Poetry Contest Winners Honored at Poetry Read-In

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Massillon Public Library is pleased to announce the winners of its 2010 Poetry Contest. In all, 88 people submitted 132 poems. From the nearly forty poems submitted by adults, Catherine Russell won with her poem "Notebooks." Over thirty teens submitted poems and Paige Ward, age 15, won for "Pyrite." Nearly fifty poems were submitted by children in grades 3-8. Picking a winner was challenging, but this year’s judge, Duane Dodson (local, published poet and full-time faculty member at Stark State College of Technology) chose “Spring Is Finally Here!” by Andrew Berens, age 8. 

The winner from each of these categories was awarded a $50 Borders Gift Certificate at the Annual Open-Mic Poetry Read-In on Monday, April 12 held in the Massillon Public Library auditorium. The gift certificates were generously donated from funds raised by the Junior Friends of the Massillon Public Library.

Last year nearly 20 people, ranging in age from 6 to 80, read their original poems or the writings of their favorite bard. "When most people write poetry, it never goes beyond their own eyes, except perhaps for a few friends at most, and so we write in a vacuum," said library patron Robert Ellis, who attends the event each year. "The great thing about the poetry read-in at the library is that it provides a rare opportunity to share creative output with other writers."

The Massillon Public Library is located at 208 Lincoln Way East. For information on upcoming programs, items available to be checked out, as well as the wealth of services available to library patrons, browse our Website or call the library at (330) 832.9831.