Fancy Yourself A Poet? Library Poetry Contest Entries Due Jan. 20

Children, teens and adults are invited to submit original poems to the Seventh Annual Charlotte Miller Simon Poetry Contest, hosted by the Ardmore Library. 

This is the library's seventh year holding the Charlotte Miller Simon Poetry Contest, which commemorates Bala Cynwyd native Charlotte Miller Simon. Simon was deeply involved in the Philadelphia-area poetry movement of the 1970s, according to Ardmore librarian Gail McCowm.

"She did a tremendous amount of work to encourage people to write poetry," McCowm said.

The library has hosted the poetry contest each year in Simon's honor since her passing in 2004.

Poets of any age can submit one original poem by Jan. 20 to the Ardmore Library. Prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in the children, teen and adult categories.

The Fine Print:

One original, unpublished poem can be entered per person of no more than one 8 1/2" x 11" page. The original, signed poem and three blind copies must be delivered or mailed to the Ardmore Library, 108 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003. It is preferred that poems be typed; if not, they should be written neatly.

Registration forms are available at both www.lmls.org, www.lowermerion.org and at the Ardmore Library and should accompany the entries. Poems cannot be returned, so it is suggested that entrants keep copies of their work. Those who are 17 and younger must note their age on the submission and their registration form must include a parent or guardian signature to indicate approval.

All submissions must be received by the Ardmore Library by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.  The award ceremony will take place on March 18, 2012.