Dear Bugle readers,

Do you take time to smell the roses?

Or slow down just enough so you are able to think about where life is headed?

Well, here’s your chance to wax poetic: The Bugle is conducting its 16h annual poetry contest in conjunction with National Poetry Month in April.

This year we are asking contestants to draft poems drawing inspiration from the words “hope” and “perseverance.” The deadline for all poems, which must be submitted by email, is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6.

Our contest is open to people, of high school age and older, with the first-place winner receiving $50 and publication of their poem in the Bugle’s April issue.

We will also publish the second- and third-place winning entries, with those winners receiving $30 and $25, respectively.

Here are our contest guidelines:

• We want to read poems that address “hope” and/or “perseverance.”
• Poems can take any form you choose. But they must be in a form that is printable.
• The words “hope” and “perseverance” do not have to appear in your poem. Use them to draw inspiration and take your poem in any direction.
• The contest is limited to one entry per person. Deadline to receive entries is Friday, March 6.
• The contest is open to all Bugle readers. Current Bugle employees, Park Press board members and their families are NOT eligible to enter.
• Send poems to [email protected].
• In the subject line of your email, please put in the words “Poetry contest entry.” And please send all poems via email.

Poems will be judged anonymously by a local poet. So, sharpen those pencils, fire up your laptops or whatever tools you use to compose and let the poetry flow. 

Scott Carlson is managing editor of the Park Bugle.