Budding poets and wordsmiths are invited to write haiku poetry for an open mic event through the Mercer County Library system (MCLS). Entries will be accepted until February 9, with winners announced in March. A poetry reading and prize ceremony will be held at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch on Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Looking ahead to National Poetry Month in April, the MCLS 2026 Haiku Contest is open to individuals of all ages who live, work, or attend school in Mercer County. Participants are invited to submit one original haiku following the traditional five-seven-five syllable structure. A panel of judges will select finalists, and the final winners will be chosen by Alicia Ostriker, professor emerita of English at Rutgers University, 2018 Poet Laureate of New York, and chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 2015 to 2020.

Haiku must have three lines and no title. The poem may be funny or serious, and may evoke a natural element or seasonal theme, in keeping with the spirit of the form. The limit is one haiku entry per person. Entries must be original and unpublished — not previously printed, posted online, or under consideration elsewhere.

First prize is a $50 gift card, second prize is a $30 gift card, and third prize is a $20 gift card.

MCLS staff and their immediate family members living in the same household are not eligible for prizes but are encouraged to participate.

Submit your haiku online here.

Alternatively, you can email your haiku to lawprogs@mcl.org with the subject line “MCLS Haiku Submission.” Include the haiku in the message body along with your full name, phone number, and applicable Mercer County address. Incomplete entries may be disqualified.