The 2025 Gordon Parks Museum

Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Poet, Helen Townsend and Trabar & Associates

          THEME: “What Does Your Heart See?”

 

This poetry contest is inspired by a quote from Gordon Parks, "I feel it is the heart, not the eye, that should determine the content of the photograph. What the eye sees is its own. What the heart can perceive is a very different matter."

Emerging poets of all ages and skill levels who have not yet been published in a book, are invited to write a poem for this contest.

 

Poets can enter no more than 1 poem. First place ($200), Second place ($150) and Third place ($100) and up to five honorable mentions.

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Winners will be announced at the Gordon Parks Celebration. All accepted poems submitted will be on exhibit during the 22nd annual Gordon Parks Celebration on Oct. 2- 4, 2025. All accepted poems will also be posted on the Gordon Parks website and Facebook page.

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Poems must be submitted via e-mail to gordonparkscenter@fortscott.edu. Poems are limited to one page. All entries should be typed and submitted as a word document only. Attachments (including pdf’s, pictures, google docs., etc.) are not accepted. Type or ‘copy and paste’ your poem into the body of your email. Poets should submit poem in with the title, their name, address, email, and phone number. If under 14 years old please include parent’s information. Poems should be received via email by Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the latest.

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The Gordon Parks Museum reserves the right to not accept or display any submitted poem that would be considered to be obscene, violent or in any other way objectionable or inappropriate and/or that do not hold to the standards of FSCC policy or the mission of the Gordon Parks Museum. The submitted poem in its entirety must be an original work by the person entering the contest. Plagiarism is not allowed. By entering the contest, you retain the rights to your works while granting The Gordon Parks Museum the unrestricted, royalty-free, perpetual right to use, reproduce, communicate modify and display the works (in whole or in part) for any purpose without any fee or other form of compensation, and without further notification or permission. By participating in this contest, you release and agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Gordon Parks Museum and its employees, directors, officers, affiliates, agents, judges and advertising and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of actions, or losses of any kind resulting from your participation in this contest or receipt or use of any prize.

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For more information, email gordonparkscenter@fortscott.edu or by phone call 223-2700, ext. 5850.

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