2025 Poetry Showcase
Northwest Indiana poets, April is made for you! Throughout the month, the Center for Creative Solutions will be celebrating National Poetry Month and World Creativity and Innovation Week.
Northwest Indiana poets of all ages are invited to share their work in the 9th Annual “Juried Showcase of Poetry.” Students must be from LaPorte, Porter, or Lake County. A panel of experts will evaluate all poems. For students, there will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors in each grade level. For adults, poems submitted will be judged separately. Winning student poets will read their creations at a special “Afternoon of Poetry” on Sunday, April 28th.
2025 Poem Submission
Theme for Adult poets: *must follow strict guidelines.
The poem or poems (limit of 2) submitted should encompass something about the Northwest Indiana region. It could be about your town, a favorite or interesting place, activity, insight, family roots...
All forms of poetry are accepted.
Please, no previously published work, or previously entered poems to the Center for Creative Solutions Poetry Showcase. Any work submitted by adults must be within the stated theme or will be disqualified.
Suggestions for Student poets: *these are only suggestions, teachers are free to choose a theme, and as always the form the poem takes.
K, 1st, 2nd- What would you see in an enchanted forest?
unicorns, dragons, dinosaurs, giant multi-colored flowers or plants, are people small or huge, what are homes like, tree houses or castles?3rd- Weather, (thunderstorms-do you puddle-jump or stay inside, do you bring an umbrella, is the rain fun or humbug?) Your feelings or activities in the snow, sun, wind?
4th- Ideal pet, either exotic, domestic, or imaginary?
5th- Imagine working at the zoo, what animals scare you, which are you in awe of, which makes you laugh, which would make a good companion?
6th- What would your pet’s perspective be on you, your household, their commentary on walks, excursions, going to the vet, favorite, or despised people, foods, or treats?
7th, 8th – Think of yourself doing something out of the ordinary, swimming with manta rays, sky diving, rock hunting, mountain climbing, cave exploring.
Highschool: courage – change - new perspectives
(the tiny steps or the larger leaps)
Imagine your future, or the world's – in one year, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 100, 500 years from now?
Make your poem humorous or thoughtful, fantastical or serious; submit more than one poem if you would like. Don’t forget, songwriters, your lyrics are poetry as well, so please consider sharing these with us.
Poems can be of any length; in any form; narrative, dramatic, and lyrical; from Haiku to epic.
Students may write their poems on any topic that inspires them.
Deadline: Midnight on March 31st, 2025
Announcement of Winners: on or before April 12th, 2025
Questions can be directed to Bill Halliar at william.halliar@gmail.com or 219-629-5853, or to Ester at thenestmichigancity@gmail.com.