LibGuides: April Poetry Contest 2023: Home

National Poetry Month

"Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and—of course—poets, marking poetry's important place in our lives." - poets.org

Resources for Poets and Poetry Lovers:

NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) NaPoWriMo, or National Poetry Writing Month, is an annual project in which participating poets attempt to write a poem a day for the month of April.
Poetry Foundation The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.
Poetry Society of America The nation's oldest poetry organization, founded in 1910.
Poets.org
Poets & Writers Founded in 1970, Poets & Writers is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers. Our mission? To foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public.

Prizes and Sponsors

Adult and Teen Category Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will receive a gift card to Scout's Coffee Bar & Mercantile in High Bridge, New Jersey. They will also receive a commemorative rosette award.

Children's Category Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will receive a gift card to H umdoo Ice Cream in Flemington, New Jersey. They will also receive a commemorative rosette award.

Thank you to these fantastic local businesses for supporting our community's poets!

Enter Your Poem!

We are no longer accepting entries at this time. Please join us for our reception on Wednesday, April 26 at 6:30pm!

2023 April Poetry Contest Winners

All winners received a special award ribbon and a gift card to Scout’s Coffee Bar & Mercantile in High Bridge. Hunterdon County Library staff members judged each entry anonymously – the judges did not have any names of the poets. Our judges put a lot of thought behind this work, and we appreciate their efforts!

All winners receive a special award ribbon and a gift card to Humdoo Ice Cream in Flemington. Hunterdon County Library staff members judged each entry anonymously – the judges did not have any names of the poets. Our judges put a lot of thought behind this work, and we appreciate their efforts!

Poetry Books at HCL

Milk and honey by Rupi Kaur

Call us what we carry: poems by Amanda Gorman

Long way down by Jason Reynolds

The Iliad of Homer

I know why the caged bird sings book cover

I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou

The bell jar by Sylvia Plath

Catalog of unabashed gratitude book cover

Catalog of unabashed gratitude by Ross Gay

The collected poems of Langston Hughes

On Earth we're briefly gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Schedule of Events

April is National Poetry Month! We are celebrating with the annual HCL April Poetry Contest for Adults, Teens, and Children in Hunterdon County.

March 27 - April 14: Entries open

April 17 - April 28: Poetry Entries Exhibition at Headquarters Library Gallery Space. Come read the original works from our community's talented poets, and view corresponding artwork. A digital poetry gallery will also be viewable on this page.

April 26, 6:30-8:30PM: Poetry Reading & Awards Ceremony. Join us for an evening of original poetry readings from members of our community. Come to read your poem, or come to sit back and enjoy the readings. Contest participants and non-participants alike are welcome to read their piece. We will be announcing the winners and runners-up (and award prizes!) for each category: Adult, Teens, Children 12 and Under. Register for this event.

Contest Guidelines

Submit one original poem in any style of 20 lines or under.
Categories: Adults, Teens, and Children 12 and Under
Content cannot be vulgar, offensive, contain profanity, and must be the original, individual work of the entrant.
HCL Staff will score each poem on a scale of 1-10.
Winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 26th during our optional Poetry Reading & Awards Ceremony at Headquarters Library (see Event Calendar at www.hclibrary.us for more details).
Prizes will be awarded to the winners and runners-up!
The last day to submit your poem is Friday, April 14th.

PDF Guidelines

Questions? Email e witkowski@hclibrary.us or call the Teen Services Department at 908-788-5586.

April Poetry Contest 2023: Home