poiesis [poi·e·sis] noun |plural poieses \ -ˌsēz \
(Philosophy, chiefly Greek)
The act of making, creating, or bringing forth; production or creation, especially as a mode of artistic or poetic expression.
From Greek ποίησις (poíēsis), from ποιεῖν (poiein), meaning "to make, to create".
(Aesthetics/Literature)
A process in which something new and meaningful comes into being through imagination, craftsmanship, or expression—especially the creative act of writing poetry.
The Poiesis Poetry Competition is a literary initiative dedicated to re-igniting the love of poetry and writing among students in grades 7 to 12 from participating schools. The competition seeks to provide a space where young writers can engage with language outside the context of grades or formal assessment.
Poiesis values poems that are attentive rather than ornamental, sincere rather than spectacular, and exploratory rather than perfected. Through a blind judging process, the competition affirms poetry as an act of making meaning – an expression of curiosity, reflection, and human experience.
The word poiesis comes from the Greek verb ποιεῖν (poiein), meaning “to make” or “to bring into existence.” Philosophically, poiesis refers not to output, but to the moment of creation itself.
Within this competition, poiesis represents:
Writing as an act of inquiry and exploration
Poetry as a space for sustained attention and care
Creation is understood as a process rather than a finished product
Poiesis is grounded in the belief that many writers lose their love of poetry through pressure, comparison, grading or fear of error. This competition seeks to return poetry to its most human function: making sense of existence and experience through language.