poetry contest may 2026

Welcome!

This is where you can submit your poetry for the first All Words Bright & Beautiful poetry contest!

There will be 1 winner of $100 in cash and 3 runner-ups who will be featured in a non-paywalled post to our 550+ subscribers.

There are only 3 rules:

1. Thou shalt make the poem rhythm and rhyme. It is not enough that the poem merely rhymes. It must also have a recognizable rhythm when read out loud. Examples of poetry that both rhymes and rhythms well are "Noel" by J. R. R. Tolkien, "The Wreck of the Hesperus" by H. W. Longfellow, and "The Ballad of the White Horse" by G. K. Chesterton. 
2. Thou shalt make the poem imaginative and beautiful. The poem must use beautiful and imaginative language! For example, we want the same kind of language that describes the moon as a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, stars as silver sky-fish swimming in a sea of darkness, and grassy lawns as worlds of adventure to explore, if only you were the size of an acorn. 
3. Thou shalt write the poem inspired by this prompt: coruscate. To coruscate means to shine with a living, joyful radiance, to reflect light brilliantly. Write your poem about something or something you love that coruscates, either literally or metaphorically. Note: it is not necessary or encouraged that you include the word "coruscate" in your poem. The important thing is to get the idea the word evokes across.

Submissions close: on May 15, 2026 or once we reach 24 submissions, whichever happens first.

We look forward to seeing what you send us! Godspeed! :)