Tweet your finest phrases for the Hamilton Public Library's Twitter Poetry Contest

Are you the Tennyson of tweets? Do you put hashtags to Homeric good use?

Then you might want to try your texting hand at the Hamilton Public Library's Twitter Poetry Contest.

The task is simple: Wax poetic on Twitter about reading or writing and you could win Bryan Prince Bookseller gift certificates, library swag and more.

Each poem must be no longer than three tweets and must contain a reference to literacy.

"We're trying to increase our social media presence," said Laura Lukasik, manager of partnerships and outreach for the HPL, of the motivation for the contest.

With a smartphone, would-be poets can compose their works from virtually anywhere, she noted.

"You don't have to be at your desk to put your ideas down," she said, adding the idea for the contest came from the New York Public Library. 

The contest is open to people over the age of 18 and runs from April 8 to 20.

A jury will pick the best submissions. The library will announce the winners on May 14.

For full contest details, including information on how to register, click here.

Here are some early submissions: