The Literary Arts Guild, a branch of the Center for the Arts (CFA), Lake Sunapee Region, invites local-area poets and would-be poets of all ages to submit entries to its sixth annual contest in celebration of National Poetry Month in April.

Rules for submission are available at the CFA Web site: centerfortheartsnh.org. Deadline for submitting is March 15. There will be three winners in the Adult Category, and one winner in each of the following categories: High School, Middle School, and Elementary School. Contest theme is “Two.”

Jennifer Millitello will judge the contest, according to Dianalee Velie, Poet Laureate of Newbury and coordinator of the contest. Millitello, whose latest book of poetry is A Camouflage of Specimens and Garments, teaches at New England College, is the recipient of a number of awards, and was a winner in the CFA’s first poetry contest in 2012. “We’re delighted to have Jennifer, whose poetry is especially known for its remarkable metaphors, return to us as the judge for our 2017 contest,” said Velie.

The six contest winners will be invited to read their poems at the CFA’s First Friday Celebration of Poetry Month on Friday, April 7, 2017 at the Newbury Town Offices Meeting Room, 937 Route 103, in Newbury.

Militello and Velie also will read their poetry at the event. As with all CFA First Friday offerings, this program will be free of charge and open to the public, with refreshments served, and donations to the CFA requested.

The Center for the Arts is a voluntary non-profit organization whose mission is “to enrich the quality of life in the Lake Sunapee Region by supporting and promoting the arts.”