Youth Poetry Contest

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    

 

Youth Poetry Workshop

 

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

This event is in the "All Ages" group.

Total Eclipse Take Home Kit

All Day 3/18 - 3/30
Northwest Library
Library Branch: Northwest Library
Room: Onsite (Northwest)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Science & STEAM, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

Full STEAM ahead!!! Come explore in an interactive setting that will challenge your creativity and reasoning through Science,Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Each session will present its' own set of challenges. From coding, robotics, building and more...join us and find out what the next challenge may be!

Get geared up to view the Total Eclipse on April 8th with this take home kit which includes ONE PAIR of safety glasses and activities. The eclipse will occur from approximately 12:27pm to 3:04pm.  In order to allow as many people as possible ...

Disclaimer(s)

We can only guarantee one kit per household and per registration (if required).

This event is in the "Teens" group.
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Celebrating Excellence in Women's History: Emily Dickinson

03/25/2024 @ 9:00am - 03/30/2024 @ 5:00pm
Warr Acres Library
Library Branch: Warr Acres Library
Room: Online (Warr Acres)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Book Clubs, Books & Reading, Continuing Education, Cultural Experiences
Event Description:
To celebrate excellence in Women’s History, this week we’re looking at Emily Dickinson. Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures ...
This event is in the "Kids" group.

Flower Bookmark Take Home Kit

All Day 3/26 - 3/30
Midwest City Library
Library Branch: Midwest City Library
Room: Online + Curbside (Midwest City)
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Cultural Experiences, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:
Spring is here! To celebrate, make a pair of flower bookmarks to get ready for Literary Voices and National Library Week! ...
This event is in the "Birth-PreK" group.

Baby Storytime

9:30am - 10:15am
Edmond Library
Registration
Library Branch: Edmond Library
Room: **STAFF USE ONLY** Meeting Room C (Edmond)
Age Group: Birth-PreK
Program Type: Books & Reading, Storytimes
Registration Required
Seats Remaining: 0
Event Description:

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!

This session is best for babies ages birth - about 1.5 years old. Older siblings are always welcome, and do not need to be registered. ...
This event is in the "Adults" group.

Adult Basic Education Classes (ABE)

9:30am - 11:30am
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Meeting Room B (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Continuing Education
Event Description:
Improve your reading and other basic skills in this class made possible by Community Literacy Centers. This class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:30am.  Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes focus on reading, writing, ma...
This event is in the "Kids" group.

JOHN REX - 1ST GRADE

9:30am - 10:30am
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Children's Area (Downtown)
Age Group: Kids
Program Type: Books & Reading
Event Description:
John Rex School Visit  ...
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