Once upon a time there was a man from Holmes City
Who said, isn’t pollution a pity!
Our chemicals work
In the lakes by the ton
So he stopped fertilizing his lawn.
Organizers of an Alexandria-area Earth Day poetry contest are looking for all types of original poetry, from limericks and haiku to odes, sonnets and blank verse, that capture what writers think about the earth .
The contest is sponsored by Cherry Street Books and Alexandria Area Indivisible. April is Poetry Month and April 22 is Earth Day, so friends Linda Capistrant and Barb Benson thought they’d like to combine the two.
They are part of Alexandria Area Indivisible, a group that seeks to heal divisions among Americans.
“The emphasis we want to bring to the land is very universal, something that can bring people together,” Benson said. “This is where we live. This is our only planet.”
They have invited all schools in Alexandria to participate and also hope to have participants from across the community.
All participants will be entered into a raffle, and one adult and one youth will win a $25 gift certificate from Cherry Street Books. Three poems will be selected to be read aloud at the Saturday, April 23, Earth Day gathering in Big Ole.
Poems can be mailed or dropped off by March 28 at Cherry Street Books, 503 Broadway in Alexandria. Submissions sent via email or social media will not be accepted.
Submissions should include the author’s name, age, and contact information.
