Celebrate National Poetry Month by participating in our poetry contest! You may write poetry that is either free verse, rhyme or a sonnet on any theme or topic of your choice. Two teen (ages 13-18, or 9th-12th graders) and two adult winners (ages 19+) will be selected from each poetry type.
To participate, you must be 13 years or older and live, work or study in Fairfax County. Poems should be submitted online. The online submissions form will be available from April 1-May 4, 2025. Submissions will not be accepted by mail or in person. Before submitting a poem, review whether you are eligible and review the entry rules.
Winners will be announced in early June 2025. Each person will receive a $50 gift card; a certificate signed by Eric Carzon, our Library Director and Lisa Bryant, our Fairfax Library Foundation Director; and an invitation to read their poem at our Poetic Musings Celebration on Thursday, June 27 at Burke Centre Library at 7 p.m.
Check out last year's winners on our Poetic Musings Poetry Contest 2024 page.
Cosponsored by Fairfax Library Foundation.
