Casa de Poesía Silva launches national poetry contest on poverty

The Casa de Poesía Silva has launched the National Poetry Contest, titled ‘La pobreza, exilio del mundo’ (Poverty, Exile of the World). The competition invites Colombian adults living in the country or abroad to submit original poems in Spanish that explore the theme of poverty through lenses of compassion, solidarity, or human suffering.

According to Pedro Alejo Gómez Vila, director of the Casa de Poesía Silva, the contest aims to use poetry to approach human realities differently than economic statistics or social discourses. The initiative seeks to foster a national conversation and promote empathy and dignity regarding the lived experiences of those affected by poverty.

The contest will recognize ten winning works, each receiving a prize of $1,600,000. Additionally, five honorable mentions will be awarded among the one hundred finalists, who may be included in a digital publication by the Casa de Poesía Silva.