Mentor Public Library’s 2026 Poetry Contest Anthology

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our 2026 Poetry Contest! This year’s theme celebrated America’s semiquincentennial. All poems were inspired either by the USA or an American poem/poet. The poems have been collected in this community anthology so everyone can enjoy them.

Mentor Public Library Poet Laureates & Honorable Mentions

Elizabeth & Family

Thanks to the two dozen poets who contributed to our anthology and congratulations to our winners! Our poet laureates and honorable mentions are:

  • Adults Library Poet Laureate — Elizabeth Exoo
  • Adults Honorable Mention — Desirée Dunn
  • Teens Library Poet Laureate — Elliana B.
  • Teens Honorable Mention — Makayla C.
  • Staff — Gillian DiPofi

Mentor Public Library’s 2025 Poetry Contest Anthology

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our 2025 Poetry Contest! We’ve collected your poetry in this community anthology, so everyone can enjoy it. Congratulations to our winners!

The Mentor Public Library Poet Laureates are:

  • Adults — Desiree Dun for Terra Incognita
  • Tweens/Teens — Kate B. for Patron Saint of One Way Trips
  • Children — Emma R. for Spring, Summer Fall, and Winter
  • Staff — Gillian DiPofi for Modern Horror

Collected Anthologies: