2026 Sue C. Boynton Poetry Contest

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

 

• You must be a Whatcom County resident. All ages are encouraged to enter.

 

• Submit one unpublished poem. You must be the original author, no AI.

 

• Entries will be accepted from March 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026.

 

• Entries may be E-mailed to: SueCBoynton@gmail.com

• Mailed to: Poetry Contest, PO Box 621, Bellingham, WA 98227

• Or delivered to: Allied Arts, 1213 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225 during open hours: 11am-4pm, Tuesday-Saturday

 

• Submit two (2) copies of the poem as an attachment to your email or mail and deliver two copies.

1. Place your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address in the upper right-hand corner of one copy.

2. The second copy of the poem should not be identified in any way other than the title.

 

• Students in K-12, submit two copies of your poem.

1. On one copy of your poem, place your name, email, phone number, grade level and teacher.

2. The second copy should only have the poem and the title of your poem.

 

• Limit poems to 27 lines; including title and all blank lines between title and stanzas.

• Limit each line to 55 characters or less including blank spaces and punctuation.

• Size restrictions are due to limited space on the Poetry Walk plaques.

 

Winners are encouraged to read their winning poem at the Awards Ceremony on May 28th 2026.

 

Winning poems will be illustrated on artwork and displayed inside Whatcom Transportation Authority buses and/or engraved on plaques for the Sue C. Boynton Poetry Walk outside the Bellingham Public Library.

 

Winning Poems with artwork will also appear on the internet.

 

By entering thecontest, poets agree to the use of their poem to display in public and on the internet.

 

Questions? E-mail: SueCBoynton@gmail.com