Contests

Poetry Contest: Animals

Quite a variety of animals star in this month’s Cricket--from an Icelandic horse, to a fish named Santa, to a cool cat purring a prayer for spring. Some may be pets, but they’re still pretty independent--h’m, sort of like Pussywillow. Which may have given her the idea, because for this month’s contest, Puss wants to see your best poem about an animal.

Will you write about your pet, or a working animal, or something wilder? Will your animal be friendly and helpful, or scary and dangerous? What special qualities and abilities will your animal have? Will your poem explore how the animal experiences the world, or will you write from a human point of view? 

We know who Ladybug would write about. (Mewy-mew!) But nobuggy knows what animal will inspire your verse until you send us your very best animal poem of 24 lines or less. Pussywillow will be hopping to the Cricket Country mailbox, with Ladybug tagging close behind, to enjoy your wonderful menagerie of animal poems.

  • (Show Rules)
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    1. Your contest entry must be your very own original work. Ideas and words should not be copied.
    2. If you're 14 years old or younger, 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 March 2011 issue or on our Web site. If you're older than 14, you must sign your own work, verifying that it is original.
    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.
    7. Your entry must be received by November 25, 2010.
    8. Send entries to:

      Cricket League
      P.O. Box 300
      Peru, IL 61354