Poetry Judge's Comments - Chapter One Promotions

It has been my pleasure to read the poems sent in by so many people to the Chapter One Promotions Poetry Competition.  The standard and subject matter varied widely – you might say wildly!  There was a lot of grumbling, about youth culture, the state of society and politicians mainly.  All the usual triggers that lead to the writing of poems were there too: death, the passing of time, seasons, nature, memories, family.  The winning poem, Catechism 3, is an example of this harking back to put us more firmly in the present. “Grandma’s kitchen was as blue/ As the water/ As the sky/ As the lady”.  Llyn Brenig places us gently beside the water, “Sails are drifting languidly, sky-trawling for wind.”  The water in Wasteland isn’t so soothing: “The lochs a necklace of sea-bags….my heart a fist of moss.” 

I can honestly say that almost all of the poems started off well.  The initial idea or image was strong.  But far too many came adrift due to poor grammar, vocabulary or formatting.  I can’t urge you budding poets enough to find readers and get feedback before sending your poems in.  It broke my heart to have to reject a poem because it was short of a final draft.

But it’s good to know the instinct is alive!  When we’re moved or grieving or anxious or overjoyed, putting pen to paper is the ideal way of coping.  I sincerely hope you all keep it up, and, to inspire your efforts, join a workshop, start a group, go to readings, and most importantly, READ LOTS OF POETRY!  It’s important to know where your work sits in the contemporary scene.  Get anthologies and find poets who speak to you, then get their individual collections.  Being a poet is about studying: sharp observation of the world around you, the poets who have gone before and those who are writing now.

Good luck and good words to all of you.

Linda Lee Welch
Sheffield

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