Genre: Poetry

Associations of Love

The Time Is Now
2.10.26

“I love snow and briefly. / I love the first minutes in a warm room after stepping out of the cold. / I love my twenties and want them back every day. / I love time. / I love people. / I love people and my time away from them the most.” In his poem “Love,” published in the American Poetry Review, Alex Dimitrov lists dozens of beloved things, each line beginning simply with, “I love.” The items listed often play off of each other and seem to meander associatively, in a stream-of-consciousness manner. Compose a poem that uses a list format to meditate on things you love. You might begin each line with a repeated phrase, or allow the entire poem to encompass one long list. Try experimenting with associative thinking, fluctuations of line length, and playful tones.

Breakout! Prize

Epiphany
Entry Fee: 
$10
Deadline: 
April 15, 2026
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Epiphany are given annually for a poem or a group of poems and a short work of fiction or nonfiction. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems of any length or up to 5,000 words of a short story, novel excerpt, or essay with a $10 entry fee by April 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Lascaux Prize in Poetry

Lascaux Review
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Lascaux Review is given annually for a single poem. Previously published and unpublished poems are accepted. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems of any length with a $15 entry fee by March 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Prime Number Magazine Awards

Press 53
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Prime Number Magazine are given annually for a poem and a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a poem of up to three pages or a short story of up to 5,300 words with a $15 entry fee by March 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Editor’s Prizes

Florida Review
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
April 15, 2026
Three prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Florida Review are given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short story, and an essay. The editors will judge. Submit up to five poems of any length or up to 30 pages of prose with a $25 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Florida Review, by April 15. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Laura Boss Narrative Poetry Award

Laura Boss Poetry Foundation
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
A prize of $5,000, publication by New York Quarterly Books, and 25 author copies is given annually for a collection of narrative poetry. The winner is also invited to give a reading in Paterson, New Jersey, in partnership with the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College. Marge Piercy will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 10 pages from a manuscript with a $25 entry fee by March 31. Financial assistance is available upon request. Semi-finalists will be notified by June 1 and asked to submit full manuscripts of 70 to 90 pages by June 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Poetry Prize

Saturnalia Books
Entry Fee: 
$35
Deadline: 
April 1, 2026
A prize of $1,500, publication by Saturnalia Books, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Mark Bibbins will judge. All entries are also considered for the Alma Book Awards, which offer two prizes of $1,000 each and publication. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a $35 entry fee by April 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Levis Prize in Poetry

Four Way Books
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
March 31, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Four Way Books is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to participate in a reading either virtually or in person in New York City, as public health guidelines allow. Dana Levin will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $30 entry fee by March 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Poetry Prize

Marsh Hawk Press
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
April 30, 2026
A prize of $2,000 and publication by Marsh Hawk Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Denise Duhamel will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 84 pages with a $30 entry fee by April 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
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