Humanism for Humanity
Why is humanism now an answer for the questions facing humanity?
Application Deadline – November 30th, 2024.
Email your entry to executive.director@humanistcanada.ca
All applicants must be a member of HumanistCanada.
All applicants must be members of Humanist Canada. Visit https://secure.humanistcanada.ca/forms/membership.
The poems chosen by the judges will be published on Humanist Canada platforms.
Three prize levels:
$300
$200
$100
Criteria for the Poetry Contest:
- Relevance to Theme:
- Understanding of Humanism: The poem should clearly address and reflect on the theme of humanism. It should explore what humanism means to the poet, conveying the core values such as the inherent dignity and worth of all individuals, rational thinking, and ethical living.
- Personal Interpretation: The poem should offer a personal perspective on humanism, demonstrating the poet’s individual understanding and connection to the theme.
- Creativity and Originality:
- Imaginative Expression: The poem should display originality in its approach to the theme, using unique imagery, metaphors, or perspectives to convey its message.
- Innovative Language: Effective use of language, including creative word choice, innovative structures, and poetic devices (e.g., metaphors, similes, symbolism) to enhance the impact of the poem. Emojis can be used but must be able to be visible on most social media platforms.
- Emotional Impact:
- Engagement: The poem should evoke an emotional response from the reader, whether through its beauty, poignancy, or thought-provoking nature.
- Authenticity: The poem should convey genuine emotion and thoughtfulness, creating a meaningful connection with the reader.
- Structure and Form:
- Technical Proficiency: The poem should demonstrate a strong command of poetic form and structure, including rhythm, meter, and rhyme (if applicable).
- Cohesion and Flow: The poem should have a clear structure and flow, with a well-developed beginning, middle, and end, and transitions that guide the reader smoothly through the piece.
- Clarity and Precision:
- Expressiveness: The poem should communicate its ideas clearly and effectively, avoiding ambiguity or overly complex language that might detract from the overall message.
- Conciseness: The poem should be succinct and to the point, using precise language to express its ideas without unnecessary elaboration.
- Adherence to Guidelines:
- Format and Length: The poem should adhere to any specific guidelines provided for length, format, or submission requirements.
- Originality: The poem should be the original work of the entrant and not have been previously published or submitted to other contests.
- Overall Impression:
- Memorability: The poem should leave a lasting impression on the judges, standing out for its depth, creativity, and resonance with the theme.
- Impact: The overall effect of the poem should align with the purpose of the contest, which is to explore and reflect upon the meaning of humanism.
These criteria aim to encourage poets to engage deeply with the theme of humanism and to express their insights and emotions in a way that is both creative and impactful.
Our Judges
- Zahra (Venus)Tizmaghz
Venus has been writing poetry since a teenager in the Middle East – growing up in Iraq, Kuwait and Iran and five years ago published a collection of poetry, written in Persian. Venus enjoys writing poems inspired by daily life events and also writes poems in English, two of which were published in the Halton Region ESL magazine – the most recent one focuses on the theme of humanity. Venus’s approach to poetry is rooted in traditional forms, using rhyme, meter, and rhythm, including iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic patterns in English, as well as various forms in Persian and Arabic. Venus places the greatest value on the melodious sound and meaningful content of poems but enjoys the creativity of contemporary poetry and has participated in and judged many poetry contests. - Craig Barlow
Craig was born in Alberta and has lived throughout Canada. He has been a resident of Ottawa since 1999. He is a very proud supporter of Humanist Canada, the humanist movement globally, and has a deep understanding of its impact on modern life. He has written over 1000 poems to date and hopes to publish as a collection one day soon.