Poets Shine at the 43rd Annual Parkmont Poetry Festival

On Saturday, May 3rd, Parkmont Poetry Festival’s 2025 cohort of winning poets gathered at Zion Baptist Church to debut their poems to the public. It was a public of their peers, families, friends, and teachers, and they did not disappoint! First, though, they heard from Finalist Judge Michael Gushue, who congratulated his “fellow poets” and urged them, “if you love poetry, please please please read it voraciously, read it like you are starving.” The winners were chosen from 382 entries and hailed from 20 area schools. We are so proud of them and are pleased to share their winning poems with you here, along with an invitation to experience the magic next year on May 2nd, 2026!

The students’ winning poems can be read by downloading the 2025 booklet here.

It Takes a Village: 44 Years of Parkmont Poetry

At the 44th Annual Parkmont Poetry Festival, Kim Schraf, who has led the festival for 19 years, told us the Festival’s story.

Poets Shine at the 43rd Annual Parkmont Poetry Festival

According to Maryland’s own Lucille Clifton, the Parkmont Poetry Festival’s first judge in 1982, “I don’t write out of what I know; I write out of what I wonder.” There was indeed some powerful wondering going on in the Zion Baptist Church …

42nd Time is a Charm

The 2023 Parkmont Poetry Festival

Long after the last poem was shared at our 2023 Parkmont Poetry Festival Reading on April 29th, listeners were turning the pages of the winners’ booklet to revisit the words of the 40 winning poets …

The 2022 In-person Parkmont Poetry Festival

In our 38-year history, 2020 marked the first year that we did not assemble in fellowship and solidarity to support our winning poets as they shared their verse at the podium. In lieu of our in-person Festival and Reading …

The 2021 Virtual Parkmont Poetry Festival

Our 39th annual festival was held on Saturday, May 1 as a Zoom webinar. Please enjoy this recording of the event. These wonderful young poets make the screen feel as intimate as the live room …

Quarantined Poets Perform on Video

A Gift from Finalist Judge Anne Woodworth

2018 Finalist Judge Anne Woodworth was unable to attend the Festival, but sent along her gift to the 40 winning poets: a new composite poem created out of excerpts …

Parkmont Poetry Festival Turns 35

The eloquence of young poets from middle and high schools across Washington, D.C., chimed in spring as the Parkmont Poetry Festival marked its 35th year.

Parkmont Poetry: The Video

Videographer Elizabeth Dausch created a documentary that serves as an introduction to the Parkmont Poetry Festival. View it to learn the origins of our Festival.

Winner Featured on TED Talks

One of the winners of our 2014 Festival went on to win the Anacostia Watershed Prize and was featured on TED Talks, where she recited that winning poem.