Catch the Wave: Donate to Sawyer Free 2025 Today!

Poetry Without Paper 2024

In Celebration of National Poetry Month
Sawyer Free Library Presents
Poetry Without Paper 2024
Poetry Submission Dates: March 1 to April 30, 2024
A poetry contest for children and teens who live in Gloucester or attend Gloucester schools.
All poems must be submitted through our website: sawyerfreelibrary.org
Winner will be chosen from three categories: elementary, middle school, and high school
Prizes:
First Prize: 150 dollar Cape Ann gift certificates
Second Prize: 100 dollar Cape Ann gift certificates
Third Prize: 50 dollar Cape Ann gift certificate
Honorable Mention: poetry books
All winning work will be published on our website
Winners and their families will be invited to an award ceremony and winning poets will also be invited to appear on the Writer's Block with John Ronan, a 1623 Studio production

Questions? Please contact Christy Rosso at Sawyer Free Library:
crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org, or call 978-325-5551

Submit your poem here:
Parent/Guardian email strongly preferred as follow up email responses cannot get through student email accounts.
Please check here acknowledging that you agree to having your child's winning poetry published on the Sawyer Free Library website. March 1, 2023

Poetry Resources for Students and Teachers

Amanda Gorman. National Youth Poet Laureate.

Favorite Poem Project. Resources for Educators page includes Elementary, Middle, and High School lesson plans.

Kwame Alexander. Poet, author, educator, and publisher.

Poetry Foundation: Children. Poems and videos chosen to help children learn about poetry. 

Poetry Foundation: Teens. Poems, podcasts, and author studies for teen poets. 

Poetry4Kids.com. The funny poetry playground of children’s author Kenn Nesbitt, former Children’s Poet Laureate (2013-15). Lots of funny poems for kids, classic children’s poems, games, poetry lessons and activities, plus a rhyming dictionary, videos, and more.

Poets.org: Poems for Kids. Popular poems for children and great poems for children by theme. 

Poets.org: Poems for Teens. Poems, essays, recommended reading lists, must-have anthologies, interviews, and advice for teen poets.

Readwritethink.org. Poetry-writing lesson plans and activities for teachers of students in grades K-12. This website partners with the International Literacy Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. 

Shel Silverstein Animations. Animated videos of Shel Silverstein’s well-loved poems. 

Shel Silverstein Poetry Lessons and Activities. Poetry lessons, National Poetry Month activities, and more.

Award-Winning Poems from Previous Years

Poetry without Paper 2023

Poetry without Paper 2022

Poetry without Paper 2021

Poetry without Paper 2020

Poetry without Paper 2019

Poetry without Paper 2018

Poetry without Paper 2017

Poetry without Paper 2016

Poetry without Paper 2015

Video Resources

Here is a great example from a contestant who chose to set her poem to video. “1, 2, 3” by Chandra Lavery:

 

 

Featured Lists
Most Popular
Featured Movies