives with a fresh prompt, unveiled alongside their themed confections, allowing the week to unfold in poetic chapters, one delicious page at a time.
You may write one poem, several poems, attempt all prompts like a daring literary adventurer. Or simply come enjoy the ambiance, the confections, and the poetry of others. We applaud all levels of bravery (including the bravery of ordering dessert and calling it a day).
How It Works
A new poetry prompt is introduced with each featured poet. Poems may be submitted at any point during the event window, from March 4 through March 14. Guests may respond to one prompt or as many as inspiration allows.
How to Participate
In the bakery, poems may be tucked into our dedicated submission box (no sealing wax required). Online submissions may be made through the embedded form below. We will also continue to accept submissions via comments on the event social post or by direct message.
A Few Friendly Notes
Your poem may be sincere, silly, spooky, radiant, dramatic, or quietly strange. If you’re unsure where to begin, borrow one image from the prompt and follow it like a lantern. First drafts are brave drafts. We adore bravery.
A small reassurance before you begin: Participation in the poetry contest is entirely optional. You are equally welcome to simply enjoy the themed confections, the ambiance, and the poetry of others.
Prizes, Honors & Well‑Earned Applause
Before you ask, why yes, there are prizes. Consider them our way of applauding brave lines, clever turns of phrase, and the occasional poem that makes us pause mid-frosting and whisper, “Well, that’s rather brilliant.” Whether you write one prompt or many, we’re delighted you’ve joined the revel.
Grand Poet of Distinguished Crumb
Grand Winner
One Grand Winner will be selected from all submissions. Their reward is a Poet’s Box of Treats - a thoughtfully curated collection of Elysian Fields confections - along with a Featured Winner Spotlight, shared both in the bakery and online for all to admire.
A Poem of Particular Delight
Prompt Winners
Each poetry prompt will also have its own winner. Every Prompt Winner receives a buy one get one offer, because poetry, like dessert, is best enjoyed when shared.
How Winners Are Chosen
We will be reading with care, curiosity, and more than a little delight. We are looking for poems with vivid imagery, a sense of voice, and that rare, sparkling quality best described as “oh, that’s rather good.” Experience matters far less than heart, imagination, and a well‑turned line.
Winners will be announced on this page after March 14 once we have read, swooned, discussed favorites, and recovered sufficiently to make sensible decisions.
An Invitation to Write
Whether you are a seasoned poet, an occasional scribbler, or someone who has not written a line since school but suddenly feels inspired near the pastry case, we are delighted to have you.
A small reassurance before you begin: Participation in the poetry contest is entirely optional. You are equally welcome to simply enjoy the themed confections, the ambiance, and the poetry of others.
To submit online, please use the submission form below.
Submit a Poem (If the Mood Should Strike You)
Manners Maketh the Poet
We believe poetry is best enjoyed with curiosity, kindness, and a pastry nearby. To keep the experience delightful for all, we offer the following gentle guidelines:
Be kind, to yourself and to others. Poetry may be playful, tender, dramatic, or strange, but unkindness is not invited to the table.
Original work only, please. Submit poems that are entirely your own, written by you, and not previously published elsewhere.
All voices are welcome. Whether you’re an experienced poet or writing your very first lines, you belong here.
Writing is optional. Reading, lingering, and enjoying the ambiance and confections are equally encouraged.
One poem per submission, please. Multiple entries are welcome! Simply submit them separately.
Respect privacy and credit. We will never share your poem publicly without your permission, and we will credit you exactly as requested.
Most importantly, have fun! Poetry should feel like an invitation, not an examination.
If you have questions, uncertainties, or a poem that does not quite fit the mold, you are always welcome to ask.