Lakewold Gardens invites poets in Washington State to submit their work to be featured on Saturday, February 24, 2024, during its annual Winter Garden Poetry event.

We are seeking original, unpublished poems of up to 1,000 words or no more than five minutes in duration when read aloud, preferably with a theme related to nature, conservation, and animal rights.

Participants must be Washington State residents and have the ability to be present onsite to record their poems and have headshot photos taken during the week of February 12, 2024. Poets of all backgrounds and ages are invited to participate. We believe communities that have been traditionally marginalized or underrepresented should be centered in the work we do. Poets who identify with or are part of these communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Selected participants will have their poems recorded and will receive a professional headshot. A cash prize of $500 will be offered to the first-place winner, $400 to the second-place winner, and $300 to the third-place winner. Submissions will be blindly evaluated by a panel comprised of outside experts and Lakewold Gardens’ Executive Director and Curator of Art and Music. Only one entry per poet will be accepted.

The contest is now closed.
Thank you for all who submitted poems!