Theme: “A Noiseless Patient Spider”
“A Noiseless Patient Spider” By Walt Whitman
A noiseless patient spider,
I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,
Till the bridge you will need be form’d, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.
Prompt:
For this contest, write a poem that explores one or more of these ideas:
- The ways you try to build connections with others or with the world around you
- The meaning of patience and persistence in your own life
- How you find hope, purpose, or strength during times of solitude or challenge
Use vivid language and imagery to bring your feelings and ideas to life and let your poem reflect your unique voice and experience.
Walt Whitman’s “A Noiseless Patient Spider” explores themes of connection, isolation, and the search for meaning in a vast world. Inspired by the spider’s quiet persistence in casting its web, write an original poem that captures your own experience or imagination of reaching out, connecting, or seeking purpose.
In 30 lines or less, use vivid language and imagery to bring your feelings and ideas to life and let your poem reflect your unique voice and experience. Good luck!
Submission Deadline:
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Awards Ceremony:
Sunday, May 31, 2026, 12:00 noon – 2:00PM at the Birthplace
Guidelines
ELIGIBILITY & ENTRANCE CATEGORIES
THEME: “A Noiseless Patient Spider”
ELIGIBILITY: Students in grades 3–12
ENTRANCE CATEGORIES:
Category A — Individual poem, grades 3–4
Category B — Individual poem, grades 5–6
Category C — Individual poem, grades 7–8
Category D — Individual poem, grades 9–10
Category E — Individual poem, grades 11–12
Category F — Individual anthology
Category G — Class anthology, grades 3–4
Category H — Class anthology, grades 5–6
Category I — Class anthology, grades 7–8
Category J — Class anthology, grades 9–10
Category K — Class anthology, grades 11–12
Category L — Multi-media
Format
1. Submit a poem of up to 30 lines or less. Longer poems will be disqualified.
2. Multi-lingual poems welcome, with English translation.
3. Individual poems MUST have the following information on EACH page or poems will be disqualified:
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- Poem title and entrance category.
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- Student AND teacher’s email (address must accept outside emails.)
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- Entrant’s name, complete address, home phone number, age, and grade level.
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- School name, complete address, school phone number, and teacher’s name.
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- Teacher’s submitting multiple entries must note grade and class period on each individual poem.
4. Class anthology MUST have the following information or anthologies will be disqualified:
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- Anthology title
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- Title sheet with the entrance category, teacher’s name, grade, school name, school phone number, teacher’s email, and complete address.
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- Each poem must include the student poet’s name. Students may enter a poem in an anthology and as an individual poem.
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- All anthology poems should be in book form.
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- Teacher’s submitting multiple entries must put the title, grade, AND class period on each anthology.
Deadline: Entries must be submitted and date stamped by Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Awards
All poems and anthologies are judged by a panel of published poets selected by the Birthplace Trustees.
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- Winners will be notified by April 29th with winners’ names posted on WWBA’s website by May 1st. If there is any objection to the posting of a student name, please contact Karen Gellender at educator@waltwhitman.org
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- Winners’ names will be published in the WWBA Awards Program which will be distributed at our Awards Ceremony.
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- Awards will be distributed on Sunday, May 31st, 2026, from 12pm – 2pm, at the Awards event, held at the Walt Whitman Birthplace.
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- Renowned poet, POET IN RESIDENCE, our 2026 Poet in Residence officiates the award ceremony.
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- Grand Champion and multiple winners will be awarded in each category.
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- Individual entries and anthologies will NOT be retained or returned.
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- Awards will be held for pickup at the Walt Whitman Birthplace by June 18, 2026. Out of State Awards will be mailed upon written request. Email administrator@waltwhitman.org
Submission Instructions
SUBMIT ENTRIES
Student Poetry Submission Form
NO hard copy mailed submissions will be accepted.
All submissions become the property of WWBA.
Submissions due Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Good luck to all poets!
