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Poet of the Year: Long and short lists revealed!

After many weeks of reading, reviewing, deliberating and discussing the record number of entries received for this year’s competition, the long and short- listed poems have been decided and we are delighted to list the poets and titles below. 

The long-listed poems will be published in our annual anthology which may be purchased soon from the Festival Office for £5 each.  The shortlisted poems are eligible for the Poet of the Year Award, along with second and third places.

Regrettably, we are unable to hold an Awards Evening this year so the winning poem and the runners up, will be announced on National Poetry Day, 1 October, on the Festival website. Winning poets will also have the opportunity to record a reading of their works, which will be shared on the Festival’s YouTube channel.

Poetry Anthologies can now be purchased from the Festival office for £5. Please contact Tina to purchase by email at [email protected] or by calling 01227 452853.

Long Listed Poems

An Unknown Female Hare Goddess – Penny Blackburn

AD(H)D: what’s in a name? – Freya Carter

Accent – Freya Carter

Remembrance – A C Clarke

The Yellow Room – Tina Cole

Mount Nyiragongo – Michaela Coplen

The Gift of Mrs Ann Thwaytes, 1839 – Charlotte Cornell

How My Sister Escaped the Man O’War – Charlotte Cornell

Maradona’s Last Act – Miguel Cullen

Azahár And The Orange – Miguel Cullen

Reflections of a Sanctuary – Bill Dodd

The Queens of Tuam – Rory Duffy

Excision….. – Roger Elkin

When I Said I Promise to Follow You All The Days of My Life I Wasn’t Telling A Lie – Lesley-Anne Evans

Snowflake – Michael Fitzgerald

Long days – Michael Fitzgerald

In Case It Comes Back – Tessa Foley

Paper Patterns – Maggie Harris

I was young when I left. She still says – Alina Imykshenova

Cranford Park  – Christopher M James

Is it the dogs or is it him? – Christopher M James

A Daughter Leaving – Mike Pullman

Googling a Calendar in Ukrainian – Greta Ross

Cold tea’s spring shadow – David Simpson

Moonlight in Venice – Mary Ann Smith

The Long Crack in My Body Braids into a Net – Ojo Taiye

How Tall is Truth? – Ojo Taiye

That Whole Year, I Spent Lunch on a Bench in A Public Train – Ojo Taiye

Outside the Trees Flame – Ojo Taiye

A Winter Leaf – Isobel Thrilling

Isle of Grain – Aidan Tulloch

Shortlisted Poems

An Unknown Female Hare Goddess – Penny Blackburn

Accent – Freya Carter

The Yellow Room – Tina Cole

Mount Nyiragongo – Michaela Coplen

The Gift of Mrs Ann Thwaytes, 1839 – Charlotte Cornell

How My Sister Escaped the Man O’War – Charlotte Cornell

Azahár And The Orange – Miguel Cullen

The Queens of Tuam – Rory Duffy

In Case It Comes Back – Tessa Foley

I was young when I left. She still says – Alina Imykshenova

Cold tea’s spring shadow – David Simpson

Moonlight in Venice – Mary Ann Smith

The Long Crack in My Body Braids into a Net – Ojo Taiye

How Tall is Truth? – Ojo Taiye

That Whole Year, I Spent Lunch on a Bench in A Public Train – Ojo Taiye

Many congratulations to all the long and short-listed poets. We look forward to receiving everyone’s entries for the Poet of the Year Competition 2021; watch the Festival website for details in the New Year.