Celebrate National Poetry Month with a Haiku (or Two!) at DC Public Library—and Across the Nation

April brings cherry blossoms to Washington, D.C., but this year, it also brings the return of a joyful community tradition: the DC Public Library’s 2025 Haiku Contest. Running now through April 30 in honor of National Poetry Month, the contest is open to residents ages six and up and invites everyone—from first-time writers to seasoned wordsmiths—to try their hand at crafting a haiku. The themes for this year’s contest are as inviting as spring itself: Dreams, Library Love, The Best Things in Life, Only in D.C., and Freedom and Diversity Make Us Great.

For those unfamiliar, a haiku is a traditional Japanese poem made up of three short lines: the first line has five syllables, the second has seven, and the third returns to five. Haiku often evoke vivid images from nature, but modern interpretations can take many creative forms. Whether you’re writing about cherry blossoms floating along the Potomac or the quiet comfort of a favorite library corner, the structure encourages brevity, focus, and a bit of wonder.

Entrants may submit up to two haikus either online or in person at any DC Public Library location. Winners will be chosen in three age groups—Children (6–12), Teens (13–19), and Adults (20+)—and prizes include fun library swag, a certificate, and the special honor of having your poem displayed both inside the library and on its website in May.

The contest is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the smallest poems can leave the biggest impact—and that creative sparks can start young. Just ask children’s author Tim Hoppey. After 27 years of service as a New York City firefighter in East Harlem, Hoppey transitioned into a second career as a celebrated children’s author. His books, including Firefighter Phoebe, blend humor, heart, and meaningful life lessons, many inspired by his experiences and his deep love for family and community.

But Hoppey’s journey into storytelling didn’t start in a firehouse. It began in third grade, on a class field trip to Fire Island on New York’s Long Island. While his classmates sat diligently writing beach-themed poems, Hoppey was more interested in collecting crab claws to scare the girls. As the bus was preparing to leave, he quickly jotted down this haiku:

Sandbug! Sandbug!
Always digging,
Never caught.

That last-minute poem sparked something—and years later, it became the foundation of a writing career that would touch the lives of thousands of children. Hoppey’s story is a reminder of the unexpected places where creativity begins—and just how far it can go when it’s nurtured.

And this month, it’s not just D.C. getting in on the haiku fun. All across the country, libraries and organizations are inviting people to celebrate National Poetry Month by writing their own 17-syllable masterpieces. At the University of Texas at Dallas, the Eugene McDermott Library is hosting its own haiku contest for students. The Matheson Memorial Library in Wisconsin is encouraging adults to enter original haikus, and the Monroe County Public Library in Indiana is holding a haiku challenge in honor of both National Poetry Month and National Haiku Poetry Day on April 17. Even Boston University is calling on students, faculty, and staff to write haikus celebrating spring.

From major cities to college campuses and small-town libraries, the haiku is having a moment. It’s a form that invites everyone in—it doesn’t take a novel or a degree in literature to participate. Just a few quiet minutes, an idea, and a willingness to try.

So whether you’re scribbling lines in a journal, typing them out on a phone, or writing just before the bus pulls away, National Poetry Month is your invitation to create. With just 17 syllables, you might be starting something big.