Contests

New Poetry Contest: I Wonder

The ancient philosopher Socrates said that wisdom begins in wonder, and there is much to inspire wonder in this Cricket. The poet in “What I Don’t Know About Clouds” is filled with wonder by white clouds floating in a blue summer sky. In “Talking to Fireflies,” a young future scientist wonders why the night is filled with all those flashes. And, of course, a little girl named Alice can’t help but wonder about all the strange and amusing things she encounters on her adventures in Wonderland. For this month’s contest, everybuggy wants to read your best poem about something that fills you with wonder.

Maybe your poem will be inspired by a wonder of nature—a majestic landscape, a beautiful butterfly, a robin mother feeding her babies, or how hermit crabs line up to change their shells. Maybe your favorite piece of music or work of art fills you with wonder. You might wonder about growing older, or what it would be like to live at some other time in history. Or maybe weird teachers and funny friends make school your Wonderland.

Whether you wonder about life on other planets, where your missing socks go, or why your little brother is so annoying, everybuggy will be wondering as they wander to the Cricket County mailbox to read your best poem—of 24 lines or less, please—about something that fills you with wonder.

  • (Show Rules)
    Here are the only rules: (Hide Rules)

    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, stating that it is your own work, that no help was given, and that Cricket has permission to publish it in the magazine and on our website. 

    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. Your entry must be received by May 25, 2020.

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

    8. We will publish winning entries in the October 2020 issue and on the Cricket website.