2025 Anne Bradstreet Poetry Contest Rules
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
Open to all who either live, work or go to school in North Andover or Andover
Submissions are accepted in 5 age categories:
Grades K-2
Grades 3-5
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
High School (Grades 9-12)
Adult
This year’s theme is: Growing Our Community, Planting Seeds of Poetry
The poems can be in any style. They can be rhyming or free verse.
Write a poem however the theme inspires you. Be creative!
The poem should be newly written for this year’s contest and not have been submitted elsewhere.
The winner and finalists in each category will be invited to perform their poems on the North Andover
Common at the awards celebration in May.
By submitting a poem, the author / parent / guardian gives the North Andover Poet Laureate Committee
the right to publish the poems online and on the FB North Andover Poets page, and in a collected book
of poems for the event.
Parents/guardians of school age children have the right to approve what identifying information for
school age children is published: 1) the name, school, and grade, 2) initials, school and grade, or 3) only
school and grade is published.
The poem copyright remains with the author.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR POEM
Email to: [email protected]
Email Subject should have Age Category (Grade K-2, Grade 3-5, Middle School, High School, Adult)
Body of email:
Author’s name, Age category, School and Grade (unless adult), Street Address, Poem
Please include poem inline in email.
Do not attach a Word document or pdf or jpg or send via google doc link.
Those without email address, ask an adult in the household with email to submit
By submitting a poem to the contest you are agreeing to the official contest rules
CONTEST DATES
Jan 31 Contest Opens
April 1 Final date to submit poems
April 17 Winners and finalists announced
May 3 Award ceremony on the North Andover Common . Winners and finalists will read their poems.
(May 10 rain date)
Email submissions and any questions to [email protected]
The contest and poetry celebration is sponsored by the
North Andover Poet Laureate Committee
Karen M. Kline, Chair