We are pleased to release the shortlisted poems for this year’s Poet of the Year Competition.  The shortlisted poets have been invited to read their work at our online Awards Evening on Thursday 5 October, National Poetry Day. Everyone is welcome to join us for the evening.

Click here to join the Zoom event.
Meeting ID: 850 2382 5683
Passcode: 345218

The room opens at 7pm and readings begin at 7.30pm, a programme may be downloaded here.

After the readings the winners will be announced: First prize is £200, generously donated by Prof Geralyn Pinto, second prize is £100 and third is £50.

An anthology of the longlisted poems is available from the Festival Office:  Please email [email protected] to request copies.

For more information, click here.

Shortlist

Helen, remembering by Sarah Ang

dot to dot by Linda Burnett

You Cry to Your Folks That I Forced You to Carry Goalposts by Chris Campbell

Shove Your 3-for-2 Flyer by Chris Campbell

Dorchester Court, Herne Hill by Sara Davis

Elephant era by Maggie Davison

Syzygy by Lucy Dixcart

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness by Josh Ekroy

Grain orientation by Martin Cathcart Fröden       

The Prospective Density of Snow by Christopher Horton      

The Virtual by Athar C Pavis         

Iron Wood Reverie & Other Reminiscences by Mara Adamitz Scrupe                          

& for all the world by Mara Adamitz Scrupe                         

& incidentally by Mara Adamitz Scrupe                  

the tailor by Derek Sellen                                                                                   

The Oxymoron by Maxine Sinclair                                             

akin by Gary Studley                                      

April 20th 1986 : midnight, rain and fifty minute wait by Gary Studley