Mayor's Poetry Competition Results

Poetry prizes presented in the parlour

Last Friday, 25th March, poets from Enfield and from overseas gathered in the Mayor's Parlour to find out who had won the first Enfield Mayor's Poetry Competition.

In a crowded room, judge and celebrated poet, Mario Petrucci, announced the winners.

From an exceptionally strong field the winner of the top prize of £500 was Christopher North for his poem 'Photographer' - a stark, strong piece about photo journalism, almost developing a picture as the poem progresses.

The runner up was Dan Mussett with his poem 'A Love Song for Moths' - an elegant poem that describes in intricate detail a fluttering world of the moths. Dan received £200.

Third prize went to Kaye Lee for her rugged and tragic poem 'Loch Ard Gorge'. This poem takes a sea disaster as its theme and with powerful language we can feel the storm and its aftermath. Kaye received £100.

Nicholas McKinnon was the winner of the special £50 Enfield Prize for his two poems 'Library Green' and 'Freezywater'.

In his summary, Mario Petrucci said, ""It's remarkable for the first year of a competition to attract over 600 entries. We've had interest from all over Britain , with 70 from Enfield and others from Greece , Holland , Australia , USA and South India . The winner, Christopher North, flew in from Spain to receive his prize.

"Judging has been a considerable task given the volume of entries and the terrific range of theme; I was especially pleased to see a growing concern for the environment. Poets, in significant numbers, are now voicing significant words on this crucial subject.

"But whatever the theme, however big or small, a judge must look to the quality of language in a poem. Ultimately, poems must generate something fresh and profound in the reader through their sound and music - when that happens, language itself becomes the poem's 'occasion'.

"Thanks must go to Anthony Fisher of the local Salisbury poets, for his thorough and sensitive work in sifting through the entries. All told, this has been a superb competition, with a tremendous community feel to it. I'm sure it will return bigger and leaner - but not meaner!"

Mayor, Cllr Jayne Buckland, presented all the prizes and thanked the sponsors, Anthony Fisher of Fisher Research and LondonWaste Eco Park . 

She said, "This competition has been a great success and it is something that we shall repeat next year. It has raised £1500 for the Mayor's Charity fund and given a boost to our local poets as well as going global. It has also given a great deal of pleasure to people who entered."