Entries For BCPS Haiku Poetry Contest Accepted Starting March 1

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Entries for the annual BCPS Haiku Poetry Contest will be accepted from March 1 through March 19. This year, Baltimore County Public Schools students of all ages are asked to write haiku on the theme of “change.”

A haiku is a Japanese poem that consists of three lines. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables and the third line has five syllables. BCPS uses How Many Syllables to check syllable counts. Each student may enter only one haiku and it must be an original poem. Students are encouraged to be creative in their use of imagery and vocabulary.

“The contest is a welcome opportunity to celebrate student writing and student voice,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “I am always interested to see what students are thinking and how they will express their thoughts and feelings.”

All haiku must be submitted this year using the 2021 Haiku Contest Form. A winning haiku will be chosen at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Winners will be announced in mid-April and will receive prizes. As in prior years, the winning poems and additional selected haiku will be compiled into an online book with student artwork. Each school library will receive a print copy.