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The 5h Annual Poetry Downtown Festival honors John Trudell from September 23 - 28, 2025!

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Write us a poem inspired by Look At Us, 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 John Trudell (February 15, 1946 Omaha, Nebraska – December 8, 2015 Santa Clara County, California) on the 10th anniversary of his death with the theme “Look At Us.” 

Entries
We welcome lyric poetry, prose poetry, formal poetry that is syllabic, metrical or otherwise, hybrid texts, experimental poetry, up to 32 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:
– Omaha on September 22 from 8 till 10 pm 
Denver on September 23 from 8 till 10 pm 
San Francisco on September 27 from 8 till 10 pm
Santa Clara on September 28 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.