If you have a poem that pleads for marriage equality, or promotes immigration reform, or calls for an end to the war in Afghanistan, then you should check out a contest The Los Angeles Times is running. From now until Aug. 16, the newspaper’s opinion page editors are seeking poetry that speaks to a specific issue. On Aug. 25, the editors are going to print all poetry on the opinion page. They will pick a few additional poems to publish online. A lot of academic and mainstream poetry publications shy away from work with an overtly political bend, so this contest is unique. The submission guidelines can be read here.

I sent a few poems off this morning, and I hope other writers that read this blog will submit their work. I can’t wait to see what the editors decide to publish.