Calling all poets, writers, and lovers of Miami! Elevate Miami, O, Miami, and SWWIM invite you to submit a love poem to the Magic City.
No poetic form says “love poem” quite like a sonnet. The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian sonetto, meaning “little song.” For centuries, poets from William Shakespeare to Patricia Smith have used the sonnet to praise, question, wrestle with, and celebrate what they love.
Now it’s Miami’s turn.
What do you love about this city? Sunrises over South Beach. Mango season. Family memories. The Everglades. The music, the heat, the contradictions. Or something entirely your own.
Write a poem that captures your love for Miami in 14 lines. Rhyme or don’t. Follow a traditional meter or invent your own rhythm. The only requirements are the line count — and that it comes from the heart.
Selected poems will be announced and celebrated publicly during National Poetry Month in April.
Guidelines
- The contest is free to enter and open to all.
- There are two categories: Youth (under 18) and Adult (18 and over).
- Each entry must be one (1) original, unpublished poem. Poems must not have appeared in a journal, be under contract for publication, or be posted previously on any social media platform or personal website.
- All work must be original and created specifically for this competition. The use of AI-generated content or plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
- Entrants may submit multiple poems. Each poem must be submitted as a separate entry.
- Revised poems may be submitted as new entries during the open submission period.
- Simultaneous submissions are not permitted. In other words, poems submitted to Sonnet Boom should not be under consideration by another contest or publication at the same time.
- Poems may be written in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, or may include more than one language.
- All poems must be 14 lines. Sonnets may be rhymed or unrhymed, written with traditional meter or free form. Make it your own.
- Entries must be typed in a legible 12-point font (Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri).
- Please include a brief author bio (maximum 50 words) with each submission.
- All submissions must be made through Submittable. Entrants who do not already have a Submittable account will be prompted to create a free account at no cost.
- Submissions sent by email or via social media direct message to any partner organization will not be considered.
- The contest is open to participants regardless of place of residence. Entrants do not need to live in Miami to participate.
- The contest is open to all races, nationalities, genders, and ethnicities. All are welcome.
- The submission period opens January 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET and closes February 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Finalists will be announced in March 2026.
- Winners and finalists will receive scholarships in the student category and cash prizes in the adult category.
Awards
- Adult finalists and winners will be selected through a combination of juried review and public voting, as outlined below.
- Adult Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges. Finalists will be notified of their selection on or before March 16, 2026.
- The public will vote on finalists to recommend 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prize Winners in the Adult category.
- Public voting will take place on this Submittable platform during a defined voting window between March 16 - 23, 2026.
- Prizes in the Adult Category are:
- 1st Prize: $2000
- 2nd Prize: $1000
- 3rd Prize: $500
- Cash prizes may be subject to applicable taxes.
- Additional prizes and prize categories may be added, depending on the quality and quantity of submissions.
- Winners will be announced publicly in April 2026 during National Poetry Month.
Fine Print/FAQs
- Judging will consider originality, craft, emotional resonance, and connection to Miami.
- Finalists and winners will retain full ownership of their work. By participating, finalists and winners grant Elevate Cities / Elevate Miami, O, Miami, and SWWIM First North American Rights and a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use, reproduce, display, perform, and share finalist and winning poems and performances for non-commercial, mission-aligned purposes, including promotion, documentation, and civic storytelling. Formal release agreements will be provided.
- Finalist and winning poems may be featured on partner websites, social channels, and incorporated into civic publishing or public art initiatives in Miami and future Elevate Cities locations.
- Finalists and winning poets may be invited to participate in live and/or digital readings at O, Miami, SWWIM, and/or Elevate Miami and other partner events (details to be announced).
- Finalist and winning poems may inform or be included as part of future Love Poem contests in other Elevate Cities, helping build a growing anthology of place-based poetry.
- We are committed to making Sonnet Boom accessible and welcoming to all. If you require reasonable accommodations or accessibility support to participate, please contact info@swwim.org and we will do our best to support you.
- Questions not addressed here may be sent to info@swwim.org
Calling all young poets and writers in and around the Magic City! Elevate Miami, O, Miami, and SWWIM invite you to share your love for Miami through poetry. And no poem says “love poem” quite like a sonnet.
The word sonnet comes from the Italian sonetto, meaning “little song.” From William Shakespeare (long ago!) to Patricia Smith (today), poets have used sonnets to explore love for people, places, and ideas.
We want to know why you love Miami. Is it sunrise over South Beach? Fresh mangoes in the summer? Family stories, neighborhood memories, the Everglades, or something else entirely?
Write a 14-line poem that shows your love for Miami. Use rhyme or don’t. Follow a meter or make your own.
The only requirements are 14 lines and heart.
Finalists and winners will be announced and celebrated in April.
Guidelines
- The contest is free to enter and open to youth ages 18 and under.
- Submit one (1) original, unpublished poem per entry.
- Poems may be written in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, French, or include more than one language.
- All work must be original and created specifically for this competition. The use of AI-generated content or plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.
- No simultaneous submissions (please submit your poem only to this contest while it is under review and not to other contests or publications).
- Sonnets may be rhymed or unrhymed, with meter or without. Make it your own.
- Poems must be 14 lines.
- Entries must be typed in a legible 12pt font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, etc.).
- Entrants may submit multiple poems, but each poem must be entered as a separate submission.
- All submissions must be made through Submittable.
- Poems sent by email or direct message to partner organizations will not be considered.
- Edited or revised poems may be resubmitted as new entries during the open submission period.
- Entrants do not need to live in Miami to participate.
- The contest is open to all races, nationalities, genders, and identities. All are welcome.
- The contest opens January 12, 2026 (12:00 AM ET) and closes February 14, 2026 (11:59 PM ET).
Awards
- Prizes in the Youth Category are:
- 1st Prize: $2000 Scholarship
- 2nd Prize: $1000 Scholarship
- 3rd Prize: $500 Scholarship
- For youth poets, awards are structured as educational scholarships rather than cash prizes, in keeping with best practices for working with minors and school-based partners. Scholarships can be used for approved educational and creative enrichment expenses and are designed to support young writers’ growth and future opportunities.
- Youth Finalists and Winners will be selected by a panel of judges.
- Finalists will be notified of their selection on or before March 16, 2026.
- Winners will be announced publicly in April 2026 during National Poetry Month.
- Youth Finalists and Winners will not be selected by public vote.
Fine Print / FAQs
- Guardian consent: the Youth Finalists and the Grand Prize Winner will require parent or guardian consent to accept scholarships and participate in readings or publicity.
- Judging will consider originality, craft, emotional resonance, and connection to Miami.
- Poets retain full ownership of their work.
- By participating, finalists and winners grant Elevate Cities / Elevate Miami, O, Miami, and SWWIM First North American Rights and a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use, reproduce, display, perform, and share finalist and winning poems and performances for non-commercial, mission-aligned purposes, including promotion, documentation, and civic storytelling. Formal release agreements will be provided.
- Finalist and winning poems may be featured on partner websites, social channels, and incorporated into civic publishing or public art initiatives in Miami and future Elevate Cities locations.
- Finalists and winning poets may be invited to participate in live and/or digital readings at O, Miami, SWWIM, and/or Elevate Miami and other partner events (details to be announced).
- Finalist and winning poems may inform or be included as part of future Love Poem contests in other Elevate Cities, helping build a growing anthology of place-based poetry.
- We are committed to making Sonnet Boom accessible and welcoming to all. If you require reasonable accommodations or accessibility support to participate, please contact info@swwim.org and we will do our best to support you.
- Questions not answered here may be sent to info@swwim.org.