Local students in grades 6 through 12 and adult residents of Lorain County are invited to submit one original poem of up to 40 lines in free or formal verse from Feb. 19 through March 26.

Email your poem to lorainpoetry@lpls.info. Please paste your poem into the body of the email; do not send as an attachment. Include your legal name and pen name if applicable; name of school and school grade if applicable; home address; phone number and email address. 

A parent, legal guardian or teacher is welcome to submit a student’s poem on their behalf. For teachers with multiple submissions for students, please provide the same information required for each child.

FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:

Font Type: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri
Font Size: 12
Spacing: Double
Format: Free or formal verse, up to a maximum of 40 lines
Theme: There are no thematic parameters for this contest

Entries that do not adhere to these format requirements will not be considered eligible.

Prizes of $75, $50 and $25 will be awarded respectively to the first through third place winners in each category; grades 6 through 8, grades 9 through 12 and adult. Prizes are sponsored by the Friends of the Lorain Public Library, Inc.

All entrants are invited to attend an Open Mic Poetry event on April 28 at the North Ridgeville Branch where the contest winners will be announced.