Poetry Society of Colorado - Contests

We believe that contests help foster artistic growth.
The Poetry Society of Colorado hosts a variety of member-only and open poetry contests throughout the year. 
See contest rules and guidelines below.

For a full list of monthly contest themes and deadlines for entry, please see our calendar page. 
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Member-Only contests

Only members of PSC may submit to Member-Only Contests, which are held in September, November, January and March. Best of all First, Second, and Third Place winners of the Members-Only Contests of the year are eligible for the Daisie E. Robinson Sweepstakes which is announced each June.

Mail submissions to the Member-Only Contest Director:
Jean Sidinger, 11973 E. Lake Circle, Greenwood Village, CO, 80111

Upcoming Contest Details

Don't forget to refer to the contest rules and submission information.

Open contests

Any adult poet may submit poems. 
Mail submissions to the Open Contest Director:
Cheryl Wilkie, 8930 West 57th Avenue, Arvada, CO  80002

Upcoming contest themes

Don't forget to refer to the contest rules and submission information!

NOTE: Some months have additional guidelines. 
Be sure to check them out!

Youth contests

Open to youth poets at participating schools in Colorado. For more information, please contact us.

Contest Rules

Contest Rules:

  • 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)


Submission Information

Submission Requirements:

  • 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.

Prize Structure

Contest Prize Structure: (Unless otherwise stated)

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

Past Contest Winners

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Congratulations Contest Winners!

April 2019 Open Contest: "Persona Poem"
First Place: Pandora Wilson, "Wildflower"
Second Place: Nancy Bierman, "Johnny's Bear"
Third Place: Gay Williford, "Voice of Our Flag"
​1st Honorable Mention: Marcel Duclos, "Philadelphia: June 1752"
2nd Honorable Mention: Nancy Bierman, "Ash in Autumn"
3rd Honorable Mention: Jean E. Sidinger, "Willow Tree"


March 2019 Members-Only Contest: "Prejudice"
First Place: Marilyn C. Blinn, "You, Me, We?"
Second Place: Daniel A. Martinez, "Color Me Proud"
Third Place: Alana Story, "The Dark Side"
​1st Honorable Mention: Laurel J. Becker, "My Hidden Self"
2nd Honorable Mention: Gay Williford, "Invisible Limits"
3rd Honorable Mention: Jean Sidinger, "Less Than"


February 2019 Open Contest: "My Colorado"
First Place: Jean Sidinger, "Sounds Like the Great Sand Dunes"
Second Place: Jean E. Sidinger, "Umbrellas Get Dusty"
Third Place: Susan Harman, "Traveling Highway 285"
​1st Honorable Mention: Marcel Duclos, "Lost in the Scene Outside My Window"
2nd Honorable Mention: Michael Escoubas, "Of Heaven and Other Things"
3rd Honorable Mention: Cheryl L. Wilkie, "Colorado Legacy"


January 2019 Members-Only Contest: "Fences"

First Place: John Turek, "The Gate"
Second Place: Melanie Eulberg, "Claim-Staking"
Third Place: Von Neeld, "Possum Grapes"
​1st Honorable Mention: Ann Klaiman, "Wrangler"
2nd Honorable Mention: Marylin C. Blinn, "Which Shall it Be?"
3rd Honorable Mention: Gay Williford, "The Fence Around My Yard"


December 2018 Open Contest: "My Cell Phone"

First Place: Amie Duclos, "Jazz Night at Paddy's"
Second Place: Tracy Mitchell, "Phone is Ringing"
Third Place: Tracy Mitchell, "Phone-Finity"
​1st Honorable Mention: Marcel Duclos, "In the College Cafetorium"
2nd Honorable Mention: Jean Sidinger, "What Phone?"
3rd Honorable Mention: Cheryl Miller, "Wanna Smoke?"


November 2018 Members-Only Contest: "Compassion"

First Place: Melanie Eulberg, "Thoughts and Prayers"

Second Place: Nancy Bierman, "Street Dog"

Third Place: Jane Hillson Aiello, "Miscreant"

1st Honorable Mention: John Turek, "Beggar on the Curb"

2nd Honorable Mention: Marylin C. Blinn, "Memorial Day"

3rd Honorable Mention: Sandi Rhynard, "Exit 121"


October 2018 Open Contest: Tanka

First Place: Maura Schroder, "Thickly Falling Snows-"
Second Place: Susan Rocco-McKeel, "Feathery Fingers"
Third Place: Jane Hillson Aiello, "Former Lover Shames"
1st Honorable Mention: Vaughn Neeld, "October's Chromic"
2nd Honorable Mention: Cheryl Miller, "All Through the Summer"
3rd Honorable Mention: Jean E. Sidinger, "Yellow Pansies' Smiles"


September 2018 Members-Only Contest: "Gossip"

First Place: Ann Klaiman, "Getting Dirty"

Second Place: Gay Williford, "Scandalous Sport"

Third Place: Vaughn Neeld, "Going Off the Deep End"
1st Honorable Mention: Gay Williford, "Dirt Devil"

2nd Honorable Mention: Marcel Duclos, "Did You Know?"

3rd Honorable Mention: Gay Williford, "Rampant Ripples"