Eighth through twelfth grade students are encouraged to enter the 16th Annual Teen Poetry Bash hosted at the W. Dale Clark Library downtown this Saturday.
Julie Humphrey, Youth and Family Services Manager, says teens can perform original poetry and earn cash prizes.
She says the bash is held in collaboration with the Nebraska Writers Collective, whose members serve as the judges and emcees for the event.
Humphrey says each participant will have between one and four minutes to perform their poem.
And she says registration is capped at 40 contestants.
"The library’s mission – especially for teens – is to support them in their education and development and giving them some confidence. We all know that readers aren’t always writers but writers are always readers. And the really goes to the heart of what a library is. And we like to give teens a nice, safe space to exhibit some of their works.”
Humphrey says the library asks that student poets keep their works rated PG-13 or cleaner. She says the first place winner will receive $100, the second gets $50 and third place is $25.
Doors open at 1 and the Teen Poetry Bash begins at 1:30 at the W. Dale Clark Library this Saturday, December 3rd. More information is available at OmahaLibrary.org.