Guernsey International Poetry Competition 2024
Judged by Paul Muldoon
Entries closed
Our Judge for 2024 is Irish poet, Paul Muldoon
Paul Muldoon was born in County Armagh in 1951. He now lives in New York. A former radio and television producer for the BBC in Belfast, he has taught at Princeton University for thirty-five years. He is the author of fifteen collections of poetry including Moy Sand and Gravel, for which he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize, and Joy in Service on Rue Tagore, published by FSG and Faber and Faber in 2024. He serves as Ireland Professor of Poetry 2022-2025.
Filter judge: Candy Neubert was born in Guernsey. Her poetry collections Channel and Island are inspired by Guernsey.
Poetry winners’ reading at the Guernsey Literary Festival
Guernsey is an exceptional and inspiring location for a literary festival with an abundance of natural beauty and a thriving Arts scene. The 2024 Guernsey Literary Festival takes place from 23 April – 5 May 2024.
The festival offers a varied and energetic celebration of literature with something for everyone – from working writers to families looking for a fun day out. For more information on events in 2024 visit guernseyliteraryfestival.com.
We invite you to join us for the International Poetry Competition Winners’ Reading on Saturday 4th May 2024.
Categories & prizes
Three finalists in each category, and a further 12 poems for the bus exhibition will be selected by the judge. The judge’s decision is final.
Poems on the Move Exhibition 2024
Nine finalists, three from each category.
Poems on the Buses Exhibition 2024
All nine finalists, and a further 12 poems from all categories.
Open Poetry
Ages 18 and over*
Entries £4 per poem
or enter 3 poems for £10
1st prize £1000
2nd place £500
3rd place £250
Channel Islands’ Poetry
Ages 18 and over, born
or resident* in the
Channel Islands†
Entries £4 per poem
or enter 3 poems for £10
1st prize £250
2nd place £50
3rd place £30
Young People’s Poetry
Aged 11-17*
Free Entry†
1st prize £250
2nd place £50
3rd place £30
2024 Winners
Judged by Paul Muldoon
Open Poetry
Channel Islands’ Poetry
Young People’s Poetry
Poems on the Buses Exhibition
-
Bus
Basho at Dawn - Tom Bryan
Read poem -
Bus
Carboniferous Limestone - Michael Powell
Read poem -
Bus
Gaslight - John Atkinson
Read poem -
Bus
Hat - Andy Jackson
Read poem -
Bus
I tried to write a break-up poem
Read poem
but I wrote this instead - Tom Bailey -
Bus
Low tide - Lynda Plater
Read poem -
Bus
Sir Lowry’s Pass - Sarah Frost
Read poem -
Bus
The Electrician - Vanessa Lampert
Read poem -
Bus
The Geese Return - Alison Stark
Read poem -
Bus
The Optimism Principle - Ken Evans
Read poem -
Bus
The sparrowhawk - Margaret Wilmot
Read poem -
Bus
THE SWIM - Sally Festing
Read poem -
Bus
Things i can finally afford - AV Bridgwood
Read poem -
Bus
When the Knacker Man Visits the Barn - Christina Thatcher
Read poem