The Michael Madsen Poetry Award 2026
We’re pleased to announce that submissions are now open for the inaugural Michael Madsen Poetry Award, a new annual prize dedicated to celebrating poetry that embodies a specific kind of truth.
Presented by Low Hanging Fruit Magazine and Kalvin M. Madsen, this award recognizes verse that cuts to the bone—work that is honest, uncompromising, and born from lived experience. We are seeking narratives that don’t shy away from the hard realities of life but instead confront them with a clear, resonant voice. This is for the poetry that explores the shadows, finds beauty in forgotten places, and reveals the stories whispered on street corners and in the quiet, bruised moments of life.
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The 2026 contest has officially begun. All entries will be judged by the Madsen Brothers and the editorial staff of Low Hanging Fruit Magazine.
PASALTA MAGAZINE
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Pasalta is a community-driven literary project dedicated to the voices of the Pasadena and Altadena area. We aren’t looking for academic polish; we’re looking for the "honest and the real." Whether it’s poetry written on a Metro bus, a short story inspired by the San Gabriel shadows, or art that captures the grit of our local streets—this is your home.
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This website is a work of passion, and it has no funding. We can really use your support for gathering media and other archive material, as well as paying to host this website. Any donation is greatly appreciated!
​-Kalvin M. Madsen
Creator and operator of this website
Submit your prose/poetry/visual art
Low Hanging Fruit is in the process of becoming. That being said, we are interested in a variety of genres and mediums. From poetry to photography, we seek anything you think can be expressed on a page or screen.
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While we are interested in an array of mediums, we have some interests. Special attention is given to speculative and socio-political fiction or works meant to challenge world views or color our mental associations. For visual works, anything goes. Comics and compilations/series are welcome, physical and digital art.