Sixteenth Annual “Verse in the Valley” Poetry Contest

The Scotts Valley Arts Commission has announced it’s 16th annual Verse in the Valley Poetry Contest, open to poets of all ages. There are six categories: Grades K-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12; Adult, and Class Collaboration

For the first five categories poets can submit up to two poems, each of not more than 200 words. For the Class Collaboration category, this is a collaborative work created by students in a classroom with no length or age restriction.

The Scotts Valley City Council looks forward to hearing the winning poems read by their authors during a June Council meeting each year, an event that is broadcast on local TV and is always standing room only.

Poems can be humorous or serious, rhyming or free verse, haiku or limerick. Judges look for creativity and originality of ideas, themes, figurative language as well as the use of poetic devices such as alliteration, irony or metaphor. Also, taken into consideration are basic writing mechanics – with the exception given to poetic license of course.

The Arts Commission receives nearly 100 poems every year, from which first, second, and third place winners are announced in each age category. Teachers of first place students are awarded a small stipend in appreciation for their labors in support of language arts.

Guidelines and admission forms can be found at local school offices as well as the Scotts Valley Recreation Center at Sky Park. For more information email Arts Commissioner Trish Melehan: tmelehan@aol.com. The submission deadline is April 22, 2016.