Christiana Haight’s poem “Your Yellow Paint” makes Delta history in winning the League for Innovation’s 2023-24 Literary Awards
By Mikaila Bluew
Delta College student Christiana Haight won first place in the poetry category in the League for Innovation 2023-24 Student Literary Awards competition.
This achievement makes Haight the first Delta student in history to win first place in this competition.
Haight’s poem, “Your Yellow Paint,” written as an homage to painter Vincent Van Gough, was recognized for its depth and artistic expression, earning her a spot in the League’s newest creative writing anthology, “Tides, Currents, and Waterways.”
“At the surface level, the poem is definitely more about just my admiration of Van Gogh and his art and his life,” Haight says. “Then kind of on a deeper level, it’s more about perseverance and resilience through difficult times and kind of being able to find light in the darkness.”
This award validated Haight’s passion for writing and inspired her to openly share more of her work. She hopes her success will encourage other Delta students to submit their own creative writing for future recognition.
“For the longest time I just used poetry to ground myself,” Haight shared. “Knowing that other people have read what I’ve written and are able to relate or find meaning in it was kind of eye opening for me.”
Haight’s achievement showcases the talent and creativity within the Delta College community, and her recognition serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting student expression through opportunities like the League’s Student Literary Awards.
“I would definitely encourage them to go for it, to give it a try,” Haight says. “I think that it’s really empowering to share your writing with the world and to know that other people can relate to your experiences.”
The League’s 2025-26 Literary Awards are now open for submissions and Delta College students are encouraged to participate. All entries are due by April 1, 2025. For more information or to submit work, students can visit the League for Innovation’s website.
Your Yellow Paint
By Christiana Haight
The first time I saw a starry night -
a mere print, and still,
I couldn't speak.
The whirls of color around
each corresponding star
floating ethereal above
the small city below.
The way that you saw
the world and its beauty,
especially in the ordinary,
gave me new eyes.
You would eat yellow paint
to try to escape the sadness.
This, I understood.
I didn't swallow paint,
but carved out pieces
of myself to fight off
the heavy, drowning weight.
I became your sister.
Because in this darkness,
brother, if you could see beauty?
Then so could I.
