April is National Poetry month and the Herrin City Library is hosting a poetry contest. The contest is open to Southern Illinois residents. Entries will be judged in two divisions: Adult, 19 years & older & Youth, ages 18 & under.

Poems may be written in free verse, rhyming poems or book spine poetry. See how to create book spine poetry here. Each poem must be typed and submitted with the entry form. Entry forms may be picked up at the Herrin City Library or downloaded below. Submission must have a title, written in English and be an original work of the entrant. Submissions must be turned in to the Library by April 30, 2021, 10:00 am, emailed to herrincitylibrary@gmail.com by April 30, 2021, 10:00 am, or postmarked by April 26, 2021.

Prizes will be award in each category for Adult and Youth. (The number of prizes in each category will be dependent on the number of entries.) Winners will be announced May 3, 2021, by 3:00 pm.

National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

---

Entry Form:

Herrin City Library

Poetry Contest 2021

Individual Entry Form

1. The contest is free and open to Southern Illinois residents.
2. Poems will be judged in two categories: Adult (ages 18 and up) and Youth (17 and under.)
3. Poems may be written in free verse, rhyming poems or spine poetry.
4. Each submission must be the original work of the entrant.
5. Each submission must have a title and be typed.
6. Each submission must have one entry form per poem.
7. Submissions must be turned in to the Library by April 30, 2021, 10:00 am, emailed to herrincitylibrary@gmail.com by April 30, 2021, 10:00 am, or postmarked by April 26, 2021.
8. Prizes will be award in each age group: Adult and Youth. (The number of prizes in each age group will be dependent on the number of entries.)
9. Winners will be announced May 3, 2021, by 3:00 pm.

Adult / Youth (please circle) (Please print info)

Name: ____________________________________________________

Address:  _________________________________City/State/Zip code:  __________________________

Email:  _________________________________________Phone:  _______________________________

Submit a copy of your poem with:

• Name,
• Address,
• Email,
• Phone number, and
• Poem Title.

Publication Permission:  Permission is given to the Herrin City Library and the Herrin Independent to publish my poems/entries.

Print Name: _______________________Signature:____________________________

---