Adult Poetry Contest

Join the West Hartford Public Library and the Faxon Poets Group by entering a poetry contest! Below, please find the rules and regulations of the contest:

  • Contest will be judged by three members of the library staff.
  • Poems submitted must be no longer than 20 lines.
  • Submissions are limited to patrons 18 and older.
  • Poems will be judged for content, complexity of form, and creativity.
  • Only one submission per person.
  • Poems must be original work and may not contain AI generated content.
  • There will be three winners, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. First prize will win $200. Second and third-place winners will each win $100.
  • To submit, please send an e-mail to West Hartford Public Library’s Programs & Publicity Specialist, Maura Beaudreault, at: mbeaudreault@westhartfordct.gov with your poem in Word or PDF format no later than April 21, 2026 at 11:59PM. Subject Line should read as followed: “West Hartford Public Library Poetry Contest”.
  • Contest runs from April 1, 2026 until April 21, 2026.
  • Winners retain all publishing rights, however the library retains the rights to publish the winning poems and author’s name on all library media applications (website, social media, newsletter, etc).
  • Winners will be announced at a Faxon Poets meeting on Saturday, May 16, 2026. For more information about the Faxon Poets, please click here: bit.ly/faxonpoets.

Good luck, everyone!