Criteria for Judging Excellence in Poetry Literary Merit (art and craft of aggregate work) Imagination Authenticity of voice Evidence of a strong persona Universality; Timelessness    In short, we're looking for a poet who can write clean, spare lines; use language and form in fresh ways; surprise the reader by using syntax artistically; touch the reader's imagination with keen perceptions and sharp images; touch the reader's emotions. A maker of word events is what we're looking for. Poet's Contributions Aggregate work Evident potential for growth and evolution in terms of craft Excellence Evolution of the Poet's Work Technical and artistic development as evidenced in poetry Evidence of risk, change, and artistic stamina Evidence of different styles and modes of expression Appeal to Children Evidence of student's excitement for the poetry Evidence of childlike quality ; yet poems' potential for stirring fresh insights and feelings should be apparent Although the appeal to children of a poet's work is an important consideration, the art and craft must be the primary criterion for evaluation. Return to the poety feature.