Perrot Library is sponsoring a haiku poetry contest. The Library is seeking original haikus (3-line, 17-syllable poems) describing your experience with COVID-19 – the pandemic, the closures, and their impact on your daily life.
A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/7/5 syllable count. Often focusing on images from nature, haiku emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression. [Academy of American Poets – Poets.org]
The contest is open to students in grades 3 and up, as well as adults. Poems submitted by those in high school or older will be judged by members of the Greenwich Pen Women. The poems will be judged on originality and emotional resonance.
All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation. The writer of the top poem in each age/grade category will receive a $25 gift card to Diane’s Books.
Rules:
• Your poem must describe how you feel about the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Poems will be accepted beginning Monday, April 13, through Monday, June 1. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 15.
• Poems must follow the haiku style.
• Poem content should be either G or PG.
• Only one poem per email, but you can enter up to three poems.
• You do not have to be from Greenwich to submit a poem.
How to Submit Your Poem:
Step 1: E-mail the poem to: poem@perrotlibrary.org using the Subject Line: “POETRY CONTEST (YOUR NAME)”
Step 2: To qualify for a prize, the text of your e-mail must contain all the following information:
a: Your full name, street mailing address, your phone number, your email address;
b: Your age – or (if shy) an approximate age – those under 18 years old must have the consent of a parent or guardian to submit a contest poem for possible publication;
c. Your grade level, if a student.
d. Title of your poem. (Does not count toward your 17 syllables.)
For more information, please email: poem@perrotlibrary.org
