Guernsey International Poetry Competition 2023

Judge: Jackie Kay

Entries Closed

Poems on the Move

Your poem could be on show in 2023. The Guernsey Literary Festival, together with Guernsey Arts, presents a competition that could deliver your work to thousands of readers.

Winning entries are selected in two phases: 21 poems will be chosen, and 9 of these will take part in a second, larger display, first at Guernsey Airport, then all over the island.

Entries must be no longer than 14 lines and must fit on a single A4 page.

Entries are now closed

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Guernsey Literary Festival 2023

Guernsey’s natural beauty, and its picturesque harbour town of St Peter Port, make the island an exceptional location for a literary festival. The eleventh Guernsey Literary Festival takes place from 10th – 14th May 2023. We offer a varied and energetic celebration of literature with something for everyone – from aspiring writers to families looking for a fun day out. For more information on events in 2023 visit guernseyliteraryfestival.com

We invite you to join us for the International Poetry Competition Winners’ Reading on Wednesday 10th May 2023.

Categories & Prizes

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*

Entry free

1st prize £250
2nd place £50
3rd place £30

Our Judge for 2023
Jackie Kay

Jackie Kay was born and brought up in Scotland. She is the author of – among other books – The Adoption Papers, which won the Forward Prize, Red Dust Road, winner of the Scottish Book of the Year Award, Trumpet, and the Costa-shortlisted Fiere. She is a former Chancellor of the University of Salford and Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University.

Filter judge Candy Neubert is a poetry reader for the Bridport Prize. Her last two poetry collections, Channel and Island were partly inspired by Guernsey.

2022 Winners

Open Category

1st Prize: ‘The Work’, Bruce Meyer, Canada, £1000

2nd Prize: ‘Deer on the Road’, Jo Haslam, West Yorkshire, £500

3rd Prize: ‘Poem, Painted on a Windowsill’, Sue Leigh, Oxfordshire, £250

Channel Islands’ Category

1st Place: ‘My Life is a Black Knitted Sweater Dress’, Natasha Moskaljov, Sark

2nd Place: ‘Building a Nest During Lockdown’, Sandra Noel, Jersey

3rd Place: ‘Kestrel’, Victoria Punch, Guernsey

Young People’s Category

1st Place: ‘Jackdaw Gifts’, Emily Hunt, Warwickshire

2nd Place: ‘At the Bus Stop’, Oshadha Perera, New Zealand

3rd Place: ‘An Ode to Tomorrow’, Martha Iris Blue, Cheshire

Highly Commended:

‘The 7 O’clock Bus’, Naomi Miller, Guernsey ‘Empty Sunsets’, Oshadha Perera, New Zealand ‘A Ghost like You’, Millie Addison, Scotland

Poems on the Buses Winners

‘Bouquet’, Ruth Aylett, Edinburgh

‘Three Grebes’, Dickon Bevington, Cambridgeshire

‘In the Village Hall’, Sharon Black, France

‘Picking Olives’, Chris Campbell, Bristol

‘Bakelite’, Bruce Meyer, Canada

‘Departing Gift’, Callum Moores, Guernsey

‘A Moment’, Callum Moores, Guernsey

‘Visiting My Aunt’, Shirley Nicholson, Manchester

‘Tea Bag Dipping in Winter’, Sandra Noel, Jersey

‘Till Tomorrow’, Oshadha Perera, New Zealand

‘I Wonder If There’s a Minotaur’, Amber Torrens-Dodd, West Midlands

‘Paw-shaped Hole’, Issy Whitford, Guernsey