The Anne Bradstreet Poetry Contest - Submissions due April 30th

This spring, in honor of Anne Bradstreet, North Andover is having a poetry contest! All who live or work or go to school in North Andover are invited to take part.  Our town is the home of America's first published poet, Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672). Anne arrived here at the very founding of the town in the early 1640's with her husband and their young children. She made her life in that frontier settlement, and made her mark in the world of poetry. Her first collection, "The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America", was widely read in America and England, an uncommon achievement for a woman in the post-Elizabethan English world.  Anne lived and raised her family - and wrote her poetry - right here. As a group of poets on the Poet Laureate Committee, Anne is an inspiration to all of us. This is why we named the contest after her. In her spirit, we are inviting all members of the North Andover community to submit a poem on this theme:  "A New Vision for America - What is Your Dream?" . Since we’re poets, we bring you the rules – in rhyme!  . How do I enter? How does it work? Fear not! We wrote a poem to clear up the murk! Send us a poem on this special theme –  A New Vision for America – What Is Your Dream?  . It can be about the grand or the very smallest of things –  It can be about people or places – what makes you sing?  We’re calling North Andover, the old and the young –  Enter Anne’s poetry contest, it’s new for 2021! . Use the contest email, choose the right category – Open to adults, high school, middle, or elementary! Tell us your dream for America – share the thoughts in your head –  We’ll invite all the winners – to read on a stage of blue white and red! ------------------------------------------------------ OFFICIAL RULES  Submit a poem on the theme in one of 4 age categories: Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult  Each person may submit up to two poems  There is no specific style, it can be rhyming or free verse, however the theme speaks to you. Open to all who live or work or go to school in North Andover The top three will be invited to perform their poems and will be announced on the FB North Andover Poets page.  The North Andover Poets FB group will have the rights to publish the poems, subject to the approval of parent/guardian for school age children. The poem copyright remains with the author. HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR POEM Email to: annebradstreetpoetrycontest@gmail.com Subject: Age Category (elementary, middle school, high school, adult) Body: your name, email address, mailing address, age category, poem(s) If sending an attached document, include the name and other information in each document Those without email address, ask an adult in the household with email to submit  CONTEST DATES Open to submissions March 6th through April 30th Winners will be announced May 15th  Outdoors Award ceremony May 22nd - winners will read their poems Email any questions to annbradstreetpoetrycontest@gmail.com  Contest is sponsored by the North Andover Poet Laureate Committee