Callaway County Youth Poetry Contest 2021

people holding handsApril is National Poetry Month. The Callaway County Public Library and the Auxvasse Creative Arts Program invite Callaway County kids and teens to submit an original poem.

This year, write a poem that focuses on being connected.

The pandemic has made social distancing necessary, but we all need to feel connected to others. Write a poem about being connected with your community — about your class, family, team, neighborhood or town. Describe what it is like to be with your group. What do they look like? What does it feel like to be with them?

The submission period for this contest ended April 30, 2021.


Tips for writing your poem:

  • Write, write, write! Let your mind go loose and crazy for your first words on the paper. Have fun!
  • Don’t stop at your first draft. Good poetry is the result of continuing to work on your poem. Take those first words and see how you can improve them.
  • As you read what you have written, think about what words you chose. Is each word the perfect one for your poem?
  • Pay attention to the sound of each word, and how the words sound together. Is there another word that would sound better?
  • When you read the poem out loud to yourself, do any words stick out as not quite right? How can you change it?
  • Do you feel a rhythm to your poem? Does it roll when you read it?
  • Be specific and descriptive. For instance, instead of saying just “bug,” you could say “a big, fat, black beetle.”
  • Have you used any words that you really don’t need? Cutting unnecessary words can tighten a poem and make it better.

Age Groups:

5–8 years • 9–12 years • 13–18 years

Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in each age group.

Contest Rules:

You must live or attend school in Callaway County and be age 5-18.

For the 5 to 8 age group, an adult may help you type your entry.

Deadline:

The submission period for this contest ended April 30, 2021.