Gloucester will celebrate the 18th annual Paperless Poetry Competition, sponsored by the Sawyer Free Library.
Organized by Sawyer Free Library Children’s Librarian Christy Rosso and poet and former Gloucester Poet Laureate John Ronan, the competition is an opportunity for local schoolchildren of all ages to showcase their writing and creativity in an environment favorable and win the best prizes.
“Young National Poet Amanda Gorman’s rendition of her inaugural poem, ‘The Hill We Climb,’ shed light on the art of poetry and how it is a powerful medium for children to share what they have in their hearts,” Rosso said. . “I’m so proud to say that we at Sawyer Free Library provide local children, from kindergarten through high school, with exactly that through our annual Paperless Poetry program.
“For 18 years now, dozens of young poets from across Gloucester and beyond have been sending us their best work to be read, honored and celebrated,” said Rosso.
As the competition is in full swing throughout March and culminates on the last day of National Poetry Month, April 30, children and teenagers who live in Gloucester or attend Gloucester schools are encouraged to submit a three original poems on any theme in the library. Participants can choose to put their poems in video, images and/or music. Each poem cannot exceed 30 lines, be the student’s own work and unpublished.
The winners will be chosen in each age group: high school, middle school and primary. First place winners in all categories will receive $100 Cape Ann gift certificates, second place winners will receive a $50 gift certificate and third place winners will receive a poetry book. All winning poets receive a certificate, present their poems at an awards ceremony in the spring, and receive an invitation to participate in 1623 Studio’s production, “The Writer’s Block with John Ronan.” All winning entries will also be published online by the library.
Poems must be submitted through the library’s website at http://SawyerFreeLibrary.org from March 1 through April 30. If you have any questions, contact the Children’s Librarian at crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Library cards for kids
Students don’t need to be a library card holder to enter the contest, but for anyone who wants their own card, Sawyer Free Library recently announced that library cards are now available to children of all ages. From birth, children can obtain a library card. For details, call or visit the Sawyer Free Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except Thursday, when it’s open noon to 7 p.m., or http://SawyerFreeLibrary.org.
