The Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Program is now accepting poems for ‘Poetry While You Wait.’ Poets of all ages, diverse talents, and backgrounds from El Paso and Teller counties are encouraged to send in their original poems that are suitable for the general public.

Selected poems will be published in April, 2009 in booklets and on placards and distributed free to businesses and other places where people wait for services in Colorado Springs and throughout the Pikes Peak region, to provide the surprises and delights of poetry. Selected poems may also be presented through various print and electronic media to inspire and celebrate poetry in the Pikes Peak region.

Five original poems may be submitted, of any genre, each no more than 30 lines long. Previously published poems are eligible. Include a brief, one or two line biographical note. If you are less than 18 years of age, include your age. Any topic is acceptable, but poems that reflect the concerns and experiences of people living in the Pikes Peak region are preferred.

Submission deadline is Saturday, February 28. Poems must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman or Courier typeface, with your name, address, phone, and e-mail in the top right corner of the page. No more than one poem per page. Selected poets will receive 2 copies of the ‘Poetry While You Wait’ booklet.

Send your poems in the body of an e-mail to poet@pikespeakpoetlaureate.org (do not use attachments), or mail hard copy submissions to Poetry While You Wait, CoPPER, P.O. Box 190, Colorado Springs, CO 80901.

The Poet Laureate Project shall have the right to publish the poems in print, including a copyrighted booklet distributed in the Pikes Peak Region, electronic, and other media for the purposes of inspiring and celebrating poetry in the Pikes Peak Region. However, the poets shall retain all other rights to their work.

The Pikes Peak Poet Laureate, Aaron Anstett, will be the judge for final selection of all submissions.