Competition of the Month — August 2026

Sonnet — The Ephemeral Nature of Life

Write a sonnet on the fleeting, transient nature of existence.

14 lines · any sonnet form (Shakespearean, Petrarchan, Spenserian)
PDF submissions only
One entry per member
Deadline: 25 August 2026
Top 5 published on the site · winner announced 1 September
Prize
6 months free membership · a Penguin Classic of your choosing — plus the logo on their profile.

Submit your poem

PDF only. Max 5 MB. Your username will be displayed if your poem is selected as a finalist.

Sign in or create a free account to submit your poem.

This Month's Finalists
The top five poems selected by Henry — published on the site.
Finalists will appear here once judging is complete.
Submit your poem above to be considered.
Hall of Fame
Every competition winner, celebrated.
The first winner will be crowned at the end of August 2026.
Could it be you?