As the school year winds down and summer edges into view, the Kentucky State Poetry Society takes a moment to honor the youngest voices in our community. Our 2025 Student Poetry Contest officially closes today, and we are blown away by the talent and honesty shared by students across the Commonwealth.
From heartfelt reflections on friendship to vivid metaphors about climate change, the poems we receive each year reflect the experiences, hopes, and questions of a new generation. It is a privilege to read their words and witness how poetry empowers them to explore identity, emotion, and place.
In Kentucky, storytelling is in our bones. And for many young people, poetry is their first step into that tradition. Whether it’s a poem scrawled in the margins of a notebook or typed into a phone during a bus ride, each line is a declaration: I have something to say.
We’re proud to provide a platform for these emerging writers. Past winners have gone on to publish chapbooks, lead workshops, and even return as contest judges. Their voices matter—and so do yours. If you’re a teacher, parent, or student reading this, thank you for helping us keep poetry alive and thriving in Kentucky’s classrooms.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce winners and share selections from their incredible work.
In the meantime…
May 20 Poetry Reading with Julie Hensley
Join us Monday, May 20 for a special reading with acclaimed poet Julie Hensley. Her work, known for its quiet emotional depth and vivid sense of place, explores the terrain of family, grief, and belonging. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or new to her poetry, this is a reading you won’t want to miss.
Check out our website for more details!
Kentucky State Poetry Society 