Contest Deadline: April 30, 2024.
Welcome to Central High School's inaugural Poetry of Place contest! This unique competition, sponsored by the CHS Book Club, is not just a challenge for students and staff to craft meaningful verses, but also a creative exploration of our school's identity. This is your chance to interpret and express what Central High School means to you, using the medium of poetry.
In this contest, we are asking you to write a poem about Central High School. But there's a twist - the syllabic line counts of your poem should correspond to our school's zip code. That's right, it's a creative constraint that we believe will spark your imagination and push your poetic faculties to new limits.
So, what is our zip code? It's 68102. What does this mean for your poem? It means your poem should follow a syllabic line count pattern of 6-8-1-0-2. Let's break it down:
The first line of your poem should be 6 syllables long. The second line should have 8 syllables. The third line should consist of a single, impactful syllable. The fourth line should be a pause - that's right, no words, just an empty line or a line break. The fifth and final line should be 2 syllables long.
This unique structure inspired by our zip code is sure to make your poem stand out. It might seem challenging at first, but we believe in the power of constraints to ignite creativity. And remember, the most important thing is to express your personal connection to Central High School. As you write, please consider that your audience will be familiar with parts of the building and the history of the building.
Here's an example to illustrate the format:
Hallways creek with footsteps. (6 syllables)
Listen close enough and hear long- (8 syllables)
gone (1 syllable)
shoes run. (2 syllables)
We are very excited to read about your connections to Central High School. So, get your pens or keyboards ready, tap into your school spirit, consider the generations of students who came before you, teachers past and present, significant places inside and outside of the building, and start crafting your Poetry of Place! Your poems can be funny or serious, as long as they capture the essence of Central High School in your own unique poetic voice.
Good luck, poets!
First Prize: $ 50.00 gift certificate to Next Chapter Books and Gifts.
Second and Third Prizes: tbd
Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).
Las Escuelas Públicas de Omaha no discriminan basados en la raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, estado civil, orientación sexual, discapacidad , edad, información genética, estado de ciudadanía, o estado económico, en sus programas, actividades y empleo, y provee acceso equitativo a los “Boy Scouts” y a otros grupos juveniles designados. La siguiente persona ha sido designada para atender estas inquietudes referentes a las pólizas de no discriminación: El Superintendente de las Escuelas, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).