Entries Accepted March 15 - April 15
Winners Announced by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo on April 25
Youth Poetry Contest FAQ
Must be a 4th - 12th grader during the entry period AND must live in or attend school in Oklahoma County.
Library employees and members of their households are not eligible.
Eligible participants may submit a maximum of 2 works. A completed online entry form must accompany each submission. Ineligible or incomplete forms and/or entries will not be judged.
Entries must NOT:
- Be in a language other than English
- Be copied from any other sources
- Have been previously published
- Be more than 1,500 words
Option 1: Submit online submission
Option 2: Ask a library staff member to help you submit your entry at any library location.
Entries will not be returned.
Library staff will serve as judges. Entries will be judged on content, originality and quality. Winners will be contacted via phone and/or email by library staff and announced on April 25 by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Winners will be published on the library’s website and social media platforms.
Grades 4-6 - 1 Prize Winner
- Wireless Headphones
- Prize Pack with a journal, pen and poetry books
Grades 7-9 - 1 Prize Winner
- Amazon Fire Tablet
- Prize Pack with a journal, pen and poetry books
Grades 10-12 - 1 Prize Winner
- Amazon Fire Tablet
- Prize Pack with a journal, pen and poetry books
Best in Show - 1 Prize Winner
- iPad
- Wireless Headphones
- Prize Pack with a journal, pen and poetry books
Poetry Workshop for 4th - 6th Grade
Presented by Mary Gray, Local Poet, MPA and MFA
Join Poet Mary Gray as she walks students through the definition of personification, delves into figurative language, and provides a guided poetry reading of works by Mordicai Gerstein. At the end of Mary’s poetry workshop, students will have the opportunity to put pen to paper with a fun writing exercise.
Presented by Grant Jenkins, Assoc. Prof., Faculty of English Language and Literature, University of Tulsa
Black Americans of African descent have been writing poetry in North America before the United States was even a country. Join Poetry Professor Grant Matthew Jenkins as he discusses his love and appreciation of African American Poetry. Professor Jenkins introduces young poets to poetry greats such as Phillis Wheatley, George Moses Horton, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Melvin B. Tolson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Russell Atkins, Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, and Sonia Sanchez. He then showcases three of his favorite poets (Nathaniel Mackey, Julie Patton & Harryette Mullen) in the hopes that students will learn something about writing poetry from each of their unique writing styles, which include stuttered rhythms, improvisation, and nicknaming.
POETRY WORKSHOP FOR 7TH - 9TH GRADE
Presented by Mary Gray, Local Poet, MPA and MFA
Join Poet Mary Gray as she walks students through the definition of imagery, discusses the difference between abstract and concrete images, and provides a guided poetry reading. Mary’s poetry workshop will help young poets learn how to connect their reader with feelings or ideas that are sometimes difficult to put into words.
Presented by Grant Jenkins, Assoc. Prof., Faculty of English Language and Literature, University of Tulsa
Experiencing writer’s block? Not to worry! Professor and poet Grant Matthew Jenkins is here to show students how to have fun with words. Professor Jenkins talks about process-oriented writing and walks students through its four steps: free associate; sample & gather; defamiliarize; arrange. All you need is something to write with and three to four books to get started and create your own poem!
POETRY WORKSHOP FOR 10TH - 12TH GRADE
Presented by Najah Hylton, OKCPS English Teacher and Member of the Tri-City Collective, Oklahoma’s educational team of creatives for youth and communities of color
Join OKCPS teacher and poet Najah-Amatullah Hylton as she talks about poetry, what makes it interesting, what makes it fun, and her favorite things about it! Najah explains the difference between poetry and prose, delves into figurative language, specifically talks about sound devices such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, and rhyme, and provides a guided poetry reading in this informative poetry workshop video.
Presented by Najah Hylton, OKCPS English Teacher and Member of the Tri-City Collective, Oklahoma’s educational team of creatives for youth and communities of color
Join OKCPS teacher and poet Najah-Amatullah Hylton as she provides all the tips you need to learn how to write a poem! Najah reads one of her poems and teaches students to write their own by focusing on types of repetition. She talks about how to select a topic and explains words such as ekphrasis, anaphora, antimetabole, and chiasmus. Najah also stresses the importance of giving yourself time in your creative process and most importantly, having fun!
Other Poetry Month Events
Neighborhood Arts: RACE Dance Collective at Rodeo Cinema
Target Age: Preschool and school-age children
Put on your dancing shoes and move to the groove with RACE Dance Collective.
Disclaimer(s)
Be Advised: This program may be photographed and/or videotaped for publicity purposes.
By Attending, you consent: To the use of your voice and likeness in future publicity uses that contain content from this event. If you do not wish to be on camera, please let us know.
For more information visit our Photography & Video Disclaimer
Join us as we embark on a creative adventure where young artists will explore the magic of process printing using tin foil! Kids will experiment with colors, textures, and patterns to create unique, one-of-a-kind prints.
Disclaimer(s)
This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to be in attendance and be engaged with your child for this program.
Join us for a storytime at your neighborhood library! Skilled librarians will introduce little ones to the library and show parents and caregivers invaluable information on reading readiness and create excitement about reading. Connect with others while enjoying stories, songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and more!
Sharing in playtime is an excellent way to help children build social skills, promote learning, and discover that the library is a destination for fun! Children will have the opportunity to practice skills such as: following directions, socializing with others, using language, and using small and large muscles. Come meet new friends, bond with your little one, and explore the many resources your neighborhood library has to offer!
Disclaimer(s)
This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to be in attendance and be engaged with your child for this program.
Neighborhood Arts: Painted Sky Opera - The Magic Flute Goes West!
Join Painted Sky Opera for a kid-friendly adventure in “The Magic Flute Goes West!” Follow Prince Tamino and his funny sidekick, Papageno, as they journey to rescue Princess Pamina, facing magical creatures and discovering the power of friendship
Disclaimer(s)
Be Advised: This program may be photographed and/or videotaped for publicity purposes.
By Attending, you consent: To the use of your voice and likeness in future publicity uses that contain content from this event. If you do not wish to be on camera, please let us know.
For more information visit our Photography & Video Disclaimer