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Math Poetry

Poetry is about as ancient as mathematics in human culture. Its language can be whimsical, somber, joyful, beautiful, concise, thought-provoking, and inspirational. We invite you to think and write about mathematics in this unique form of expression. Poems can be limericks, sonnets, haiku, acrostics, based on the Fibonacci sequence, or even square stanzas such as JoAnne Growney's poem Square Math Problem in which the number of syllables per line equals the number of lines. Imagine and express yourself through mathematical poetry!

2024 Math Poetry poster

Congratulations to the 2024 Math Poetry Contest winners!

“An Intriguing Mystery” by Jera Feem V. Forro,  University of the Philippines Visayas Iloilo City High School               

“Meditation on Mathematics” by Chelsea Zhu, Richard Montgomery High School

"Infinity Is Known by Many Names" by Jasmin Mundi, American University

 

Order the 2024 Math Poetry poster for your office or classroom today.
A limited supply of the 2023 Math Poetry poster remains – order yours today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024 Math Poetry Contest Honorable Mentions

  • College Entrants
  • Mary Gutierrez, “The Music of the Spheres,” University of Dallas
  • Charlie Kiley, “Unsolved,” University of Cincinnati
  • Emilynne Newsom, “Tolerance,”  Harvey Mudd College

  • Leif Schaumann , “Thue-Morse Turtle Words,” Kenyon College

High School Entrants
João Pedro Gasparian, “Twenty-One Fish in a Pond,” Trinity School

Emma Zhang, “Self Portrait as Existential Calculus,” Branham High School

 
 
Middle School Entrants
Dhanin Bhardwaj, “Odd and Even Days” Oberoi International School JVLR

Maya Mourshed, “The Secret Lives of Numbers,”  Francis Scott Key Middle School

Adya Seker, “Zero,” Kennedy Middle School

 

 

The 2025 Math Poetry contest will open in late November 2024.  Email Math-Poetry or provide your email so we can stay in touch!

Check out the 2023 Math Poetry Winners!

infinity, River Oxenreider (Ohio State University), college student entry
Sum of Us,  Angela Zhou (International Academy East), high school student entry
Forest of Numbers, Miranda Jedlinski (Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory for the Arts), middle school student entry

2023 Math Poetry Contest Honorable Mentions

  • College Entrants
  • Rye Ledford, University of Missouri - Kansas City
  • Ramie Thompson, Wofford College
  • Lena Zhang, The Ohio State University
  • High School Entrants
  • Melanie Acosta, Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory for the Arts
  • Kara Lee, Stanford Online High School
  • Marina Matson, Brookfield Academy
  • Heer Patel, Maggie L Walker Governors’ School
  • Gabrielle Tong, Milpitas High School
  • Middle School Entrants
  • Derek Aoki, Bullis Charter School
  • Jayce Brown, Edmonds Heights
  • Gregory Estrin, Lang Ranch Elementary
 

2020 AMS Math Poetry Contest

 
In fall 2019 the AMS conducted a Math Poetry Contest contest for Colorado middle school, high school, and undergraduate students in connection with the 2020 Joint Mathematics Meetings in Denver. The winners will read their poems during Mathemati-Con, the day of free events open to the public, Saturday, January 18.
The three winning poems in the 2020 AMS Math Poetry Contest are:

2019 AMS Math Poetry Contest

 

The winners of the 2019 Math Poetry Contests read their work at the 2019 Joint Mathematics Meetings, January 16-19, 2019 in the Baltimore Convention Center. The three winning poems in the 2019 AMS Math Poetry Contest were:
 
 
Congratulations to all three!

Resources for exploring math and poetry