East Coker Poetry Competition 2019

The Poetic Highway Code

This year, I hope each entry will consist of two poems – a very short poem such as a Haiku or Limerick and a second poem which can be whatever length or style you like.

It would be good if at least one of the two poems could link in some way with a particular road sign, but this is not obligatory.

Entry is free and the prizes (as always) will be priceless !

The deadline for entries is 1st October 2019

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East Coker Poetry Competition 2018

Launched at our May meeting the Competition theme this year was 'colours'

There were three equal winners announced at the competition meeting on 30th October by our Judge, artist Jenny Cuthbert :-

Chris Salberg with On the Madonna and Child by Bernardo Daddi, 1348

Diane Summer with The Art of Man

Ama Bolton with Yellow Ochre

Here are the winning entries:-

On the Madonna and Child by Bernardo Daddi, 1348 

Study this Madonna
with the Christ-child in her 
arms — he in mourning white 
with gold and, baby-like, 
eyes on her. It is she 
who commands, a lady 
cloaked in the deepest blue, 
virginal, holy hue — 
a blue from beyond where 
the sea meets the sky. There 
the sea plunges deepest 
and mountains soar highest. 
She, the heavenly queen, 
royal in ultramarine. 

Chris Salberg

The Art of Man

Burnt Umber
Fired earth
Ancient land
Powder blown
Human hand
Immortalised

Burnt Umber
Pigment ground
Beaten yolk
Pearl earring
Vermeer’s stroke
Illuminates

Burnt Umber
Sombre tone
Shadows cast
Rembrandt ages
Paint to last
For centuries

Burnt Umber
Constant dark
Women weep
Picasso cubes
Conflict deep
Humans cracking

All at War
Crust fracking
Plastic seas
Beyond Our
Memories
Burnt Umber marks.

Diane Summer

Yellow Ochre

handprint on the rock

I was here

Ama Bolton