Teamwork between ROMP, the Locust Grove Arts Alliance, and the LG schools is making a Big Read program possible in Locust Grove for April 2019. The community will be reading Joy Harjo‘s work How We Became Human, and the program will conclude with a celebration and performance by Harjo on April 26 & 27, 2019.

ROMP will be helping coordinate poetry activities during April 2019 in the community and at LG schools, and will also be conducting this poetry contest, which honors original poetry and the work of Harjo in her book: How We Became Human.

Big Read Poem Contest

WINNERS! READ THEIR POEMS IN THIS DOCUMENT.

K-4^th Grade

1^st, Davis Smith, Horses Run

2^nd, Aspen Reed, Morning Song

3^rd, TIE: Brody Atchley, He Had Some Horses

Ali Pierce, I Remember I Caught a Fish

5^th-8^th Grade

1^st, Alexis Copeland, Slipping

2^nd, Rylie Wagner, I Remember

3^rd, Kayla Cowan, Pool Day

Adult

1^st, Roxann Yates, Deleted

2^nd, Kelly Palmer, The Kitchen Table

3^rd, Betty Perkins, Coming Home

AWARDS for each category

1st place: $100
2nd place: $75
3rd place: $50

Guidelines:

Only Locust Grove residents and LG students are eligible to enter.
Poems will be judged in 4 categories:K-4^th, 5th-8th, 9th-12th, and Adult
Cash awards will be given in each category.
Poems must be 10-24 lines long, no shorter and no longer.
Poems can be rhymed or unrhymed.
The poem must be clearly based on a specific poem from How We Became Human.
A signed Entry Form must be filled out and turned in with the poem to be eligible.

ENTRY DEADLINE HAS PASSED.

Contest Evaluation Criteria:

Poems will be judged based on these criteria: imagery, creativity, language, and theme

Free books are available Mon.-Sat. at Wonder City Coffee.

NOTE: If you are unable to come and get a free copy of Harjo’s book from us, you can use one of her poems found online for inspiration. Here are some links:

Poetry Foundation Link to Joy Harjo’s Poetry

Poets.org link to Joy Harjo’s Poetry