Poet's Corner Contest

The Community & Economic Development Department and the City of Modesto’s Poets’ Corner Committee announce the 35th Annual Poets’ Corner Contest. The submission period for this contest is now open. View the Submission Form (PDF).

The contest is open to all Stanislaus County residents and offers two categories for poetry entries:

  • General: Any kind of poetry on any subject, rhymed or unrhymed.  Free verse and form welcome.  Group of three haiku accepted as one entry.
  • Special:  "Lost and found:  the things/people/paths we have lost and how we have found or will find them again."

Requirements


Entries are limited to the following:


  • Two poems per person.
  • May not exceed 32 lines.
  • All entries must be typed on standard 8.5" x 11" paper, double-spaced, in standard font.
  • Entries must be unpublished at the time of submission.
  • Entries may be two of one category or one of each category.
  • At the top of each poem, indicate contest category and, if under the age of 18, grade in school.
  • Do not put name of poet on any submitted poem: put name on cover page or entry form only.
  • No plagiarism or offensive language.

Submissions


For Online Submissions


Include one cover page with poet's name, address, email and title(s) of poem(s). If poet is a student, then indicate grade, school and name of teacher. Submit cover page and one copy of each poem in .doc, .docx or .pdf format to this email.

For Mailed Submissions


Submit one copy of each poem entered along with one entry form for each poet to:
City of Modesto
Community & Economic Development Department
c/o Poet's Corner Contest
P.O. Box 642
Modesto, CA 95353
Or
McHenry Museum
c/o Poet's Corner Contest
1402 I Street
Modesto, CA 95353
**Poems will not be returned after the contest, so entrants should keep copies of their work.

Entry forms and complete contest rules may be picked up at the following locations:
 
  • Community & Economic Development Department Office - 1010 Tenth Street Place, Suite 3300
  • Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods Department Office - 1010 Tenth Street Place, Suite 4400
  • McHenry Museum - 1402 I Street
  • McHenry Mansion Visitor's Center and Gift Shop - 924 15th Street
  • Stanislaus County Library - 1500 I Street
  • Maddox Youth Center - 615 Sierra Drive
  • King Kennedy Memorial Center - 601 S Martin Luther King Drive

Deadline


Entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 10, 2017 or submitted electronically by 11:59 pm on Friday, March 10, 2017.

Contest Winners


Contest winners will be notified by email (or mail, when email is unavailable).  Poets will be invited to read their winning poems on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the McHenry Museum, followed by light refreshments.
 
Winning poems will be printed in a booklet that will be placed in the Poets’ Bookshelf, which contains published works by local writers and will be kept at the McHenry Museum. Each winner will receive a copy of the booklet.