Poets' Corner Contest

The City of Modesto Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department and the City's Poets' Corner Committee announce the 29th Annual Poets' Corner Contest.

The contest is open to all Stanislaus County residents; entrants may submit two poems in the following categories:

• General: Poetry on any subject, in any style, including rhymed, unrhymed, free verse, sonnet, haiku (group of three accepted), ballad, etc.
• Special: In tribute to Modesto's agricultural heritage, poetry on the subject of PEACHES AND CREAM.  (This can include farms, dairies, orchards, canneries, canals, fresh fruit packing houses, growing up on a farm, a visit to Grandpa and Grandma's place in the country, a career in agriculture, working on a farm, the amount and type of food the region provides the whole world.)

Entries may be of the same category or one of each category. Poems must not exceed 32 lines, be unpublished, include a title and not have won in any previous Poets' Corner contest.

Entry forms and complete contest rules may be downloaded here or can be picked up at the following locations:

• Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department Office - 1010 Tenth Street, Suite 4400
• McHenry Museum - 1402 I Street
• McHenry Mansion - 906 15th Street
• Stanislaus County Library - 1500 I Street
• Maddux Youth Center - 615 Sierra Drive
• King-Kennedy Memorial Center - 601 S. Martin Luther King Drive

All entries must be received by Wednesday, March 17.

Contest winners will be notified by mail, and the winning poems will be read at a program and reception on Sunday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m., on the main floor of the McHenry Museum, located at 1402 I Street, Modesto.

The winning poems will also be printed in a booklet that will be placed in the Poets' Bookshelf at the Museum. The Poets’ Bookshelf contains published works penned by local writers. Copies of the booklets will be given to each winner.

For more information, contact Ellen La Coste at (209) 577-5235 or elacoste@modestogov.com.