Whatcom County Library Systems

A Forest of Words: Teen Poetry Anthology

Calling all poets in grades 6-12! Submit your original poems for consideration to be included in our annual teen poetry book, A Forest of Words. Send in up to two of your original poems between January 1st to March 15th. A panel of library staff and area teens select poems based on originality, creativity, and craft. Accepted poets receive a copy of the book (and bragging rights!). And for those who need a little more encouragement, getting published is a great thing to have on your college application and resume.

You will hear from us in an email or a phone message by Friday, April 30, 2021. If you haven’t heard from us by that date, please call us at (360) 305-3600. 

Have more questions? Ask at your library or send us an email.

There are two ways you can submit your poem(s):

Submit your poem(s) online

~ OR ~

Print and fill out this form and mail it to WCLS: A Forest of Words, 5205 Northwest Drive, Bellingham WA 98226

Entries will become property of Whatcom County Library System and will not be returned. Pieces of a winning entry may be used rather than the whole. By submitting an entry, all poets grant permission to the Whatcom County Library System to reproduce the poem(s) in print and digital publications including social media.