Name: Maryland Day Poetry Challenge! With Jefferson Holland, Poet Laureate of Annapolis
Start: 2026-03-20T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-20T20:00:00-04:00
Location: 1101 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403

Maryland Day Poetry Challenge! With Jefferson Holland, Poet Laureate of Annapolis

Jefferson Holland, Poet Laureate of Annapolis, invites poets of all ages and levels of experience to participate in a challenge in honor of Maryland Day. Poets will be invited to read their original work in a program on Friday, March 20, 2026, at St. Luke’s Church in Eastport from 6 – 8 p.m.
“Maryland history is inspirational,” Jeff reports. “Maryland Day celebrates the date in 1634 when the first European settlers arrived in the colony. To commemorate that event, I’m challenging poets to visit one of the many historic museums or sites in Annapolis – or anywhere in Maryland, for that matter – and find inspiration to write an original poem to share at the program. For instance, the Old Treasury Building on the State House grounds has recently reopened with a new historic exhibit that’s sure to be inspiring. “Poems can be composed in any category of poetic structure,” Jeff advises. “They could be inspired by people, places, ships, events or Maryland state symbols, like the Wye Oak Tree, the skipjack or even the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.”
Poets must submit their intent to participate in the challenge by emailing [email protected] no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 27. The first 20 poets to respond will be invited to read at the program.
Finished poems must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16. Poems must fit onto one page, double-spaced, in 12-point type, so there will be time for the 20 poets to read their work.
Make note of these dates:
Deadline for notice of your intent to participate: Friday, February 27, 5 p.m.
Deadline for submission of finished poem: Monday, March 16, 5 p.m.
Program date: Friday, March 20, 6 – 8 p.m. at St. Luke’s Church, 1101 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403. Admission is free, bring all your friends and relatives!
For more information, contact Jefferson Holland at [email protected]
The Annapolis Art in Public Places Commission (AIPPC) selected Jefferson Holland as Poet Laureate for the City of Annapolis, an honorary position whose role is to promote the literary arts and literacy within the Annapolis community.