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

Summer Reading Journal

All Day 6/20–7/3
Teens, Adults
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Online + Curbside (Downtown)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Books & Reading, Take-Home Kit, Writing
Event Description:

Track and reflect on your COLORFUL reading journey this summer with our Summer Reading Journal! We've got pages for you to rate and review your books and track your progress toward your reading goals. Stuck in a reading rut?

This event is in the "All Ages" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

I Spy Something.... Colorful Seek and Find

All Day 6/20–7/3
All Ages, Adults
Capitol Hill Library
Library Branch: Capitol Hill Library
Room: Onsite (Capitol Hill)
Age Group: All Ages, Adults
Program Type: Cultural Experiences, Family Programs
Event Description:

Come to Capitol Hill Library and ask for a Colorful I Spy sheet, then find all your favorite colors around the library! Prizes available while supplies last!

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

This event is in the "All Ages" group

Color Our World - Community Art Project

06/20/2025 @ 9:00am–06/30/2025 @ 11:45pm
All Ages
Northwest Library
Library Branch: Northwest Library
Room: Onsite (Northwest)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Cultural Experiences
Event Description:

Color Our World when you come to the Northwest Library in June! Stop by the table near the Info, color and decorate one popsicle stick. These will be assembled in a collage to create a piece of Community Art!

This event is in the "All Ages" group

Juneteenth Exhibit by Phil Tolbert

All Day 6/21–7/2
All Ages
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Onsite (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Community & Civics, Displays & Exhibits
Event Description:

Ralph Ellison Library is honored and excited to host librarian and researcher Phillip Tolbert's curated display of the history of Juneteenth.

This event is in the "Kids" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Summer Creations - Theater Masks

All Day 6/30–7/3
Kids, Teens
Luther Library
Library Branch: Luther Library
Room: Passive Program (Luther)
Age Group: Kids, Teens
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Event Description:

Come by the Luther Library every week of Summer Reading for a unique arts themed craft! Masks have been used in theater all over the world for centuries!

This event is in the "All Ages" group

Artist Take-Home Kit: Ed Ruscha

06/30/2025 @ 9:00am–07/03/2025 @ 9:00pm
All Ages
Bethany Library
Library Branch: Bethany Library
Room: Onsite (Bethany)
Age Group: All Ages
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Cultural Experiences, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

Take home a new kit every week to learn about a new artist and get inspiration for your own creations!

Available while supplies last. First come, first served.

Disclaimer(s)

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

Warning: Kit contains small parts that could represent a choking hazard. It is not intended for children under 3. It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Bag.

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