2025 Poetry Marathon Contest Mile 5 has begun!
Every three years I sponsor a Poetry Marathon Contest. We had one in 2019 and another in 2022. Now it’s time for the 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest!
Originality & AI Policy:
All submitted poems can be new or old (prewritten), but must be the author’s original work. By entering the contest, you confirm and understand that:
• The poem is your own and not AI generated.
• Any suspect entries may be subject to additional review or disqualification.
Submission Guidelines:
- One original poem on any theme, any form, new or old is acceptable with one exception—your poem cannot have placed in the top 10 of any of my prior Poetry Marathon contests (2019, 2022, 2025).
- Up to a maximum of 42 lines including any epigraphs. (Blank lines are not counted.) Why 42 lines? Because a marathon is also 42.195 kilometers. Ahhh, there’s method to my madness!
- Poems should be in English. Poems translated from other languages are not eligible, unless you wrote both the original poem and the translation.
- Poetry Soup’s Terms and Conditions, Poetry Submission Form, and Contest Submission Guidelines apply.
Contest Prizes for Mile 5:
First Place —Trophy icon next to your poem on PoetrySoup’s website *
Second Place —Podium Finish *
Third Place —Podium Finish *
Fourth to Tenth place —Glory *
* Poets who place in the top ten during any of the 27 contests will also accumulate points toward the final results. In other words, consideration will be given to overall performance.
Preparing Your Entry
Submit one copy of your poem online. Format your poem. Do not exceed the 42-line maximum, including any epigraphs (blank lines not counted). Please make your entry easy to read — no illustrations or fancy fonts. Poems from other PoetrySoup contests are welcomed. You can resurrect an old poem, get it in shape, and run it in the poetry marathon. The only exception is your poem cannot have placed in the top 10 of any of my prior Poetry Marathon Miles contests (2019, 2022, 2025). You may 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.
A Note to Poetry Marathon Contestants
Marathons are brutal by nature. This Poetry Marathon will be no different. The 2025 Poetry Marathon will consist of 27 contests. Each of the first 26 contests will represent their respective mile (mile 1, mile 2, mile 3, etc.). The first 26 contests will be Premiere Contests. Yikes! These Premiere contests can be brutal since only 10 of the 35 submitted poems can place in each contest. The 27th contest will be the Qualifier’s Final Placement contest, a Standard Contest to determine the sole winner of the marathon, plus the 2nd through 15th place overall winners!
Updated standings will be published after the completion of Miles 5, 10, 15, and 20.
Remember, this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. These Premiere contests can be incredibly challenging 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!