Blurred typed words with an illustrated ink and quill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submissions are now closed, and winners have been selected! Thank you to all who entered their works for consideration. 

Read and enjoy the top three winning entries!

Rules

  1. Participants must be 55+ and a resident of Ajax.
  2. Only one poem per person. Multiple entries will not be accepted. Submitting multiple poems will cause disqualification.
  3. A poem in its entirety must be an original work by the person entering the contest. Plagiarism is a serious offense!
  4. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, April 16 at 5:00 p.m. Submissions can be sent to 55plus@ajax.ca or libraryinfo@ajaxlibrary.ca. Alternatively hard copy submissions can be dropped off to:

    Ajax Community Centre (75 Centennial Rd.)
    To the attention of Moninder Nahar

    or

    Ajax Public Library – Main Branch (55 Harwood Ave. S)
    To the attention of Elaine Lievaart
     
  5. Gift certificates will be awarded to the winning poems as follows:

                  1st prize - $75
                  2nd prize – $50
                  3rd prize - $25

  1. Prizes will be awarded at the judges’ discretion. The decision of the judges is final.
  2. The staff and immediate family members of the Ajax Library Board, the Ajax Public Library, the Older Adults Advisory Committee, the Town of Ajax Recreation, Culture and Community Development Department, and the Town of Ajax Older Adults Task Force are not eligible to enter.
  3. Winning submissions may be published by the Library or Town of Ajax Recreation, Culture and Community Development Department.
  4. Winners will be announced on ajax.ca/55plus and the Ajax Public Library’s website.

Guidelines

  • There is no set theme. Let your imagination run wild!
  • Poetry can be written in any poetic style and on any subject.
  • Poem must be at least 3 but cannot exceed 26 lines, including stanza breaks but not including the title, and lines may be no more than 70 characters across, including spaces.
  • Poems must be written in English.
  • Any entry containing cliché, overused phrases will not be accepted.
    • Examples:
      • Roses are red
      • I love you
      • All work and no play
      • Time after time
  • Poem must adhere to basic rules of capitalization.
    • Do not type entire poem in 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.
  • Be sure to proofread your poem for any grammatical errors.
  • Do not use “texting” lingo. Properly spell out all words.
  • Poems containing language that is vulgar, offensive, or wholly inappropriate will not be accepted.
  • To ensure proper lineation, please use the “Enter” key to start a new line, indicating all intentional line breaks.
  • Please do not double space.
  • Do not include your name or any other information at the end of your poem.
  • For anonymity in judging, do not identify yourself on the entry itself. Enclose a cover page with the title, your name, address, phone number, and email address.