lichen literary journal's first annual international contest: "Tracking A Serial Poet"

A test of talent, ingenuity, and insatiable greed for the written word.

Who are we after? You—the one who can hit the same nerve from three different angles, who can start from zero and end up robbing the whole bank, who can give us an alibi told by three different witnesses, who can...well, you get the picture. We’re looking for 3 strong poems about anything you like, poems that can strike out on the lam and make it, but that are in on the same conspiracy. Theme isn’t important (and it doesn’t have to be crime-related – that’s just our way of getting your attention). Development isn’t the key either; the things that count are the image in one poem deftly repeated in another, the fugitive link between the curtain in one poem and the bullet in the next.

Send a single set/suite with the entry fee that also gives you a full year’s subscription to lichen, beginning with Fall 2004 issue. The winning poem—evaluated in blind judging on technique, effectiveness in progressively developing theme, and overall cohesiveness — as well as two runner-up poems, will be published in the Fall 2004 "Couplings" issue of lichen.

First Prize: $500 + publication; 2 runners-up will be published as well.

$20 (Cdn in Canada, US funds from US & International) entry fee per set of poems, includes a one-year subscription to lichen. COMPLETE RULES & GUIDELINES AVAILABLE by mail, or at lichen Literary Journal - Contest

Deadline: December 31, 2003.(postmarked)

Send entries with cheque or money order made payable to "lichen literary journal" to:
Tracking A Serial Poet Contest
lichen literary journal
234-701 Rossland Rd. E.
Whitby, ON
L1N 9K3