Poetry Society of Colorado - Contests

• Contest themes are not to be used as poem titles.
• Poets must be a member of PSC to submit to Member-Only contests.
• Poets must be at least 18 years of age to submit to the Open Contests.
• Entry fee: $5/poem. Each poet may enter up to three original poems. No previously published work will be accepted.
• All submissions must arrive by published submissions dates. Plan accordingly.
• If a pen name or pseudonym is used, the author must also submit his/her legal or alternative name or the entry will be disqualified.
• A single poet can win no more than two cash prizes for each contest.
• A contest may be cancelled if fewer than ten poems are entered.
• Submission of entries presumes permission for the name of the winner to be posted on the PSC website AND for winning entries to be anthologized in the yearly Poets' Showcase unless the contest director is notified otherwise in writing.
• Poem submission line limit: 40 lines (unless otherwise stated)

• Proper submission form must be followed to qualify for contests.
• Refer to the Contest Guides, as necessary, for each Open contest
• Submit two typed copies of each poem on 8½ x 11-inch paper.
• Use a 1-inch margin on all sides for each submission, including artwork.
• In upper left-hand corner of first copy put "Poetry Society of Colorado" on first line; put name of contest and date on second line; put theme and form on third line. No name or address should appear on this copy.
• In upper left-hand corner of second copy put the same information as on the first copy. In the upper right-hand corner of the second copy put your name on the first line, and address on the second and third lines. If a pen name/pseudonym is used, include legal name.
• Enclose a check for the entry fee of $5.00 for each poem entered made payable to: Poetry Society of Colorado.
• Send two copies of all entries to the appropriate contest director. 
• Entries must be postmarked or submitted at a Poetry Society meeting by the deadline date.
• Winning entries, including honorable mentions, will be returned at a meeting or mailed to the winners. Winning and non-winning entries will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient first-class postage.

• 1st Place:  $25
• 2nd Place: $15
• 3rd Place:  $10

December 2021 - Open Contest

Theme:  Person or Place

1st Place - Casandra’s Hope, Charles RaKay

2nd Place - The Salmon Falls River Curse, Marcel A. Duclos

3rd Place - Norden, Germany 1943, Martin J. Postma

1st H.M. - The Leader’s Lonely Privilege, Martin J. Postma

2nd H.M. - Nikki Hiding, Charles RaKay

3rd H.M. - Felicia’s Fate, Gay Williford

November 2021 - Members Only Contest #2

Theme: Unlocked

1st Place - That Long, Irish Mornin, Charles Rakay  

2nd Place - Longing for Spring, Cheryl Miller  

3rd Place - Sometimes We Need to Read Between the Lines, Ann Klaiman

1st H.M. - Unchained, Tracy Mitchell

2nd H.M. -  *Haiku (untitled), Daniel Martinez  

3rd H.M. - RELEASED, Daniel Martinez  

October 2021 - Open Contest

Theme: Jabberwocky

1st Place - A DIZZY TIZZY, Cheryl Lee Wilkie

2nd Place - THE WATTNOTT, Daniel Angel Martinez

3rd Place - Struttin’ for the Champs, Nancy Cummins Bierman

1st H.M. - A Seltie Sea Shanty, Vaughn Neeld

2nd H.M. - Beware the Jabberbox, Martin J. Postma

3rd H.M. - Darcy, Robyn S. Kraus

September 2021 - Members Only Contest #1

Theme: Why Not ___?

1st Place - A Man with a Limp Asks, Marcel Duclos  

2nd Place - A Dark Chocolate Covered Carmel Wheedles, Cheryl Miller  

3rd Place - Flight of the Flutterby, Ann Klaiman

1st HM - Timeless Paths on Going, Cheryl Wilkie  

2nd HM - Street Carnival, Von Neeld

3rd HM - Poetry on All Fours, Daniel Martinez 

August 2021 - Open Contest - Leap and the Net Will Apear

1st Place -  Live Fearlessly, Vaughn Neeld

2nd Place - Margaret Mitchell Saved My Life, Sarah Russell 

3rd Place - Inspiration, Cheryl Wilkie

1st HM - I Do, Cheryl Miller

2nd HM - Teaching on Thin Ice, Gay Williford

3rd HM - Cliff Jumping, Holly Chichester

June 2021 - Open Contest - Tanka

1st Place - Memoir, Sandi Rae Rhynard

2nd Place - On the edge of town, Daniel Angel Martinez

3rd Place - Fanciful fireflies’, Jean E. Sidinger

1st HM - Fort Logan, Sandi Rae Rhynard

2nd HM - In late December, Cheryl Miller

3rd HM - Shoulders hunched, he’s crouched, Jean E. Sidinger

 crouched  

May 2021 - Open Contest - Haiku

1st Place - For  Rebecca’s  Michael, Marcel A. Duclos

2nd Place - Frozen Dream, Marcel A. Duclos

3rd Place - Near the River’s Edge,  Ann Klaiman

1st HM - Enduring Age, Cory Bloomfield

2nd HM - Old Dog, Susan J. Tyburski

3rd HM - Mountain Reverie, Melanie Claire  Eulberg 

April 2021 - Open Contest

1st Place - A Leap of Joy - Upsilamba!, Gay Williford

2nd Place - Such a Tenuous Hold, Kika Dorsey

3rd Place - Luminance, Susan J. Tyburski

1st HM - I Need More, Laurel Jean Becker

2nd HM - The Lady in 117, Gloria Jean Viglione

3rd HM - Flightless, Robyn S. Kraus

March 2021 - Members-Only Contest - From the Eyes of a Child

1st Place - A Cool New Friend, Jean E Sidinger

2nd Place - Magician, Marcel Duclos

3rd Place - Cures for Loneliness, Alice Goble

1st HM - The Leaving Songs, Mary Holland

2nd HM - Kindergarten Shoes, Jean E Sidinger

3rd HM - I Remember, Marcel Duclos

February 2021 - Open Contest - Somewhere I Have Never Traveled

1st Place - Unincorporated Village of Stawford, Tracy Mitchell

2nd Place - I Long to Someday Visit, Jean Sidinger                  

3rd Place - Ignorant in the Zambian Bush, Marcel Duclos                  

1st HM - When Jupiterians Come for Me, Tracy Mitchell                  

2nd HM - A Vision of the Taj Mahal, Cheryl Wilkie                  

3rd HM - Grandpa's Boots, Daniel A. Martinez