[R. S. Gwynn]

The distinguished American poet Donald Justice is recognized as one of the finest poets of the late twentieth century. The recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Bollingen Prize, and numerous honors for his verse, Justice was a masterful and exacting craftsman, traits that define the prize named in his honor. The prize is made possible through the generosity of the Iris N. Spencer Poetry Award. The Justice Award welcomes unpublished, original book-length collections of poems that pay attention to form for consideration in the competition. The winner of the competition will receive $1,500, and have her/his manuscript published.

We ask that applicants adhere to the following guidelines.

The annual competition is open to all American poets regardless of whether they have previously published a book-length collection.
The manuscript should be between 50-100 typed pages in unbound, bound, or clipped form.
No more than one-third of the manuscript may consist of permission-secured or public domain translations.
The manuscript should contain two title pages: one with the collection's title, author's name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number; and the other with only the title.
There is a $25 entry fee for each manuscript submitted. Make payment to: Donald Justice Poetry Award-West Chester University.
2017 Competition: All submissions for the 2017 competition may be sent after November 1, 2016 and must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2016.
Manuscripts should be mailed to:

WCU Poetry Awards
Poetry House
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
Also send an electronic copy to: poetry@wcupa.edu.
Submitted manuscripts will not be returned. For notification of contest results, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The winner will receive her/his prize, and give a public reading at the annual West Chester University Poetry Conference in early June 2017.