Poetry of the Hunt

This Challenge is part of the Vocal+ Fall Poetry Series. Learn more

The Prompt

Every hunt is a story. The chase, the near miss, the moment of capture, or the emptiness of coming back with nothing. What we pursue says as much as how we pursue it, and the outcome can change us either way.

Your poem might take the shape of an actual hunt through forest or field, or it might live in metaphor—a search for love, for meaning, for something lost. Focus on the tension between seeking and finding, the pull between desire and fulfillment.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

• A poem (any style or structure is welcome)
• Between 100 and 500 words.
• Submitted to the Poets community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• 5 Winners: $200 each
• 15 Runners-up: $15 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $5 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 100 and 500 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Poetry of the Hunt Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win, you must be over the age of 13 and reside in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.