Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee)
Now in its 25th year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems. No fee to enter. Submit published or unpublished work. $3,750 in prizes.
It looks like you're viewing this page with a mobile device. If you need help entering our contest, please email info@winningwriters.com.
Please submit one humor poem during
August 15, 2025-April 1, 2026
Prizes:
- First Prize: $2,000 plus a two-year gift certificate from our co-sponsor, Duotrope (a $100 value)
- Second Prize: $500
- Third Prize: $250
- Honorable Mentions: 10 awards of $100 each
- Top 13 entries published online
Submit online. No fee to enter. Judge: Jendi Reiter, assisted by Lauren Singer. One poem only, please. Length limit: 250 lines maximum. No restriction on age of author. Both unpublished and previously published work accepted. Authors from all countries eligible except Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to US government restrictions).
This is a contest for humor poems, not serious poems. Serious poems will not be judged. The poem you submit should be in English. Inspired gibberish is also accepted (example).
In general, poems written with the aid of a text-generating AI such as ChatGPT are not eligible. However, if you have employed an AI in a way that gets really funny results, please email info@winningwriters.com for a ruling on the eligibility of your entry. You must get pre-approval from us before submitting work that employs an AI in any way. We are looking for signs of human ingenuity.
Read the winning poems from our 23rd contest. First time entering? We prepared this brief video to guide you. See also our short entry checklist, then click the button below to submit. The results of our 24th contest will be announced on August 15, 2025. The results of our 25th contest will be announced on August 15, 2026.
This contest is now closed. Please wait until our next humor poetry contest opens on August 15, 2025 to submit.
Supplemental contest information (copyright, privacy, special assistance, etc.)
What to Submit
Submit one humor poem. This poem should be your own original work. You may submit the same poem simultaneously to this contest and to others, and you may submit a poem that has been published or won prizes elsewhere. (However, please do not submit a poem that has previously received recognition at Winning Writers.)
Prizes and Publication
First Prize, $2,000 cash plus a two-year gift certificate from our co-sponsor, Duotrope (a $100 value)
Second Prize, $500 cash
Third Prize, $250 cash
Ten Honorable Mentions, $100 cash each
All entries that win cash prizes will be published on the Winning Writers website and announced in the Winning Writers Newsletter (circulation 50,000+).
Length Limit
Your poem should not exceed 250 lines in length. Exclude the title and blank lines from your count.
Most Countries Eligible; English Language
Due to US government restrictions, we regret we are unable to accept entries from authors in Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus. Authors from all other countries are eligible. The poem you submit should be in English. If you have written a work in another language, you may submit an English translation (made by you). Inspired gibberish is also accepted.
Anonymous Judging
Entries are judged anonymously. Please omit your name and all identifying information from your entry. Do not include a cover letter. Please also omit any publishing credits from your entry. All the information we need is collected on our online entry form. Here is a brief video describing how we judge entries anonymously.
No Age Restriction
Poets of all ages may enter.
Privacy
Your privacy is assured. We will not sell or rent your information to third parties.
Copyright
If your entry wins any cash prize, you agree to give Winning Writers a nonexclusive license to publish your work online. This includes possible publication in one or more ebooks, with attribution. From time to time, selected winning entries may also be published in printed collections. If you win a prize and we wish to publish your work in print, we will ask you for permission to include your entry in one of these books. You may accept or decline this invitation as you choose. Your entry will not be published in print without your consent, and you retain all other rights. You are free, for example, to publish your work in print or online elsewhere, and to enter it into other contests, whether or not you win a prize in this contest.
Who Is Wergle Flomp?
Wergle Flomp is a creation of poet David Taub. Mr. Taub submitted "Flubblebop" to poetry.com's former (and not very selective) contest to see what would happen.
Assistance
If you have questions, please email them to info@winningwriters.com.
