Please note: This contest is similar to my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest 3 years ago.
What to Submit?
- One original poem on any theme and in any form is acceptable up to a maximum of 30 lines.
- No name or identifying mark on your entry
- Include the date, contest name, and sponsor after your poem. Think of this as your runner’s bib. Race bibs are the number tags that identify you during a race.
Prizes for Mile #2:
First Place — Premier Contest Trophy icon next to your poem
Second Place — Podium Position
Third Place — Podium Position
Fourth to Tenth place — Glory
Preparing Your Entry
Be sure to remove all other contest references, wins, POTD, etc. You cannot wear more than one runner's bib in a race. (Simply copy and paste the references to the area of your poem where you insert a picture or other notes. They won't show up on the contest entry, and you can copy and paste them back after that leg of the race is completed.)
Submit one copy of your poem online. Format your poem. Please make your entry easy to read — no illustrations or fancy fonts. Poems from other PS Contests are welcomed. Or you can resurrect an old poem, get it in shape, and run it in the poetry marathon. The only restriction is it cannot have placed in the top 10 of any of my prior Poetry Marathon Miles contests. You can resubmit a poem if it did not place in the top ten in any of my prior Poetry Marathon Miles contests. Please see "A Note to Poetry Marathon Contestants" below.
English Language
Poems should be in English. Poems translated from other languages are not eligible unless you wrote both the original poem and the translation.
A Note to Poetry Marathon Contestants
A marathon has an official distance of 42.195 kilometers or 26 miles, 385 yards. The 2022 Poetry Marathon will consist of 27 contests. I decided to use miles instead of kilometers since I didn’t want to have 43 contests! Each of the first 26 contests will represent their respective mile (mile 1, mile 2, mile 3, etc.). The 27th contest will be the Qualifier’s Final Placement contest to determine the sole winner of the marathon, plus the 2nd through 15th place overall winners!
Marathons by nature are brutal. This Poetry Marathon will be no different. The first 26 contests will be Premiere Contests. Yikes! The 27th contest will determine the sole winner of the marathon, plus the 2nd through 15th place overall winners. In other words, the final, overall, top fifteen placements. Booyah!
Poets who place in the top ten during the contests will accumulate points toward the final. In other words, consideration will be given to overall performance.
Remember, this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. These Premiere contests can be brutal since only 10 of the 35 submitted poems can place in each contest. Be sure to pace yourselves and have fun along the way. And remember the #1 rule for marathoners - FINISH!
Cheers!