Iowa Poetry Association – Mahaska County Representative

Lyrical Iowa Competition Deadline Approaching

The deadline for entering Iowa Poetry Association’s (IPA) 75th Annual “Lyrical Iowa” competition is February 28 and is open to interested poetry writers living in Iowa, said Pam Blomgren, IPA’s representative for Mahaska County. “Lyrical Iowa” is an annual anthology comprised of poems written by Iowa writers of all ages.

Each year, top-ranking poems are awarded cash prizes in each category and age level. In addition to the winning poetry, a variety of quality poems are selected to be showcased in the perfect-bound book which is printed and available for sale by late summer early fall.

This year, a special 75th Anniversary category is included in the competition which will have its own cash prize.

According to Blomgren, the 2019 edition contained 381 poems chosen from 1,845 entries that represent 77 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Area poets selected for publication included Iola Powell Cadwallader, Fred De Jong, Rob Hoskinson, Blomgren, and DeShawn Stepter, an Oskaloosa High School 11th grader

Blomgren is encouraging any Mahaska County resident who writes to consider entering this year’s contest. There are no entry fees. Up to five poems, 20 lines each, can be entered. Cash prizes, honorable mentions, and a first-time contributor award will be given. This year, a special 75th Anniversary category is included in the contest which will have its own cash prize.

Entrants are to carefully review the submission guidelines, rules, and information which can be found on IPA’s web site, www.iowapoetry.com. Emailed entries are encouraged.

The Iowa Poetry Association is a non-profit organization whose sole objective is to promote interest and appreciation for better poetry by Iowans of all ages. It has over 350 members across the state. Membership is not a requirement for entering the IPA competition or having poetry published in the anthology.