very important poetry contest

GotPoetry is seeking submissions for a chapbook length book of poetry about violence, survival and hope. The book, Beth's Legacy, will be published in memory of Elizabeth Spence Cann of Norton, MA, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, and all proceeds will benefit Brittney and Danielle Cann, her daughters, who were critically injured in the attack that killed their mother.

Beth's Legacy

On the morning of August 27, 2007, Elizabeth Spence Cann was found shot to death in her own bed. Two of her daughters, 12 year old Brittney and 15 year old Danielle, were found on the floor of the hallway leading into her room. Both girls had been shot in the head and left for dead. The shooter, Beth's estranged boyfriend, took his own life early that morning.By some miracle, both Danielle and Brittney survived the senseless attack, but both face a long, long road to recovery. A third daughter, their oldest sister Amanda, was not home at the time. She faces a future of questions and grief.The girls are a part of Gotpoetry's extended family.

Beth was the niece of Gotpoetry staffer Deb Powers, and deeply loved cousin of regular member and contributor Cara Powers. In the week that followed the shooting, the Gotpoetry community reacted to the news with an outpouring of sympathy, love and support for which the family is extremely grateful. Many also privately asked if there was something more, something tangible, that they could do to show their support for the family and the injured girls. There is.

Gotpoetry is seeking submissions of poetry for a chapbook length anthology to be called "Beth's Legacy". We're especially seeking poems that speak to surviving loss, recovering from violence and ending domestic abuse. There is no restriction on form or length. All styles of poetry are welcome, though poems of less than 60 lines will be more likely to be accepted.The selection committee for Beth's Legacy will include the staff of Gotpoetry and representatives of Beth Cann's family.

The finished book will be available for purchase through Gotpoetry and a variety of other outlets, with all proceeds from the sale contributed to the Cann Family Hope Fund set up for the support and aid of Brittney and Danielle by Beth's church in Norton, MA.

Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2007.
Submit up to three poems for consideration in the body of an email to :bethslegacy@onlythebest.info by September 30.

Please submit only original poetry to which you hold the copyright.Because the book is a fund raiser, we can not pay for the poems accepted, but we will make the book available for download to any poet whose work appears in Beth's Legacy. Your submission to Beth's Legacy grants to us one-time print publication rights to your submitted work. You retain all other rights to your work.

If you would like to make a donation directly to the fund, you can do that by sending your donation to:

Danielle and Brittany Cann Hope Fund
Bank of America
574 Foundry Street
South Easton, MA 02375