Word Pirates

I just happened upon this. I don’t think many Word Pirates write poetry, but hey, if you do, here’s a somewhat unpublicized contest:

The 2007 Prize For Poetry From The Tor House Foundation

The annual Tor House Prize for Poetry is a living memorial to American poet Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962).

The winner will receive $1,000 for an original, unpublished poem not to exceed three pages in length. $200 will be awarded for Honorable Mention.

Final Judge: Al Young

Open to well-crafted poetry in all styles, ranging from experimental work to traditional forms, including short narrative poems. Each poem should be typed on 8 1/2″ by 11″ paper and be no longer than three pages. On a cover sheet only, include: name, mailing address, telephone number and email; titles of poems; bio optional. Multiple and simultaneous submissions welcome.

Reading fee: $10 for the first three poems, $15 for up to six poems and $2.50 for each additional poem.

Deadline for submissions: March 15, 2007

For more information, look at their website.

I think they are looking for narrative poems. You can read last year’s winner, Last of the Midnight Lullabies by Eric Leigh, here. An excerpt:

Last of the Midnight Lullabies
Eric Leigh

Middle of the night, my grandfather calls
stuck again in that foxhole,
his buddy’s head shot straight off.

Or he thinks he’s still in the asylum
where the only sounds he heard were those
from the past—stray bullets, his own sobs.

Wow, maybe I should write poetry again.

– Joy