ANNUAL POET'S SEAT POETRY
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This annual contest is held in honor of Frederick Goddard Tuckerman who lived in Greenfield from 1847 until his death in 1873 and was considered by his contemporaries — Emerson, Thoreau, and Tennyson — to be a gifted poet. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he shunned law in favor of botany and writing poetry. Although he never achieved wide public acclaim, his poems are often included in anthologies of noted American poets.
Our annual contest is open to all residents and students in Franklin county in two categories: adult and young poets. It culminates with the Poet's Seat Poetry Contest Celebration* at which poets read their work and winners are announced.
The first place winner also takes home the Poet's Chair for the year.
Our annual contest is open to all residents and students in Franklin county in two categories: adult and young poets. It culminates with the Poet's Seat Poetry Contest Celebration* at which poets read their work and winners are announced.
The first place winner also takes home the Poet's Chair for the year.
Friends of Greenfield Public Library
35th Annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest
Announcing the 2026 Poet's Seat Poetry Contest!
The 35th Poet's Seat Poetry Contest is open to all Franklin County residents and to students ages 12-18 who attend school in Franklin County. Each entrant may submit a maximum of three poems.
Rules for submission:
• Poems must be unpublished.
• Previous 1st Place Adult winners of the Poet's Seat Poetry Contest are not eligible to enter again.
• Previous top-placing Youth winners of the Poet's Seat Poetry Contest are eligible to enter again when they enter a new age category.
• Entrants may submit up to three poems; the finalist poems will be reproduced in a booklet as originally submitted.
• Entries must either be submitted by February 21st, 2026 via:
• Entries must be received by February 21, 2026
(postmarked date or date email received or submitted online).
• Our annual contest is open to all residents and students in Franklin county
in two categories: adult and young poets.
* The award ceremony will take place Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 6-7:30 p.m.
In the community room of the Greenfield Public Library
Awards will be given as follows:
For further information email [email protected]
The 35th Poet's Seat Poetry Contest is open to all Franklin County residents and to students ages 12-18 who attend school in Franklin County. Each entrant may submit a maximum of three poems.
Rules for submission:
• Poems must be unpublished.
• Previous 1st Place Adult winners of the Poet's Seat Poetry Contest are not eligible to enter again.
• Previous top-placing Youth winners of the Poet's Seat Poetry Contest are eligible to enter again when they enter a new age category.
• Entrants may submit up to three poems; the finalist poems will be reproduced in a booklet as originally submitted.
• Entries must either be submitted by February 21st, 2026 via:
- Submitted via the online form: https://wlm.im/gflib/poet-enter
note: 1 poem per submission - you may submit up to 3 poems. - USPS to Poet's Seat Poetry Contest, 412 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
- hand-delivered to the Greenfield Public Library at 412 Main Street, Greenfield MA
- Guidelines for submitting printed poems here:
- Multi-page poems must have page numbers clearly marked.
- No individual poem may exceed 3 standard pages.
- Indicate “Adult” or “Youth” poet on the front page.
- Youth poets must write age on front page in the lower right-hand corner and circle.
- Please do not staple pages together.
- Submit on white 8.5x11 paper; print clearly or type in plain typeface; no markers.
- No identifying information on the front of the poem (except youth poet age)
- Young poet entries must also include the phone and/or email of parent or guardian or teacher.
- Poems will not be returned.
- On reverse of poem
please include the following contact information for the poet:- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address, if available
- Poems should be printed in plain typeface (12 pt preferred) or printed clearly in pen, on white paper -
with no extraneous marks. - If poem(s) are mailed or hand-delivered, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope
for notification of receipt of entry.
• Entries must be received by February 21, 2026
(postmarked date or date email received or submitted online).
• Our annual contest is open to all residents and students in Franklin county
in two categories: adult and young poets.
* The award ceremony will take place Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 6-7:30 p.m.
In the community room of the Greenfield Public Library
Awards will be given as follows:
- Adult category:
- Prizes for first, second and third place poems.
- Youth category:
- Two winners for each subcategory (ages 12-14 and ages 15-18); these winners are not ranked.
For further information email [email protected]
