Amherst Poets Can Have Their Words On Poetry Windows

As Shakespeare wrote, “eyes are the window to the soul.” This visionary truth has inspired the theme for Amherst Together’s “Eyes are the Window” poetry contest. Held in conjunction with the Amherst Public Art Commission and in celebration of National Poetry Month, “Eyes are the Window” asks poets to answer the question, “When you I look into your eyes, what will I see?” Open to poets of all ages living, working or studying in Amherst, the contest’s prompt encourages creative and self-reflective writing.

Winning submissions will be displayed in Amherst’s Poetry Windows in Boltwood Walk. Originally installed in 2002, the poetry windows were the work of artist Ritsuko Taho and displayed poems in green liquid crystal. This past January, the poetry windows underwent a digital makeover and will now display poems on miniature iPads. The top five poems submitted to the contest will be announced in May and displayed in the windows, and another 125 poems will be selected and displayed in rotation through May of 2016.

Poets can submit their work in person in a drop box at the Jones Library or online by April 30th, 2015. All work must be original, and may include no more than 25 words, and poets may submit only one piece of writing to the contest.