The annual Ellen Conroy Kennedy Poetry Prize honors our dear co-founder (1932 – 2020) and supports HoCoPoLitSo’s live literary programs.

The ECK Poetry Prize 2023 Information

The winning poet will be awarded a cash prize of $500, provided by the Friends of HoCoPoLitSo.  The winning poem will be published in The Little Patuxent Review and HoCoPoLitSo’s website.  Additionally, the winning poet will be celebrated with a press release, on social media, in a blog interview, and in the annual report.  A second prize winner will also be selected and awarded $100 and their poem will be published on HoCoPoLitSo’s website along with a blog interview.

Eligibility: We welcome submissions from poets all ages and in all styles, including experimental, traditional, and short narrative poems. Each poet may submit one or two previously unpublished, original poems. Each poem should not exceed 100 lines. Submit one file per poem with no identifying author information. HoCoPoLitSo-appointed judges will consider each poem separately and without identifying author information to select one winning poem of exceptional quality. HoCoPoLitSo Board Members and staff are not eligible to submit.

Evaluation: Each poem will be judged separately and read anonymously. 

Reading Fee: $10 

Submissions can be entered via Google Form between September 25, 2023 and October 25, 2023. Poems submitted after this closing deadline will not be considered.

The winner will be notified by November 15, 2023.

Past Winners

2022

• First Place – Emily Portillo “The Cold”
• Second Place – Chrissy Stegman “Blue Irises”
• Honorable Mention – Dean Gessey “familicus zoologicus”

2021

• First Place – Arhm Choi Wild “Rummage”
• Second Place – Liz Holland “Lifeboy Swept Away”
• Honorable Mention – Judd Hess “Darth Vader”