ROCKLAND — It’s time for the Rockland Public Library Annual Poetry Contest. This year, the Library is getting playful with books by creating Book Spine Poetry.

Use the titles on book spines to create original poems. Use books from home or the school library, local bookshop (with permission), place of business, or local library. Stack them up in order to “write” your poem.

Participation is encouraged, not only to individuals, but also groups. Poems can be submitted by school classrooms, after-school groups, businesses, or organizations.

The categories will be split two ways as follows: Children 13 and Under, and Children and Adults, 14 and Up.

Prizes will be awarded for poems that fit into any of these sub-categories:

Most Humorous

Best Love Poem

Most Creative Use of Books (hint, you don’t have to stack straight up-and-down!)

Best Nature Poem

Super Challenging- Best Haiku

There will be a Best in Age Category and Best Overall Poem. Winners in each category will win a poster of their poem and all entries will be shown as a video presentation at Open Mic Night, April 25, at 6:30 p.m.

To submit:

Send a photo of your poem in a .jpeg or .png format to rocklandlibrary207@gmail.com. Use the subject heading “ROCKLAND LIBRARY BOOK SPINE POETRY CONTEST” and include the age and sub-category to which you are submitting.

Credit all participants in the body of the email and include contact information.

Photos must be clear enough to read the book spines, however, do write the text of the poem in the email. Emails must be timestamped by 5:00 PM on April 15th.

If you prefer to mail or drop off your entry, print the photo on any paper and include participants’ names and contact info on the back. Mail to Rockland Public Library, 80 Union St., Rockland, ME 04841 and write “ROCKLAND LIBRARY BOOK SPINE POETRY CONTEST” with age and theme category on the outside of the envelope.

See full set of rules at rocklandlibrary.org