The Official Rules
Eligibility: This contest is open to all poets whether published or not, and regardless of experience. Current and former employees of poetry.com, the International Library of Poetry, the International Society of Poets, or Watermark Press, or their relatives are not eligible. All poems must be 20 lines or fewer. You may post as many poems as you wish to this site. However, only one poem every six months will be considered for the contest.
Prizes: Each month, as the semi-finalist judging progresses, the following prizes are guaranteed to be awarded: a First Prize of $1,000.00, 24 Second Prizes of Limited Edition solid silver medals (retail value $50.00), and 79 Third Prizes of Limited Edition bronze medals (retail value $25.00). An annual Grand Prize of $10,000.00 in cash is also awarded each year. In the event of ties, we award additional prizes.
Decisions: Judges are members of the International Library of Poetry Selection Committee. Entries are judged on the basis of originality, creative imagination, characterization, artistic quality, and the adherence to line limits. All decisions of the judges are final. Click here for a more detailed description of how we judge poems submitted to our contests.
Fees: There are no entry fees, no subsidy payments, and no purchases of any kind required to enter and win the contest.
Rights: All poems remain the property of the artist. By submitting a poem for this contest, the artist may also be eligible for the publication of the poem by the International Library of Poetry. The International Library of Poetry is under no obligation to publish every contest entry and can disqualify an entry at any time. The artist is under no obligation whatsoever to purchase a copy of the publication in which the poem may appear.
Notification: All prize winners will be notified by mail and posted on our internet site.
For further information, contact:
The International Library of Poetry
1 Poetry Plaza
Owings Mills, MD 21117
(410) 356-2000
