The Shel Silverstein Imagination junior contest
contest format
Shel Silverstein’s poems were weird, wild, and wonderful — full of talking garbage, runaway noses, and people who could never quite sit still. This contest invites you to write a poem or poetic story that’s full of imagination, playfulness, and just a little nonsense.
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Genre or Style: Poem or short rhyming story (free verse, rhymed verse, or silly narrative)
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Prompt: Write a short story about something totally made-up — a creature, a rule, a place, or a problem that’s delightfully odd.
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Word Count: Up to 400 words
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Unique Rule: Your poem must include at least one made-up word (invented by you)
CONTEST details
​It doesn’t have to rhyme (but it can!). It doesn’t have to make sense (but it should feel fun!). The best entries will bounce, surprise, and leave us laughing — or thinking — or both.
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Be playful. Use silly sounds. Make up creatures. Invent strange rules.
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Use rhyme only if it helps the fun. Don’t force it — but if it sings, let it rhyme.
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Draw with your words. Can your poem create a picture in the reader’s mind?
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Let your imagination go too far. That’s okay. That’s perfect.
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End with a wink — or a twist. Silverstein poems often take a surprising turn at the end. You can too!
Submission form
Paste your text directly into the submission box. You may also upload a file.