Paul Richmond will be the voice of poetic experience when he serves as the western part of the state’s representative to the Massachusetts Poetry Olimpics, an annual competition for bards across the commonwealth.

After participating in last year’s inaugural contest, the Wendell resident was tapped by the founder to serve as the regional lead for poets spanning from the Worcester area to the New York border.

“In order to have a democracy, people need to have their voices and feel free to speak their voices,” he told the Greenfield Recorder. “Poetry and stories … allow people to think about things they might not necessarily agree with.”

The Massachusetts Poetry Olimpics (MAPO) divides the state into three regions — western, central and eastern. Poets compete in individual and team competitions in four events in as many months: Elegy May, Villanelle June, Sonnet July and Free Verse August. Each poet is encouraged to submit to every category.

Interested scribes living in the western Massachusetts district should submit their work to Richmond, via paul@humanerrorpublishing.com. Submissions are open the month the particular event is held. Participants must register (tinyurl.com/MAPO2026) by April 30.

Richmond said last year’s competition enabled him to meet poets from every corner of the state.

“It was kind of nice,” he said.

Last year, Richmond submitted his poem “Revolution” for Free Verse August. It was named a “poem of importance.”

The MAPO is the brainchild of Springfield resident Lawrence Green, who said he selected Richmond as the Western Massachusetts representative due to his ties to the local poetry community.

“I admire him greatly,” Green said.

Green conceived the idea for the MAPO to help take his mind off of the everyday stress he experienced while his son was battling liver cancer at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has always enjoyed the thrill of competition and used to pretend to be in the Olympics with neighborhood kids growing up, though he was always more of an artist than an athlete. He started pitching the MAPO idea and it took off.

Connolly Ryan, part of Team Western Massachusetts, was the 2025 Top Poet. CONTRIBUTED

“It got so many people that I was throwing it out to excited,” Green recalled. “I said, ‘Let’s go.’”

A Buffalo native and military veteran, Green credits poetry as a grounding force that helped him navigate the challenges of his service.

“It basically saved my life, to be honest,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than war, and I’m a big advocate for peace.”

He mentioned this state’s rich history of poetic excellence, having fostered the talents of Elizabeth Bishop, W. E. B. Du Bois and E.E. Cummings. He said he hopes to help reignite the state’s nurturing of wordsmiths.

The competition’s participants will remain anonymous, as will the judges — with one from each district. All stages of the competition will be broadcast by regional studios. Event winners will be presented with medals at a ceremony that will be broadcast live in September.

Richmond, who has been writing poetry for at least 25 years and has published nine books, said last year’s ceremony was held in Fitchburg and another mid-state location is being sought this year. Awards will be given to individuals, as well as to regional teams based on cumulative points.

More information is available at: www.massachusettspoetryolimpics.com/