Loudoun County Public Library Announces Poetry Winners
Written by Emerson Leger
Loudoun County Public Library held its annual Poetry Contest this spring, announcing the winners on June 12. The award ceremony was held at Sterling Library, where cash prizes were presented for first ($100) and second place ($50). The contest accepted entries from students and adults, with winners for each age group in three different categories: free verse, poems that rhymed, and spoken word.
Yukta Thirumalai, a rising junior at Briar Woods High School, won the free verse category with her poem titled, “Post Me Into Memory.” The inspiration came from today’s social media culture, where people post to feel more relevant, and how it has become a sensitive topic. Thirumalai felt she could offer her own perspective through poetry.
“Writing is my preferred mode to express my thoughts and feelings,” Thirumalai says. “I have been writing for as long as I can remember, whether it was fantasy short stories scrawled on paper or meaningful poetry to express my innermost thoughts.”
She saw the Poetry Contest as a way to further develop as a writer.
“I decided to enter into the Poetry Contest because it sounded like a good opportunity to share some of my work and also have experts critique my writing,” Thirumalai explains.
While some poems come from real-world issues, others are born in the classroom. Nathan Nocon, a rising senior at Woodgrove High School, wrote his poem for an end-of-year project in his AP English class. The contest and project had the same guidelines, so he decided to enter, not expecting much. His poem, “Anxiety,” won the spoken word category.
“I wanted to encompass some of the feelings and emotions that are felt from someone who struggles with it when they are lying awake in bed, when they can’t think of anything else because of it,” Nocon says.
It was both Thirumalai and Nocon’s first time submitting to the contest. They both would love to continue writing in college and in addition to their future careers.
“I have always loved LCPL and have visited their libraries since I was little. Everyone there at the libraries is awesome, and I am thankful to LCPL and everyone who runs the contest for their support of this contest!” Nocon shares. ML
Posted on: July 2, 2025