This book contains the winning and commended poems from the VERVE Poetry Festival 2024 Eco-Poetry competition judged, selected and introduced by Helen Mort.

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Featuring poems from winners Oli Isaac, Ben Verinder & Sophia Argyris

Commended poets, Corinna Board – Hannah Burrows – Ger Duffy – Lily Dyu – Elizabeth Gibson – Roger Hare – Tim Kiely – Caroline Maldonado – Agata Maslowska – Isabella Mead – Lesley Quayle – Tom Sastry – Rachit Sharma – Harry Slater – Sue Spiers – Alison Tanik – Milena Williamson.

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AND 10 SELECTED 11-17 YEAROLD POETS: Dominic Anaya Gulaya – Japmeh Gujral – Emily Hunt – Kai Lee – Lilly Prince – Disha Ramesh – Aneesha Sandhu – Isabelle Wei – Evie Williams – Laurie Wiseman.  

2023, Judge Kim Moore was keen to see what we had in the way of PROTEST poetry.

 

We knew there was some anger out there, but perhaps not quite how all pervasive it had become, how strong the sense of injustice is in the poetry community, whether it focussed on genders issues, eco-protest, anti-war or in the case of the winner, entire political systems. 
 

1st Prize:
Ovation by Wendelin Law

2nd Prize:
In The Pines by Miranda Lynn Barnes

3rd Prize:
When They Ask For Proof Casey Jarrin​​

2022: The theme of our competition was ‘Beginnings’ with judge Caroline Bird!

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With every beginning there is also an end, and not all that is new is for the best.

 

We hoped poems would reflect the pause the pandemic forced upon us. We hoped they would be a celebration of the opportunities this brief pause might have given. But the pandemic was harrowing for many, with loved ones lost, careers ended, and financial struggles that didn't disappear with a vaccine. 

 

1st Prize
Eden the Robot Gardener Ben Rhys Palmer

2nd Prize
Cruelty Luke Palmer

3rd Prize
When I Marry a White Man Helen Quah 

2020 festival, the theme for our competition was Diversity judged by Andrew McMillan.

 

The feeling was fairly unanimous that while diversity should be celebrated, it wasn’t yet time to ignore the struggles and misunderstandings that often surround diverse approaches to love and life.

 

These poems also carried a determination to communicate the frustrations as well as the positives of varied approaches to living and ways of being, and a quest to create understanding and tolerance not yet over. 

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1st Prize:
The Dogs by Eleanor Penny

2nd Prize:
Gaylord by Jack Parlett

3rd Prize:
How To Wheel by Karl Knights 

The theme of our 2019 competition was Community, judged by Joelle Taylor.

 

‘Closed Gates or Open Arms?’ stands as a testament to a time of uncertainty that is with us still.

 

Amy Acre, Jack Emsden and Oliver Fox were our three winners.

 

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The theme for our 2017 competition was ‘City’. We figured that a city centre poetry festival needs city poems!

 

We were inundated with entries of an amazingly high standard, giving the competition judge, Luke Kennard, a very tough task indeed. In the end, three winners were chosen: Consuela Marshall, Jacqueline Saphra and Claire Trévien.

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These three poets, along with 21 commended poets, contributed to an anthology published by Verve Poetry Press in 2018 titled It All Radiates Outwards.