Mr. Sheep showing off his "bespoke" T-shirt.

I’ll take writing time when I can get it!

My editor's just a bit judgy

I’m cracking my typing knuckles and dreaming up poems to the tune of birds chirping and kids sleeping! A beautiful camping weekend is the perfect time for poetry!

Roses for Mother's Day? Nope. I told my family the top gift I wanted was TIME to write my Round 2 poem. My pencil's ready for some hardcore poetry!

My authlete training regimen = frantically reading these poetry collections and attempting to absorb their brilliance! Robert Schechter’s book includes a poem he wrote during Madness 2017 (“This is Not a Children’s Poem”)!

POV of a Madness Poetry athlete... It's not easy staring at the computer all day.

Captured this earlier by random chance!

Just me in the glow of my computer light, a familiar nighttime sight during Madness! season

Eleventh Hour
Dear Jay- are you friend, fiend or foe?
Waiting to the 11th hour to let me know.
A poetry contest from my friends up north.
By midnight I must have a poem sally forth!
I gnawed my pencil. Chewed my thumb.
But no matter what - no poem would come.
I tried alliteration! Leaned into rhyme.
I’d never be done with my poem in time.
I prayed for a sonnet but got a haiku.
No way a three-line poem would do!
It had to be great. A runner up at least!
I was in a pitched battle with my poetry beast.
The pressure was on. The hour drew near.
Why was I making myself batty with fear?
I’m happy to say, I gave up my quest
I’d just send a poem and not try to be best.

The full tournament "bracket" has been revealed! Which of these 64 authletes will march their way to the championship in 2024???

Revving up! Raring to go!
Really can’t wait
To start this show!

Bracket, bracket,
Lucky me!
I’m in the Madness Poetry.
Highest seeding that I’ve seen.
Look at me—I’m sweet fifteen!

Love this unique interpretation of this year's application challenge theme of "eleven" from Katherine Rea, who takes us into the science lab with a look at Sodium, the element with the atomic number of 11. Edutainment at its finest! Welcome to Madness! Poetry 2024, Katherine!

I enjoyed this take from the perspective of the number eleven itself by Cindy Williams Schrauben, who has had some success in this event in the past and, unlike her hero Eleven here, does seem to have a competitive side herself. Welcome back, Cindy!

I don't know exactly how or where one actually grows/glues 11 different moustaches on one's face in the same place, but Jonathan Sellars seems to have enough experience in this area to have written his application poem about it. However or why, it has earned him a spot in this year's tournament! Congrats, Jonathan!

I like this expression of "eleven" (this year's application challenge theme) by Katie Reinert, introducing the 11th leader of this fictional land with his 11-letter superlative title. Welcome to the madness, Katie!

Love this application poem about elevenses by Emily Weaver. I feel like every couple of years I encounter this concept/term, learn what it is, and then promptly forget again. Thank you for writing a poem about it, Emily, because this I will remember! Great to have you back in 2024!

This application poem by J. J. Close embraces the "eleven" challenge wholeheartedly ... and whole-brained-ly! We've seen a couple of other fun math poems in this event before but the way J. J. worked his detailed (and accurate) step-by-step solution into verse is amazing. Well done!

Colleen Murphy submits another expertly metered/rhymed poem as part of her Madness! 2024 application. Always a tough competitor in this event, I'm happy to welcome back Colleen in 2024!

This application poem by Jesse Anna Bornemann hits really close to home. Great way to incorporate the concept of "eleven" into a kids' poem, as was this year's challenge!

We're gonna go ahead and lock this one in before the applicant has a chance to change her mind 🤣 ... Lill Pluta graces us with her Lament about applying to Madness again for what I believe will now be her 5th season. No takesy-backsy's, Lill! You're an authlete again!

And here's a crazy story poem written by the brilliant Heather Kinser, whose 8 prior tournament wins make her a very tough competitor. Happy to welcome you back to Madness! Poetry in 2024, Heather!

Another fun application poem submitted within mere hours of the application window opening, this one by veteran authlete Debbie Day, who has 7 Madness poetry match wins including a run all the way to the Finals in 2020. Welcome back to Madness! Poetry in 2024, Debbie!

The Madness! 2024 authlete application window opened late Friday, and our authletes have wasted no time in composing some winning poems in response to this year's application challenge, which asks applicants to lead us into our 11th season by writing a new poem that "somehow shows off its eleven-ness."
Veteran authlete Katrina Swenson submitted this poem within only a few hours of seeing the challenge! In addition to her solid Madness track record, an entry like this is certainly enough to welcome her back as an authlete in 2024! Congrats, Katrina!

Fifth Graders Loving Madness Poetry
Students in Lafayette, Indiana are loving the match ups in Madness Poetry!  "It''s a lot more fun than just writing poetry," said one fifth grader.
The first two rounds were divided among students and each picked their favorite.  Rounds 3 on will be more focused on critique of poems, and not just likability.