Nature poetry contest to benefit state park

Local writers are welcome to create poems for the Indiana Nature Poetry Contest that runs until Sept. 30.

The contest was organized by Hoosier poet Stacy Smith. The winning poems will be published in a small chapbook called "Poetic Nature in the Homeland," from which all royalties will go directly to Mounds State Park.

"This is an amazing project that Stacy has put together," said Angie Manuel, park interpreter. "Stacy has put her love of nature into a fundraising project for Mounds State Park."

Poems must be about the natural world and written by Indiana residents. They must be no longer than 40 lines but there is no limit to how many entries a person may submit. Each entry carries a $1 fee to help defer the cost of publication.

Prizes include: first place, $40, a Mounds State Park T-shirt and publication in the chapbook; second place, $25 and publication in chapbook; third place, $10 and publication in chapbook; and honorable mentions, publication in chapbook.

Authors of the top 20 poems will receive a complimentary copy of the chapbook.

For a list of all contest rules or for more information call Angie Manuel at 765-649-8128.