All poetry finalists will be invited to the Writing Workshop and the Reception at the Lili Centre in Lucerne on 25th May 2025. Their completed poems will be published in the Anthology and every finalist will receive three copies.
Submissions:
The submission portal is open. The deadline for submissions is noon, Sunday, 13th April, 2025.
Shortlisted students will be contacted at the end of April and invited to the Workshop and Reception.
Submission is free, but is limited to two poems per student. Students may submit to both the Poetry Prize and the Short Story Prize.
Theme
Poetry judge Elizabeth Boquet has chosen the theme, “Threshold” for this year’s competition
What is Elizabeth looking for in a poem?
I’m looking for a poem that helps me see something familiar in a new light, surprises me with a fresh perspective, or brings to my attention something quirky yet obvious that I hadn’t considered before. Like a good story, a strong poem often takes me on a journey, sometimes with an unexpected twist. I gravitate toward humor and tenderness rather than violence or hate. I also prefer to avoid confessional poetry or poems that serve primarily as a means of venting, as well as those that require the reader to work too hard to find meaning or to “read between the lines.
Line Limit
Try to keep your poem to 20 lines.or less
Entry requirements: The Poetry Prize is open to any student high-school-aged student in Swiss public upper-secondary education. There are currently no age divisions, however students must note whether they are mother-tongue English speakers, or following a bi-lingual study programme, and whether they are studying for the Maturity Certificate. The competition is not open to students from schools where the teaching is primarily in English, such as international schools, or students studying for international examinations.
Please read the rules before submitting.
Swiss Creative Writing Prize 