Awaken the Sleeping Poet

Attention All Poets!
(Preschoolers thru Senior Citizens!)
This event is just for you!

It's time to send in your poems to the
Laurel Crown Foundation's annual
Awaken the Sleeping Poet Festival

Cash awards & trophies and an opportunity to
read your poem and/or be published
in the Dreamcatcher anthology

The 2009 Festival will be held at
the San Antonio Museum of Art (200 W. Jones)
on Saturday, April 4, 2009

Texas Poet Laureate, Alan Birkelbach, featured again as emcee
Students (elementary thru high school) - at 10:30 a.m.
Adults (including college) - at 1:30 p.m.

We have made a few changes...
Students may enter free - no entry fee - limit two poems
Adults may enter as many poems as desired at $5 for each entry

Entry Deadline: January 24, 2009
(This is NOT a postmark deadline -

it is an "in-hand" deadline. Your entry must be received by January 24, 2009)
You may download an entry form from www.laurelcrown.org

All poets: Send a separate entry form with each poem entered
Adults: Pay with one check if you send multiple entries. Make check or money
order payable to: Awaken the Sleeping Poet
Send your entry or entries and fee, if applicable, to:
Awaken the Sleeping Poet
2207 Parhaven Dr.
San Antonio, Texas 78232

CONTEST RULES:
• Open to poets who live or work within a 65 mile radius of San Antonio.
• Separate entry form required for each poem submitted,

but pay all fees with ONE check or money order
• Students (high school, middle school, elementary school):

Only two entries allowed (no entry fee)
• Adults (includes college): enter as many poems as you like,

but a $5 entry fee is required for each poem
• Poems must be unpublished and the poet’s original work.

You retain copyright.
• Poem Length: no more than 28 lines and 7 spaces

(spaces also take up room on a page).
• Line Length: approximately 60 characters.

Longer lines are broken at the editor’s discretion.

If breaking
long lines results in the poem being more than 28 lines,

it will be disqualified. For instance, if your poem is
28 lines, but one line has to be broken, it becomes 29 lines and is ineligible.
• Typed in English. Words or brief phrases in other languages will be accepted.

If the phrase is in a language
other than English or Spanish, please translate the phrase.
• Adults are asked to submit a brief biographical sketch (6 lines or less)

to be used if your poem is published
in the Dreamcatcher anthology.

These bios will be edited as needed for space considerations
• Send this form with two (2) copies of your poem.

Name in upper left hand corner of first copy and no name on
second copy. Type your category in upper left hand corner of both copies.

OTHER INFORMATION
• Cash Award Winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each category) will be posted on our Website on February 2, 2009 and will be published on our Web site as soon as possible on or after that date. Cash winners will also be published in the anthology. Cash Award winners will received a letter of notification and an acceptance form, which must be returned before March 18, 2009. Cash winners are expected to read their poems at the Festival and accept their cash awards and trophies. If a winner cannot attend, he/she must send a representative to read the poem in order to receive the cash award and trophy.

• Honorable Mention Winners will be invited to read their poems at the Festival and will be published in the anthology. Those who receive Honorable Mentions will receive a letter of notification and an acceptance form. The acceptance form must be returned before March 18, 2009.

• Other Poems of Merit. Only cash award winners and honorable mention poems will be read on the program; however, other poems of merit will be published in the Dreamcatcher anthology. These poets are not required to attend the festival, but we hope you will attend and join in the fun because we want you to enter again next year and perhaps be winner. Think positively and keep writing poetry.