Entries continue to pour in for the LeBron James Poetry Contest, which closes tonight. So far, 1,000 entries have been received and ESPN, the New Yorker and NPR are covering the contest’organized”by the Miami Herald and O, Miami: A Contemporary Poetry Festival, a Knight Foundation grantee.

What do you have to say?

Are you so happy (or depressed) that LeBron James has arrived in Miami that you can’t find the words? Find the words quickly, before the 6 p.m. deadline. The poem must be six lines or less to welcome (or not) James’ arrival in Miami in time for the season opener Oct. 26 at Boston. To submit, click here and follow the directions

Rules

• Poem must commemorate the arrival of LeBron James to Miami.
• The poem can utilize any poetic form (haiku, rhyming couplets, limerick, free verse, etc.) but it cannot exceed six lines (LeBron’s jersey is #6).
• No limit to the number of poems you can submit.
• The entry must be received by Friday, October 22 at 6 p.m.
• Employees of WLRN, the Miami Herald and the Miami Poetry Collective are not eligible.
• Deadline is Friday, October 22 at 6 p.m.

Judging & Victory Details

• P. Scott Cunningham, director of O, Miami: A city-wide poetry festival debuting in April 2011, will pick six finalists. The winning entry will be chosen by a special guest judge TBA.
• The six finalists (and the guest judge) will be announced on Tuesday, October 26 on the WLRN Miami Herald News,’as well as the Miami Herald online and social media.
• The winner will read his/her poem on air and will receive two complimentary tickets to the finale event of O, Miami: A Contemporary Poetry Festival at the brand-new, Frank Gehry-designed New World Symphony Campus on Miami Beach.

Photo of LeBron James is courtesy of the Miami Heat.