IWA 4th Annual Poetry Contest

The Islamic Writers Alliance is holding its fourth annual poetry competition.

Here is the announcement that appears on the group's website:

IWA 4th Annual Poetry Contest
Theme: Iman

All writers must submit poems that fall within the theme of "Iman." Poets must submit name, address, emailing address, age if under 16, title of poem and category. The categories are:

Youth to age 16
Adult Men & Women
IWA Member

Last date for submission is April 30, 2008.

Poems may only be submitted by email. Poems with inappropriate language or not within the theme will be automatically disqualified.

Poems may be any style and must be between 2 and 100 lines long. Poems should be submitted to poetrycontest@islamicwritersalliance.net.

Qualifying poems will be placed on a special poll for our FIRST EVER Polled Judging. IWA Members will vote and choose the winning poems for each category.

A reminder for students and aspiring poets of common Poetry styles:

Acrostic - a poem in which certain letter of the line form a word or message relating to the subject

Quatrain - at least four lines rhyming alternately

Cinquain - five line unrhyming poem

Epic - a long narrative poem about the adventures and bravery of a hero

Free verse - rhyme or no rhyme - write what you feel

Haiku - 3 unrhymed lines in a 5-7-5 syllabic meter - the first line has 5 syllables, the 2nd line seven, the last line 5 syllables

Ode - long lyrical poem

Sonnet - 14 lined poem in iambic pentameter that usually deals with love, religion or some other serious concern

Limerick - 5 lines with a rhyme scheme of (aa, bb,a). The first line explains the situation, the 2nd tells what happened, the 3rd and 4th tell what went wrong, and the 5th tells the significance or consequences