3rd Singapore Poetry Contest

To celebrate Poetry Writing Month this April, Singapore Poetry is holding its third annual poetry contest. We are looking for poems that include the word “Singapore” (or its variants) in some creative manner. The poems do not have to be about Singapore; in fact, we prefer it if the poems are not about Singapore. They just have to use the word “Singapore” in a way significant to the poems’ own subject and method. For a good example, read Vijay Seshadri’s “Light Verse” from his Pulitzer Prize-winning collection 3 Sections.

And here’s another wrinkle: the contest is open to everyone who is NOT a Singaporean citizen or permanent resident in Singapore.

Awards of USD100, 50 and 20 will go to the top three winners. The winning poems will be published on Singapore Poetry; non-winning poems will be considered for publication as well. The judge is the curator of Singapore Poetry, Jee Leong Koh. Friends and associates are welcomed to submit. Judging will be based solely on poetic merit. Singapore Poetry reserves the right not to make any or all awards, should the quality of entries not merit them.

Contest entry is free. Please submit a maximum of three poems. Only unpublished poems will be considered. Posting on weblog, Facebook and other social media does not constitute publication. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, provided you inform Singapore Poetry if your poem is accepted elsewhere. Please email your submission to jkoh@singaporeunbound.org. The poem(s) must be pasted into the body of the email, together with a short cover letter giving your name, mailing address, and brief biographical note.

The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2017. Results will be announced in July and the winning poems published in the run-up to Singapore’s National Day on August 9.

Read the winning poems from last year’s contest:

First Prize – "President's Day" By Josh Lefkowitz

Second Prize – "Metamorphosis" by Ankita Anand

Third Prize – "I'm Supposed to Teach" by Sara Backer

 

Image Credit: Marc Nair