Some poems help us understand our lives; others may simply distract or entertain us. Everyone can try writing poetry. Maybe you can too.
Founded in 2006 to mark the centenary of the former Poet Laureate John Betjeman’s birth, the Betjeman Poetry Prize attracts around 3,000 entries per year from across the UK. The competition aims to foster creativity in young people whilst discovering and encouraging the next generation of British poets. We also procure funding to send as many professional poets as we can to visit pupils in schools.
The 2015 Betjeman Poetry Prize is now open. The deadline for all poems is midnight on 31st July.
We are thrilled to announce that this year’s judges are.... drum roll... the poet A.F. HARROLD and the children’s author LAUREN CHILD!
Connection to place is ever present in John Betjeman’s poetry. This is why entrants are invited to write a poem on the theme of ‘place’. (See Tips for Young Poets)
The winning poet receives £1000 (£500 for the poet and £500 for their school or local library). Further prizes for the runners up and highly commended entrants. All prize winners are invited to an awards ceremony at St Pancras station, on National Poetry Day, 8th October 2015, where they will meet the judges and read their poems out loud.
You can enter by post or online. For BPP competition rules and entry forms, click here.
Good luck!
Rhossili Triptych:
Sea, Sand, Sky
Poem: I
The Sea refuses to be a Sonnet
In daytime the sea is in love with the sky; each wave
Is reaching out to touch its blue-grey face
The sea smooths gold in a blink and leaves it cold
On the sand as a piece of twisted wood.
The sea eats the ugliness of aeroplanes
And spits out gannets, albatrosses, gulls
The sea reads the words written on the beach
And sings them to the sky, who rains them down
On the rolling waves in high disdain.
At night the sea blows breath of fire and lights
The yellow moon, then eats its supper off it.
It cries over life and the living, embraces the dead.
No poet can tame it; it will not be a sonnet.
by Helen Woods, aged 13
2014 Winner
