Oh, what wonderous treasures bring
When first we think of marvelous spring!
April is the month to compose
And compare one’s love as to a rose
In a sonnet, a couplet, a verse in rhyme
With every meter keeping time
Please grace us with your poetry
And submit to your local library
We hope you will put forth your best
For this annual poetry contest
- Bill Bowman, SJPL Library Worker
Spring into Poetry
Celebrate National Poetry Month
The San José Public Library is springing into action with their annual poetry contest! Details are as follows.
How to Enter
Complete the online submission form for Spring into Poetry by April 30
 OR
Submit your poem in person at a San José Public Library location between April 1–30.
Guidelines
- The contest is open to amateur poets of all ages and in any poetry style.
- Works must be previously unpublished in print and online, including on personal blogs.
- Poem may not exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
- Poem must be for general audiences. We will not accept entries with explicit or mature content.
- Only one submission per person.
- All submissions must be proofread for spelling and grammatical errors.
Please review our full list of Submission Guidelines for more details.
Age Categories and Prizes
- Children (0–9): Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
- Pre-Teens (10–12): Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
- Teens (13–17): Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
- Adults (18+): Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
All winners and other selected works will be published on SJPL Short Édition online platform and in the Short Édition Dispensers at select locations.
Judging
Library staff oversee the judging process. To understand what the judges will be looking for, you can view the detailed judging rubric. Winners will be announced in June.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Spring into Poetry Contest, enter your questions in the comments section below or email us at shortstories@sjlibrary.org.
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