Sometimes, in some places, science and poetry unite. When these seemingly unlike things come together, it’s like the confluence of fresh and salt water in an estuary, forming a space entirely new, rich, and nuanced.
The Estuary Program’s annual poetry contest, A National Treasure in Words, is such a place. This year, we are asking writers to create free verse poems about the scientific issues and data discussed in our 2017 State of the Bay report.
When you open the report, you might be inspired by the migration patterns of brant geese, the flow of creeks from the hills down into the bay, the protection of rare coastal habitats, or the importance of cool clear waters for steelhead.
You might be inspired by the beautiful illustration of an underwater eelgrass bed and the many animals it supports.
You might want to write about our tireless volunteers, who get their boots muddy and keep their minds busy, searching for bugs and assessing habitat conditions in our local creeks.
We invite you to open the State of the Bay report and see what strikes you.
We are also accepting haiku about the estuary and watershed. The contest is open now and closes at 11:59 p.m. on April 30. For the complete contest details, visit our Poetry Contest site at MBNEP.org/poetry2017.
You can also get inspired by coming to one of our many State of the Bay activities and exploring the estuary through science. Find the schedule at MBNEP.org/state-of-the-bay. Offerings include hikes, walks, talks, and interactive presentations.