Contest Judge: Rod Carlos Rodriguez

First Prize: $250

Second Prize: $150

Third Prize: $100

For the Rod Carlos Rodriguez Prize, submit your best poems on the theme of "pockets." 

Yes, pockets like those sewn into pants or bags or suitcases, but also pockets in any sense of the word. Pockets as a 

hollow in the earth or the cavities of a billiard table. Pockets of ore or gold. Pockets of time. Pockets as myth or

memory. Wax poetic on pockets of people or earth as a pocket of space. Consider pockets as

containers. Envelopes or seed pods. The warm pouch of a mama kangaroo. Pockets as keepers of

lint and frogs and hidden treasures. Interpret the theme broadly.

Submit up to three poems of any length and in any form, including hybrid forms, all in one document.  Left justify your poems in Times New Roman 12 pt. font, single spaced.  Please do not use any form of special formatting inside your document and do not include the submitter's name anywhere within the document or in the title, as submissions will be read blindly by the contest judge. 

We regret that we are unable to read simultaneous submissions.

Deadline for submission is August 1, 2026.

Winners will be announced and all accepted poems will be published in the fws: international journal of literature & art "pockets" issue (forthcoming, Fall 2026). We aim to publish the issue in early September.  Please do not query the status of your submission unless you have not received a note from us by Oct. 31, 2026.

Write to one of the free prompts provided under the category "Writer's Idea Box" on fws. 

Submit 1-3 poems or 1,000 words.  Poetry, CNF, micro-fiction, memoir will be considered.  Submit one file that includes all submissions. Please avoid using embellished formatting.  Use Times New Roman 12pt. font, left justified. Please indicate to which prompt your submission was written.

Please note: Only work that has been written  to a Writer's Idea Box prompt will be considered.  Do not submit other work here.