The Bridge Poetry Contest, 2010 Entry Rules

The Bridge is now accepting submissions for entry of the 2nd Annual poetry contest and fundraiser. Featured subject of poems: Homelessness or Humanitarianism.

“The Bridge” is accepting poem submissions of up to 3 poems.
An entry fee of $20.00 (US dollars) is for the submission of 1-3 poems.

Note: A Poet can submit more than one submission. Up to three additional poems along with the additional entry fees.

The Contest Prizes:

• 1st Place winner: $400.00
• 2nd Place winner: $200.00
• 3rd Place winner: $100.00
• Honorable Mention winners will also be posted on The Bridge’s 2010 Poetic Friends webpage.

Send all submissions:
Via U.S. Post Office mail only – absolutely no exceptions. Deadline for submission must be postmarked no later than midnight May 1, 2010. Ample postage must be applied to entry packet. We will not accept insufficient postage fees. Please enclose a self-addressed & stamped envelope to receive final winner’s names and poems.

Make check or Money Order payable to: The Bridge.
Mail To:
The Bridge 
Attn: J. Kirkley
P.O. Box 700383
Dallas, Texas 75370

Please do not send cash!

Rules and Regulations:
—Free verse preferred. Experimental poems welcome.
No porno or rough language will be considered.

Use a standard font such as: Times New Roman or Arial in your submission. Limit
50 lines maximum for each poem. One poem per page with continued poem on 2 page only.
Keep line length to no more than 50 - 60 (characters) per line. Use 8 1/2” x 11” letter page.
Submit up to 3 poems total in a single submission, limited to a maximum of 2 pages each.
Also include a sheet with your name, address, phone number, email (if available)
and a short bio (half page max).

Poems must be your original work. Unpublished poems preferred but will accept published with permission from your publisher in writing accompanying the submission.

You must include prior publication info on an acknowledgment page and hold republication rights.

Announcements:
Once judging is completed, the top three place winners will be contacted by: mail, phone or email, with the monetary awards to follow.

Winner's names along with a number of honorable mention names (depending on the maximum number of participants) will be posted on the Bridge’s website, along with their winning titles and poems. No other notice will be given, other than your self-stamped return envelope received with your entry letter.

 All submissions will be read and judged by a panel of qualified judges. The final Preeminent Judge selecting the top three money winners will be Karla Morton, the 2010 Poet Laureate of Texas.

The Poetic Friends committee, Judges and "The Bridge" will be held harmless due to decisions of the final outcome of this contest.  All Judging decisions are final.

For questions: email to: J. Kirkley, poeticfriends@mdhadallas.org
Or call 214-634-3348

Be our guest:
While you are on this site, please visit The Bridge's other web pages and learn about our innovative concept to homelessness. The Bridge is fast becoming a benchmark for other homeless centers to follow.

Through our dedicated efforts and ideals, we are trying to end chronic homelessness by 2014.

Thank you for your support.
The Poetic Friends of the Bridge
J. Darrell Kirkley
Founder & Chairman