Poetry-on-Demand Valentine's Day Fundraiser for Polyphony Lit

Support teen literary enrichment by commissioning a personalized poem! For a minimum donation of $10, you’ll receive a custom poem created by one of our talented student writers. Your donation helps fund scholarships, apprenticeships, and the publication of student work.

How Does It Work?

Donate:
- Minimal price for digital poem: $10
- Minimal price for hard-copy poem typed on a vintage typewriter on archival paper: $30
- Proceeds support our mission of literary enrichment for teens worldwide.
Give Us Details for Your Poem Commission:
During the donation process, you’ll be prompted to leave a message. This is where you can:
- Submit a prompt: a theme, a special person, a memory, an occasion.
- Add detail(s) that will make the poem feel personal. (see examples below)
- If you wish to keep your prompt and order private, after you write your poem commission prompt in the message box, click "hide my name or amount from public view."
Receive Your Poem
- Digital poems will be emailed to you by February 13th as a .JPG file. This format can be easily printed or shared on social media.
- Hard copy poems will take up to two weeks plus shipping time, via first-class mail.

Poem Prompt Examples

A poem about someone who never met a stranger he didn’t like to engage with and is the last to leave every party.

Please write a poem about our loving, old, lumpy, grouch, and occasionally bitey dog, Milo.

Disclaimer

Our team of poets creates all poems using only their creativity—no AI involved.

Our poets begin writing on January 25th 2026 so if you commission a poem prior to this date, your poem will arrive within 2 weeks (plus shipping time, if hard copy) after January 25th 2026.

Hard copy poems are shipped within the U.S. and the $30 price already covers shipping. If you are located outside the U.S. please email info@polyphonylit.org to inquire about shipping rates based on your location. Mailing internationally may result in different pricing for a hard copy poem.

Deadline

Regular commissions are open until February 7th 2025. If you miss the deadline, please email info@polyphonylit.org to request a specialized commission.

Tax-Exempt

Polyphony Lit is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.

Poetry-on-Demand Valentine's Day Marathon, Winter 2026