Contests

Love Poem Contest

 

Ah, the tragic story of Echo and Narcissus. So sad. So true! Ever since reading the myth in this issue, Ladybug has been writing reams of poetry about unrequited love, addressed to you know who. But not all love stories end unhappily! To celebrate Valentine’s Day, everybuggy wanted to read your best poem about someone or something you love.

Will you write a poem to your secret valentine, hoping that your love is returned? Or a poem pledging friendship to someone close to you? Maybe your love poem will be about someone special in your family. You might write a poem about something you love to do, or a piece of music you love to play. Maybe, like Ladybug, you’ll write about the frustrations of love or the end of a friendship—perhaps even the poem Echo might write as she pines for Narcissus. Or maybe you’ll write the words to a hit love song that California Lee might sing.

Whether you write to your valentine or your mother, your dog or your geography book or even your hockey stick, everybuggy will be sighing around the Cricket Country mailbox, pining away for the arrival of your best poem—of 24 lines or less, please—about love.

(Note from Cricket: However, if you’re a boy—or even a girl—who gets all squirmy about writing love poetry, you can instead be inspired by “Echo and Narcissus” to write a poem about a favorite myth or mythological creature.)

  • 1. Your contest entry must be your very own original work. Ideas and words should not be copied.

    2. Your entry must be signed by your parent or guardian, saying it is your own original work, that no help was given, and granting Cricket permission to publish prizewinning entries in the May/June 2016 issue or on our websites.

    3. Be sure to include your name, age, and full address on your entry.

    4. Only one entry per person, please.

    5. If you want your work returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for each entry.

    6. Incomplete entries cannot be considered. Your entry will be incomplete if you forget to include your age or a signature verifying that your work is original and may be published by Cricket.

    7. Your entry must be received by February 25, 2016.

    8. Send entries to Cricket League, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354. (No faxes or email submissions, please!)