Iowans-you are invited to submit your poetry to the annual Lyrical Iowa Poetry Competition! No entry fee. No membership or book purchase required. For all residents of Iowa from kindergartners to centenarians (students may be Iowa residents or attend a school in Iowa). 
“If you enjoy writing poetry, here is your chance to win modest cash prizes and/or have your poem published in the Iowa Poetry Association’s (IPA) annual anthology, Lyrical Iowa,” explains Marilyn Baszczynski, IPA editor and contest coordinator. “You may submit up to a total of five poems in any of seven categories for adults; students submit up to five in their division (grades K-4; 5-8; 9-12, college). Only one poem per person may be published. Selections are made anonymously by expert out-of-state judges.

Local poets published in the 2022 anthology were Tom Gingerich of Kalona and Erin Cavanagh of Wellman.
Adult contests include: the Lucille Morgan Wilson Poetry Award for general (any subject/form); Traditional Forms: ghazal, pantoum, sonnet, and villanelle; Haiku; National/world Events; Humorous Verse; and Poetry for Children (any subject/form suitable for children). New this year is the Grant Wood Country Poetry Award, any form, inspired by any artwork by Grant Wood. Student divisions are open to any subject and form. Line limits are specified in all categories/divisions. 
  The contest is open January 1st - February 28th, 2023. Rules are available online at www.iowapoetry.com/rules2023.htm. Before entering, be sure to read some of 2022’s winning poems at www.iowapoetry.com/lyricaliowa.htm. Notifications are sent early summer to winners and those whose poem is selected for publication; Pushcart Prize nominees (iowapoetry.com/pushcart.htm) will be announced in early fall. Email submissions are preferred for adult and college divisions; all K-12 must mail in submissions by USPS to appropriate school editors. 
If you cannot access the internet, send a SASE (self-addressed, stamped, envelope) for contest rules to Iowa Poetry Association c/o Marilyn Baszczynski, Editor, 16096 320th Way, Earlham, IA 50072.