Sponsors

• The Town of New Milford, the New Milford Commission on the Arts and New Milford Public Library are the cosponsors of the contest.

Categories

• Youth 8-12
• Young adult 13-18
• Adult 19-64
• Senior 65+

Rules

• All entrants must reside in New Milford.
• A poem in its entirety must be an original written work by the writer/entrant. No part of the poem can be created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) generators or similar. By submitting a poem to this contest, the writer attests that the poem was not created, in whole or in part, with an AI generator or similar. Should any portion of the poem be discovered to be a product of an AI generator or similar, the entrant will be disqualified.
• Submissions must be unpublished.
• Each entrant may submit up to two poems.
• The judges have sole responsibility to accept and choose winning poems for this competition.
• If a poem does not have a title, use Untitled as the title.

Submissions

• Poems will be accepted by email, or may be dropped off at the New Milford Public Library, March 1 through April 22.
• A poem and its title must be submitted as a typed copy, or with a typed copy.
• If two poems are being submitted, each poem must be submitted in a/on a separate document.
• The author's name or identifying information may NOT appear on the Word doc or pdf with the poem. Please submit a separate page with the author's information.
• The poet's name, mailing address, email address (if applicable), contact phone number, category and age, if 18 or under, should be included in the cover page for the poems via email, or as a cover page for poems submitted at the Library.
• Submissions should be emailed to newmilfordartscomm@gmail.com, or dropped off at the New Milford Public Library, 24 Main St., New Milford.
• For email submissions, the subject line should read: Poetry contest, (Entrant's first and last name), (Title of Poem).

Judging

• A blind read of poems will be conducted by New Milford Poet Laureate Deborah Rose, Canterbury School English Department Chair Madelaine Lord, and New Milford Public Services Librarian Amy Berkun.
• Contest entries will be judged based on poetic technique, effectiveness, style, and creativity.

Winners & Prizes

• Winners will be notified by May 2 and invited to read their poem at a poetry reading in Memorial Hall at New Milford Public Library, 24 Main St., May 11 beginning at 2 p.m.
• Winning poems will be displayed at New Milford Public Library May 11 through June 11.
• A first- and second-place prize will be awarded in each category of four categories. A first-place prize is $100, a second-place prize is $50. Honorable mention may be awarded in some categories.