Poetry’s winning ways
9 March 2011
A leading Merseyside poet has paid tribute to the winners of a
competition to find the best new verse in Knowsley.
The competition was organised by Knowsley Libraries and was
launched on National Poetry day in October.
Poet Sarah McLennan presented the winners with their prizes at a
ceremony in Huyton Gallery on World Book Day.
“It was difficult to judge," said Sarah, who’s had several poems
published and lectures in Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores
University and the Open University.
"A wide range of poems were submitted - rhyming and free verse -
covering all the subjects under the sun.
“It’s good to see so many people enthusiastic about creative
writing – poetry in particular.”
Andrew Wilson, who’s from Kirkby, was the winner in the adult
category, with his poem “Tapestry”, about trying to stitch the
flight of a bumble bee.
The poem ends: “Fly fated bee from hive to splendid flower, to
darn the distances of life’s weave of work and death and all that’s
in between.”
Shannon Doyle, who is 15 and from Prescot, won first prize in
the teenage section with her poem “Home is where the heart is”.
Her poem ends: “My home is not a lime green house near the
station or on the bend. My home is with acquaintances, family and
friends, all those who mean so much to me. I have a welcome mat
waiting just for you.”
Zarah Ashraf and Jordan Quinn, who are 10 and from Kirkby, were
joint winners of the under 12s category with “The Spooky”.
Their poem begins: “When I moved to my new house I was scared to
death. I wondered, is there a threat? Some people say that this
town was a spooky town. Those people have made me frown."
Everybody who entered the poetry competition was given a free
copy of the book The Unforgotten Coat by Merseyside author Frank
Cottrell Boyce which was written for the Our Reads project that
encourages people to read more.