Calling young poets! Children’s poetry competition revived; deadline May 1
Published 8:02 pm Wednesday, April 23, 2025
- The Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria will host an in-person poetry reading contest for finalists from the best sixth- and seventh-grade entries. Patrick Webb
A children’s poetry competition that existed in Clatsop County in the 1940s is being revived.
In 1941, 11- and 12-year-old students from 23 schools entered a poetry contest. Their poems were preserved in the archives of the Clatsop County Historical Society.
In 2024, Astoria poet Jennifer Nightingale was asked to share her work at the FisherPoets Gathering. She wanted to underscore that fishing and poetry have been part of the Lower Columbia collective identity for a long time.
Nightingale explored the archives of Historical Society for inspiration and discovered more than 70 poems from 1940, written by children from Clifton to Cannon Beach.
After more than 80 years, the voices of these children were heard again at the FisherPoets gathering. Nightingale again shared the young voices during the Seaman’s Memorial Aug. 9, 2024, during the Astoria Regatta. Following the memorial, Nightingale spoke with a couple of the other memorial participants. She recalled one, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Amanda Denning, was enthused, but suggested that but this time she should include counties on both sides of the river.
“After 80 years, it’s about time,” Nightingale replied.
Nightingale subsequently met with Katy Menne, education director at the Columbia River Maritime Museum to explore the feasibility of reviving and expanding the contest. They say they hope students and their teachers will get excited for their voices to be heard.
Students in sixth or seventh grades are eligible from Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook in Oregon plus Pacific, Wahkiakum and Cowlitz in Washington.
Poetry submissions will be accepted online until May 1 with blind-judged county competitions then county finalists will be invited for an in-person presentation at Columbia River Maritime Museum.
The title of the program draws on the quote from Michael A. Josephson (1943-2024), “We’ve always been Children of a Common River.”
For details, log on to https://www.crmm.org/children-of-a-common-river-poetry-contest
The organizers are also looking for donations of prizes and people to act as judges. There is a page on the website to express interest.
