Lenox Library invites you to share what brings you joy! Youth in grades 3 – 12 are eligible to enter our Youth Poetry Contest. Whether you’re an experienced poet or someone who has never written a poem before, we want to hear from you! Let us celebrate together all of the different ways we experience joy.

Contest Theme: What Brings You Joy?

The Library will accept submissions March 21 – April 18, 2026. First place winners will earn a prize. Winners will be announced April 25, 2026 at our Poetry Celebration. Poems will be judged based on originality, relevance to the theme, and clarity. Submissions will be split into one of three grade categories: Grades 3 – 5, 6 – 8, and 9 – 12. See below for contest guidelines. Stop by the youth department or email Vanessa at vjustice@lenoxlib.org for a submission form.

We will kick off our Youth Poetry Contest with a Poetry Party on Saturday, March 21, 2026, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. with food, games, crafts, and a reading and workshop with Kateri Kosek. Kosek will briefly read from her book The Forest Revealed, which poetically illuminates the feats and fragilities of the flora, fauna, and everything in between that calls the Northern forest home. Twelve large watercolor paintings by Maine artist Jada Fitch take viewers month by month, tree by tree through life in the forest, making the book a delight for all ages.

Then, by using the natural world as inspiration, participants will use a step-by-step writing prompt to compose their own epistolary (letter) poems to a creature of their choosing.

Event Schedule:

2:00 p.m. – Welcome (Enjoy food, games, and crafts for all ages!)

2:15 p.m. – Reading by Kateri Kosek

2:30 p.m. – Drop in Poetry Workshop with Kateri Kosek

3:30 p.m. – Youth Open Mic (Youth can share their poems from the workshop or any other writing they would like!)

Contest Guidelines:

Poets:

  • Must be a student between grade 3 and 12 (typically ages 8 – 18)
  • Can attend any school or be homeschooled
  • May reside anywhere
  • May only submit ONE poem to the contest
  • Do not need to be a Lenox Library cardholder
  • If chosen as a winner, must be able to pick up their prize from Lenox Library

Poems must:

  • Be submitted with a contact form by April 18, 2026 to Lenox Library, 18 Main Street Lenox, MA 01240
  • Be the author’s original work and not AI generated
  • Not contain any identifiable information (name and contact information should appear only on the provided contact form)
  • Be no longer than 2 pages in length
  • Be either typed and printed or handwritten legibly

Good luck to everyone!

Support for this program is generously provided by Beth and Peter Levin.