2025 Annual Poetry Contest

Welcome to the 2025 Annual Meditation Gardens of Collingswood Poetry Contest!

This year’s theme is CENTERING 

There is an eye at the center of even the worst storms, and boats may find respite anchored to something solid. For this year's poetry contest, the Meditation Garden of Collingswood asks: 

What are the words that remind you of your Center? 

What language is expressed there? How does the Meditation Garden or being in nature center you? How do you find peace?

Entries are due November 15th

Winners receive Local prizes and MGC Swag and are asked to read their poem at the Perking Art Center Open Mic: Friday, December 5th (or we can read it for you) and are published on our website.

POETRY CONTEST INFORMATION

This is a free contest. No entry fee is required.

At the conclusion of each contest, our editorial staff convenes and begins the monumental task of the final round of judging. Please understand, the judging of this contest is just as important to us as it is to you.

All winners will receive an email and must pick up their prize in person at the Open Mic Night at Perkins Art Center in Collingswood, NJ on December 6th around 7 pm (Or arrange a local pick up at a coffee shop in Collingswood). As soon as the complete list of winners is drawn up, it will be posted on social media and published on our website at www.meditationgardens.org.

POETRY CONTEST RULES

1. Poetry can be written in any poetic style about being in a meditation garden.

2. A poem in its entirety must be an original work by the person entering the contest.

3. Only 2 poems per author can be submitted.

4. Poets must be at least eighteen years of age or be accompanied by a parent to pick up prizes and read their poem at Open Mic night.

5. All poems must be written in English.

6. Contest entries must be at least 3 but cannot exceed 50 lines (including stanza breaks) and cannot exceed 55 characters per line (including spaces between words). Any submission that exceeds these limits will be automatically disqualified. The poem title does not count as a line.

7. Poem must adhere to basic rules of capitalization:

   • Do not type poems in all capital letters.

   • Do not capitalize the first letter of every word.

   • Only capitalize words that are proper (i.e. names and places).

   • The first word of each line may be capitalized if it is done consistently throughout.

8. Do not use “texting” lingo. Properly spell out all words and numbers.

9. Poems containing language that is vulgar, offensive, or wholly inappropriate will not be accepted.

10. To ensure proper lineation, please use the “Enter” key to start a new line, indicating all intentional line breaks.

11. Do not include your name or any other information at the end of your poem.

PRIZES

Grand prize includes Meditation Gardens of Collingswood swag and gift cards from local businesses.

ELIGIBILITY

The contest is open to anyone who writes poetry and lives or visits Collingswood, NJ.

JUDGING PROCESS

Contest entries are judged based on poetic technique, effectiveness, style, and creativity.

PUBLICATION

Winning poems will be published on our website, and referenced in our social media profiles and possibly our collaborators: The South Jersey Land and Water Trust, and/or Camden County Parks.  Poems under 1 minute may be used in presentations for donors, grants and fellowships.  Poems may be read by MGC wellness instructors, for example at the end of a meditation or yoga class.   By submitting a poem to our contest, you accept that your poem will appear online and in print.

We ask that winners also post our social media posts about their poems on their sites/profiles.  We would also like to arrange to have the winner read their poem or agree for someone else to read it if they do not want to be on video.