“Select, all ye who write, a subject fit, A subject not too mighty for your wit! Before you lay your shoulders to the wheel, Weigh well their strength, and all their weakness feel!”
– Horace (65-8 B.C.)
The ancient advice of Horace rings across the centuries, summoning those who still believe in the architecture of sound. The Society of Classical Poets opens its doors once more, seeking the rhythmic pulse that defines true verse. This is not merely a contest; it is a search for the heartbeat in the modern noise.
The Laurels of Victory
For the poet who best commands the meter and stirs the soul, the First Prize offers $2,000, alongside publication on the Society’s website and within its esteemed Journal.
But the stage is not for the grand prize alone. Younger voices and global tongues are also invited to the chorus:
High School Prize: A dedicated award of $200 for the emerging bard. View details here.
Translation Prize: For those who bridge languages, a $100 award awaits. View details here.
The Architecture of the Submission
To enter is to embrace discipline. Your submission may contain one to three poems, but the collective weight must not exceed 108 lines. The subject matter is yours to choose-any topic under the sun-yet the form must adhere to the timeless rules of meter.
Beginners and students, fear not the complexity of scansion; simply counting syllables is a worthy start. While rhyme and traditional techniques are encouraged to paint the silence, the rhythm is the essential requirement.
Need guidance? A beginner’s guide to iambic meter is available here, or explore a more elaborate guide here.
The Offering: A submission fee of $20 applies (accompanied by a complimentary subscription to the monthly e-Newsletter).
How to Submit: Once the fee is settled, cast your words into the digital ether. Email your work as a Word file or directly in the body to [email protected] with the subject line “Poetry Contest Submission.”
The Arbiters of Form
Three distinguished figures will weigh the strength of your shoulders against the wheel of your wit.
Judges Sale, Salemi, and Mantyk (L-R) presiding over the competition
Joseph S. Salemi: An acclaimed New Formalist poet and scholar from New York University and Hunter College.
James Sale: An award-winning British poet and art critic.
Evan Mantyk: The President of the Society and editor of the Journal.
The Final Hour
The window closes as the year fades. The deadline is December 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Winners will be unveiled on February 1, 2022. The winners list can be viewed HERE.
A Note on Rights and Reach
This invitation extends to the ends of the earth-anyone, from any background, may participate. Your words remain your own. By submitting, you grant the Society permission to publish the work online and in print to promote the mission of classical poetry, but you retain full ownership to publish or sell your verse elsewhere.
The page is blank. The meter waits. Weigh well your strength.
Judges Sale, Salemi, and Mantyk (L-R) presiding over the competition
