20th Annual Poetry Contest

Help us celebrate the 20th Anniversary

of this local tradition! 

Submit your poems to Fresno County Public Library's 20th Annual Poetry Contest now through April 30, 2019. Poems will be judged by talented, local professionals and a ceremony honoring winners and all contest participants will be held on Sunday, May 19 at 2pm in the Saroyan Gallery at FCPL's Central (Downtown Fresno) branch. Free parking on Sundays. Refreshments and music, too!

DATES
The contest runs from April 1 - 30, 2019
Award ceremony held on May 19, 2019 

CATEGORIES
3rd-6th Grade
7th-8th Grade
9th-12th Grade
Adult (18+)

PRIZES
Winners in each category will receive a Barnes and Noble gift card, generously donated by the Friends of the Fresno County Public Library.

1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $50
3rd Place: $25


RULES
Submit your poem using the link on this site. Only one poem per person will be considered for the contest. You must be a Fresno County resident to participate. If you are a teacher and want to submit poems from your class, please call us at 559-600-6218.

Poems can be submitted in English or Spanish. 

Remember: This contest is for all ages so please use appropriate language. The Library reserves the right to not publish or post entries. However, all poems will still be considered by the judges.

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The Sightly Scenes of Summer

Grass is green.   

Nature is nice. 

Just like a bean that’s grown just right.

In the summer it’s warm and sunny.

Flies buzz all around.

The flowers bloom so bright.

The birds chirp in the trees.

The kids have fun doing creative things!!!!!!!!!!

The summer is the best time to have fun!!!!

The Unlucky Fox

There once was a fox named B’quot, 
Who, for bait, put carrots in a pot.
A rabbit hopped inside,
Then nearly jumped out of his hide,
For he had found the pan a tad too hot!
   
Then the fox spared some rotten veal,
And along came a coon named Camille.
She prowled in to eat,
But escaped through his feet,
For she wasn’t fond of being a meal.

But when the fox was just swatting some flies,
A frog who was an explorer stopped by.
He felt so very brave,
Stepping in a toothy cave,
And the fox sat down full with a grin so sly.

But the next day a hunter came,
And set off his gun with great aim.
The fox tried to run briskly,
But the hunter was too nifty,
And the once proud fox is now lame. 

--Kurt S., 3rd-6th Grade

Lake Forest

Rust-tinged Autumn

Smooth, hovering winds.

Restless motion

like the longing amid the soul's calm.

Water dancing in unison –

Taking, restoring, reminding.

Silent walks

with fantasies unbridled, often frustrated.

But when allowed to run free –

releasing so many possibilities.

Bleak, austere Winter.

Clouded by endless streams of white.

Hollow, frozen breezes rushing…

who knows where.

People huddling – retracting –

Fleeing the cold.

Light descending into darkness

Chilled and alone.     

--Ralph P., Adult

The Sea Of Mixed Emotions

He was just a boy changed by a tragedy
The pain and agony
He couldn’t believe his eyes it made him cry
He couldn’t believe that she would just say goodbye
She was his other half so they could make a whole
Poor boy was only a half now, he was sad down to his soul

Outside he sat on the cold wet grass and ate ice milk under his tree
He could hear his phone blow up from his friends telling him that it was okay you were just not meant to be
She was the only one to him, the only fish he wanted from the sea
Only if she came back to him it would fill him with much glee
He thought he could never find a girl like her or even better

His friends took him to the park full of water
Just then he saw the fish that would help end his slaughter
He went up to her so scared it was like he was on mute
But he finally ask for her digits and she said that he was cute
He could never be more happy
He couldn’t believe his eyes he found someone better that made him no longer sappy

They have been together now for a while
And everyday she made him have a smile
He forgot about the old girl that had stabbed him with a knife
The new fish he had was perfect so he kept her for life

--Noah H., 7th-8th Grade