Poetry Contest: Deadline February 25, 2020

A previously unpublished poem of any length or style that best incorporates (and honors) the state's previous poet laureates. 

This writing challenge can be handled in many ways. A few possibilities include borrowing a single influential line from a poet laureate as the basis for a new poem. Or writing a collage poem incorporating material from all eleven laureates. Or writing a poem that explores a common topic with a laureate or covers something about a laureate's biography. Just to name a few.

Criteria for selection: the poem that is most comprehensive in its coverage or is most innovative in its celebration of these laureates’ work.

Winning poets and their poems will be featured on this blog.

Three Prize Categories: Adult / Young Adult (13-18 years old) / Child (12 years and younger).

Writer must be a current resident of New Hampshire and competition excludes previous NH Poet Laureates and students of current NH Poet Laureate. One submission per writer.

Previous Poet Laureates of New Hampshire:

Paul Scott Mowrer (September 1968-1971)

Eleanor Vinton (August 1972-December 1978)
Richard Eberhart (January 1979-January 1984)
Donald Hall (June 1984-January 1989)
Maxine Kumin (March 1989-March 1994)
Jane Kenyon (January 1995-March 1999)
Donald Hall (December 1995-March 1999)
Marie Harris (October 1999-March 2004)
Cynthia Huntington (March 22, 2004-December 2005)
Patricia Fargnoli (January 2006-March 2009)
Walter E. Butts (March 31, 2009-March 2013)
Alice B. Fogel (March 2014-October 2019)

Submission details:

·        Send poem as a Word attachment to Balconyofwords@gmail.com by 10 p.m. on February 25, 2020. 

·         Winning poets will be notified by email or phone.

·         Winning poets will be announced @NHPoetLaureate on March 10, 2020.

·         Provide a 100-150 word description of the way in which one or more poet laureates’ work served as the basis for the submission.

·         Include writer’s full name, age, telephone number, place of residence, and email address.

·         Indicate borrowed language by placing in italics in body of poem.