This year’s theme: Play & Gaming
The 2025 Wilmington Memorial Library Poetry Contest is happening now!
All ages can submit a poem, written with the theme play and gaming in mind, now through Wednesday, April 30. Please read though our contest rules and information before submitting. Contestants can submit online or print a submission form and bring their poem to the library. If you’re having any trouble, please email us at kids@wilmlibrary.org. Teachers can submit by classroom at the bottom of this page.
Contest Rules
- Your name should only be on this submission form and not on any page of your poem.
- The theme of your poem should revolve around play and gaming.
- Poems can be in any style.
- Poems must not exceed 20 lines in length.
- Poems must not be larger than an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet.
- Only one submission per person.
- Deadline to submit to the Wilmington Memorial Library is Wednesday, April 30.
Winners
A panel of judges will select winners in the following categories: Adult, High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Grades Kindergarten through 5th. Winners and honorable mentions will be invited to a Poetry Party on Wednesday, May 7 at 6pm, but all are welcome to attend. Winners will receive a book of poetry from the Friends of the Library and honorable mentions will receive a coupon for the Book Store Next Door.
Need some inspiration?
Check out these ideas to help you get started:
- Play is one of the ways we learn and relate to others. Games can be board games, video games, sports or even metaphorical games. How does playing and learning with others make you feel?
- In a game, players often form alliances. Write about unexpected alliances and connections in your life.
- How does it feel to to win or lose?
- Can you create a poem that feels like it’s set in a video game, sporting event, or board game? What obstacles do you face, and what do you uncover along the way?
- What do you learn about yourself when you face a challenge?
Teachers
Teachers can submit online for up to 10 kids at a time. Submit as many times as needed to enter your full class into the contest. Each poem document must be titled “Teacher’s Name – Kid’s Name”.
Prefer physical submissions? Feel free to submit poems to the library by filling out a printable Teacher Submission Form (two pages) and either dropping off the poems at the library, sending them via interdepartmental delivery, or scheduling a pickup by emailing us at kids@wilmlibrary.org.
Students’ names should only be on the submission forms and not on any page of their poem, except the back, if submitting physically, and on the name of the file, if submitting digitally.
