Are you a poet? And do you know it? If so, you could be in with the chance of winning a wider audience for your words.
The Guernsey International Poetry Competition is back for a 15th year, with award-winning poet, novelist and playwright Clare Pollard announced as this year’s judge.
She said: “I’m delighted to be judging the Guernsey International Poetry Competition, and particularly love how winning poems will be displayed in public spaces, from buses to the airport.”
“I will be looking for poems that surprise and delight; that make the reader see the world anew.”
Organised by the Guernsey Literary Festival, the competition attracts first-time writers to established poets from around the world.
With no set theme, entrants are invited to submit original poems of no more than 14 lines across three categories: Open Poetry, Channel Islands Poetry and Young People’s Poetry.
Competition organiser Livia Blücher said: “It’s wonderful to welcome a fresh new batch of poems to our island every year.
“Each judge brings a slightly different perspective to the poetry they choose, so if you’ve kept some poems in a folder somewhere, do submit them. Who knows, 2027 may turn out to be your year.”
The Guernsey International Poetry Competition is proudly supported by Guernsey Arts, Guernsey Ports and U&Us.
Head of Arts Development at Guernsey Arts, Rebecca Booth, said: “Guernsey Arts is delighted to again be supporting the Guernsey Literary Festival to deliver the Guernsey International Poetry Competition.
“We see this as an important element of the festival, providing a platform for emerging poets to develop their creativity and for islanders to be inspired to get involved.”
The three prize winners in each category will have their work displayed on Guernsey’s buses, with a further nine finalist poems exhibited at Guernsey Airport and an additional 12 poems showcased at public locations across the island, including Guernsey Harbour.
The competition closes on 15 January 2027.
Poems must be written in English and be no longer than 14 lines.
Full details, including categories, rules and how to enter, are available at www.poemsonthemove.com.
