The Poetry Trail Competition is open to all and is looking for 8 poems to be displayed on the poetry trail.
The poems should draw on one or more of the following.
Poetry themes for the Polesworth Poets Trail.
Polesworth Heritage - from the Medieval Abbey, to the circle of poets, to industrial
coalmining, plus lots more in between. Heritage could also include a modern interpretation of a published poem written in
or about Polesworth.
Polesworth Place and Space - consider the Abbey Church, streets, the
river or any aspect of the village.
Contemporary Matters - consider activities and thoughts on modern living and
the state of the world, as they would appear to someone living in a village. For example it could be the joys and trials of
raising children in the 21st century, or driving to work to considering the impact of global warming on a village
rather than the world as whole. Make global matters local matters
Global Village - As Polesworth is a village with international links through
the Language College and Fair trade initiatives, consider in this ever shrinking world what would be your vision for the village
of the future. e.g. what happens on your imagined village green?
Rules and Condition of Entry.
Poems should be no more than 20 lines using any style or poetic form.
The competition is free to enter and each successful poet will receive £100 and their poem displayed on the
trail. Winning poems may also be published in an anthology or as part of collection of poetry post cards
The work must be the original work of the
author and be previously unpublished.
Poems must be typed on one side only of A4. In the main they should be written in English.
(Although a poem in a foreign language would be considered if an English translation is provided. Subject to
clarification of the accuracy of the translation both versions may be considered for inclusion on the trail.)
Entrants can enter up to 3 poems and must use a Pseudonym on the poem. They should write their details on a
separate piece of paper and enclose it in a separate sealed envelope with their pseudonym marked on the front of the envelope.
Details to be included in the sealed envelope.
Pseudonym
Real Name
Address
Contact Telephone Number
Email Address.
Entries must be postmarked on or before 31st December 2008. For acknowledgment of receipt please
enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard marked "Receipt".
All Entries should be posted to the Poetry trail project address. We cannot accept emailed entries.
Polesworth PoetS Trail.
c/o The Tithe Barn Resource Centre
Hall Court,
Bridge Street,
Polesworth,
Nr Tamworth, Staffs,
B78 1DT .
The selected Poets will be contacted directly
and a list of winners will be published in the New Year.
Competition winners will be invited to attend
an unveiling ceremony for their poem and also to read their winning poem plus any other poems at an event to be held in Polesworth
in 2009.
Copyright will remain with the poet but
the PPST reserve the right to publish the poem in paper, electronic forms and as an installation on the trail as part of the
promotion of the trail.
The poems to be included on the trail
will be determined by a panel of three judges.
Entry into the competition implies acceptance of the above conditions.
The Judges.
Jane Holland - Warwickshire Poet Laureate 2007 - 2008 - she has published two collections of poetry, her latest collection Boudica
an Co is published by Salt Publishing. Jane is a leading light in the promotion of poetry performance and maintains the blog
Poets of Fire. She is also the editor of Horizon Review.
Malcolm Dewhirst - is a poet and writer who has had poems and
short stories published in many magazines, anthologies and on the web. He has also produced work for BBC radio, had plays
performed at the Brewhouse in Burton on Trent and wrote the Heritage and Church guides for North Warwickshire Borough Council.
He also performs poetry with the Runaway Poets who released their CD "Inky Tongues" in 2008.
He runs poetry and creative writing workshops and is the project manager for the PPST project.
Julie Talbot - Local librarian who provides the peoples vote - she runs the poetry on loan scheme at Polesworth Library.
