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The 4h Annual Poetry Downtown Festival honors Edgar Allan Poe from September 27 - 29, 2024!

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Write us a poem inspired by The Raven, which touches upon it, continues the tradition, or makes it new:

Theme
Each year, Poetry Downtown honors a distinguished poet for their lifetime achievement (see 2021-2031) This year, the festival pays tribute to Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809, Boston, MA – October 7, 1849, Baltimore, MD) on the 175th anniversary of his death with the theme “The Raven.”  If you wish to enter, how will you interpret the theme, is the question.  Might you even question it?  Might you explore the night in the poem, or what the Raven says, or does not say?  Let us know!

We welcome lyric poetry, prose poetry, formal poetry that is syllabic, metrical or otherwise, hybrid texts, experimental poetry, up to 28 lines.

Winners
Up to 52 poets will be chosen for the anthology and invited to read at our festival too if you can make it.

Anthology and Reading
The poets selected for the anthology, up to 52 total poets, will also be invited to read at one of our Poetry Downtown Reading stages in:
– Boston on September 27 from 8 till 10 pm 
New York on September 28 from 1.30 till 3.30 pm
Philadelphia on September 28 from 8 till 10 pm
Baltimore on September 29 from 8 till 10 pm

Deadline
September 1st.

Cost
As all know, a poetry festival is only possible with the support of the poets themselves. Upon receiving the minimum contribution of 5 USD (6,80 CAD, € 4,70 EUR) you will receive a pass to all events (see program). Without this contribution, we regret that we cannot consider your entry. Please pay after registration. You will find the Paypal button under the webform.