1. Poems will be accepted from K-12 students (including homeschool) from Jackson County only.
2. Poems must be the original work of the student.
3. All poems must be received by March 1, 2023.
4. Poems should be no more than one page (maximum of 500 words) in length for grades K-8 and no more than two pages (maximum of 1000 words) for grades 9-12.
5. Poems should be typed out, written neatly, or submitted using the form below.
6. For poems submitted via mail or in person, the student’s name, grade, and school must appear on the back of the poem. No identifying information should appear in the poem or on the poem side of the page.
7. Each poem must be submitted with a student registration form (unless submitted with the online form on our website).
8. Poems may be submitted through a school, a JDL branch, our website entry form, or mailed to:
Jackson District Library
Community Engagement Department
244 W. Michigan Ave.
Jackson, MI 49201
9. All poems become the property of the Jackson District Library and will not be returned. The Jackson District Library retains the first rights for publication of prize-winning poems.
10. Plagiarism is a great concern! Submissions should be an original work. Officials will check poems against the poetry sources and our literature databases for possible plagiarism.

1. Four winning entries (First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention) will be chosen for each grade level with gift cards of $25, $15, $10, and $5, respectively, given to the winning poets.
3. Each participant with a winning entry will receive a copy of the Young Poets book. JDL publishes all the winning entries annually.

1. Theme − Does the poem give readers a specific idea or perspective on a subject?
2. Originality − Does the poem offer a new or different way of thinking or feeling about that idea?
3. Language − Are the words precise and does their arrangement create a unified impression?
4. Imagery − Does the poem use figurative language (simile, metaphor) to create a vivid description and appeal to readers’ senses and imagination?
5. Impact − Does the poem evoke an emotional response from readers?
6. Technical details − Are spelling and usage appropriate to the poem’s subject?