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Young Poets Competition
Poem on a Recyclable Object
Taunton’s Fire River Poets, in partnership with Brendon Books, LAMP Magazine, Somerset
Literacy Network, Resources for Learning and The Brewhouse Theatre invite young poets to
enter their Young Poets Competition as part of the Taunton Live festival in July.
The competition (sponsored by Viridor) will be judged by members of the
Fire River Poets. The theme is Poem on a Recyclable Object.
There is no entry fee.
Entrants are asked to write a poem which can, if selected for a prize, be written on, or
displayed on, a recyclable object e.g. a cornflake packet or a recyclable shopping bag and
which relates in some way to the object itself. The poem may be about recycling directly; it
could perhaps ‘recycle’ words from packaging as part of the poem; or it could simply relate to
the object, for example a poem in the voice of the last, lonely cornflake in the box. Poems
need not rhyme – indeed poems might be more effective without rhyme unless children are
very skilled at this.
Each prize-winner will receive a book token and be invited to attend a Poetry Slam at
Dillington House on 23rd June organised by Somerset Literacy Network where they will meet
award-winning children’s poet, Tony Mitton, and have the opportunity to perform their poem.
Prizewinning poems will also be published in LAMP magazine with biographies of each poet.
All prize-winning and commended poets will be invited to an award ceremony on the evening
of Thursday 23rd July at the Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton, where the winning poems will be
displayed and the prize winning poets can give a reading of their work.
For full competition rules and application form, see the attached sheet.
TAUNTON LIVE 2015 COMPETITION RULES
1. There are three categories: age 7-9, age 10-12, age 13-16.
2. Entrants must have the approval of a parent, carer or teacher who gives their details and can be
contacted should the poet win a prize.
3. Poems must be the original, unaided work of the poet entering.
4. Poems must be between 10 and 30 lines excluding the title.
5. There can be only one entry per poet.
6. Poets must keep a second copy of the poem submitted which they can bring to the award ceremony if
invited.
7. Poems must be submitted on A4 paper and may be hand-written or word processed.
8. If selected for a prize, poets will be asked to bring their poem written on, or affixed to, a recyclable
object (e.g. packet or tin) when they come to the award ceremony.
9. The competition will be judged by members of Fire River Poets. The judges’ decisions will be final and
no correspondence will be entered into about these decisions.
10. Entries must be submitted by Friday 22nd May. Winners will be contacted by Monday 8th June.
11. Prize-winners in each age group will receive book tokens (First prize £15; Second Prize £10; Third Prize £5)
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Application Form:
Poet’s name (first name and surname)…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Age………… Date of Birth………………….. Title of poem……………………………………………………………………………………….
School……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Home address if home educated……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Details of parent, carer or teacher to be contacted if necessary with regard to award ceremonies:
Name:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Telephone…………………………………………… email…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Please complete this application form and post it, with your poem to:
Annie Fisher, c/o Resources for Learning, Parkway, Bridgwater TA6 4RL
For further enquiries, email Annie Fisher: [email protected]