The Judge’s Report – Ruth o’Callaghan
The Kent and Sussex Poetry Competition proved to be a hugely challenging task: to select one winner from one thousand seven hundred and sixteen poems which covered the whole gamut of emotion and experience. What was evident in each of the poems was the desire to share the thoughts, the philosophy, the learning from life – whether good or notso-good – the social concerns, ecological concerns, the warmth of a mother’s/ grandmother’s love, the rejection by friend or lover, an ekphrastic response to a gallery visit, a world viewed through surrealistic eyes or a simple description of a common garden flower…. A Herculean task indeed.
Approaching it necessitated re-assessing all that had been taught to me over the years, whether within workshops attended or workshops I lead – am always surprised how much there is to learn from the poets participating in our workshops. The different publishers’ advice amassed over a long span – both my own, those I work with through the venues we run and the course undertaken with the poetry editor of Faber over a decade ago – all were reflected upon, notes re-visited.
Poetry appears, when one is beginning, to be littered with ‘rules’. Basic instructions are given to every novice poet e.g. if possible do not use adjectives or if you have to employ an adjective make it memorable, flew into one’s mind only for that, too, to be questioned. Yes, too many predictable adjectives can destroy the poem as too many cheap sweets can destroy one’s gustatory perception. However, if one imagines the poem as a dish which reveals its different layers of herbs and spices, subtle sweetness balanced by a certain sharpness, and one is able to utilise an adjective, or even adjectives, in a similar manner then each one will justify its place within, and indeed, enhance the poem.
Similarly, an adjective need not be unusual to be memorable – a single, simple adjective, well-placed, can transform a line. This is the joy of poetry: the unity between language, resonance and the confounding of expectation.
And joy was in abundance in the reading of the poems in The Kent and Sussex Poetry Competition. I’d like to thank all the poets who submitted their precious words – adjudication of them taught me so much, furthered my own poetry horizons, made me a privileged member of this planet in ‘working’ with you all. Hopefully, we will work together again in other circumstances.
Thanks also to members of the Poetry Society Committee for the advice and guidance as to the rules of the Competition. Finally, I would like to say how mortified I am not to be able to attend the prize-winning ceremony on March 19th. I would particularly have like to meet with all the poets who produced such outstanding work. Unfortunately, I had a prior commitment which I must honour. I sincerely hope that you understand.
All good wishes
Ruth o’Callaghan 25th January 2019
First Prize: August by Alex Porter
The casual, matter-of-factness of the opening line both mirrors and heightens the sensuality in the following line. The reader is drawn gently into the precursor of love-making seen through the sifting half-light. Here, perhaps, is an example of two adjectives enhancing the noun. (Although half-light may possibly be deemed to be the noun) Had the poet merely written half-light, it would have been acceptable but rather ordinary. The additional sifting conveys the dream quality as their passion is aroused – eloquently conveyed through the graphic description of their tongues’ movements. However, consummation will be forestalled and the life-force left to spill uselessly – as, indeed, the last line reveals, that so much else will also be wasted.
Throughout, the poem hints at a certain darkness – there is keening and a Sam Browne and cap – associations with death and war – yet because she is dancing naked, teasing, we, on first reading, may overlook their import. Similarly, although line four states that last dawn, this may be attributed to the final days of a holiday – the impact muted by the description of their increasing intensity and the introduction of that wonderful word simoom. Nothing prepares us for Sarajevo.
Once given this information, further reading emphasises both the above clues, the significance of the title and the role of History – throughout the poem it is the dispassionate observer: in war it remains merely a chronicler of events. A cleverly constructed warm/chilling poem. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Second Prize: The Waiting Time by Simon French
Kafka-esque is the only description for this intriguing poem. The scenario is so familiar – that long drawn out wait in the airport lounge where we try to calm our nerves or not demonstrate impatience by raiding the duty free. However, the poet has twisted the usual perception of airport angst just half a notch transporting the reader to a strangely recognisable reality firmly embedded within the surreal.
The poem opens with a familiar/unfamiliar apology. It is, superficially, delivered to re-assure but reveals a world of menace which is rooted in the seeming adjustment of all that about which we have previously complained. Not only will our luggage remain intact but neither will we, islanders that we are, be bothered by foreign tongues – cheers from Brexiteers? – and those tiresome customs officers have themselves been detained and Are unable/to explore you.
There are no cheap cigarettes but there are bloody propellers caused, presumably by circling starlings – those augurs of the Roman gods – but whether the blood is human or bird is not specified. Feel for Charon’s coin in your pocket if you are unable to execute the final advice to leave but above all believe This is not an airport. This is something else.
Thank you for a riveting read.
Third Prize. Amy – Locked in by Liz Eastwood
From the very first reading this poem haunted me. The beginning is stark: a life locked in from childhood by ECT only to end in dementia. The dates give a seventy four year span wherein other destructive elements/events have pinned Amy as securely as the proverbial butterfly to a board every time she attempts to spread her wings.
Each episode and the circumstances surrounding them are sparsely, but pitilessly. recorded. Ironically, her one hope, perhaps, of happiness/normality was shattered on D-Day – the liberation of France results in further incarceration of Amy in a loveless marriage, betrayal and manipulation into living in the mistress’ house until I slash out with war trench knife
Visually this poem is judged exact allowing space for the – disregarded? -screams between the facts, the self reflection. The structure, moving as it does between past and present, in conjunction with the well-considered line breaks, emphasises the final shocking revelation
because father comes to my bed his hands
The poem ends on a disconcerting note – the enigmatic insight after the final pill of the day has been administered:
I must be ill my mind is locked in for another day
Fourth Prize. Hiraeth by Jan Norton
A stark contrast to the previous poem. This simple, short poem, executed in one long sentence, encompasses a man’s memory of his childhood, the village, the way of life and expectations of a small community that displays lace curtains/scoured doorsteps and is governed by a stony chapel….frowning down.
Whilst all sentimentality is cleverly avoided – despite it being a ‘picture postcard’ village. One slight observation: although the yawning streets are to be vaunted – placing that adjective in such close proximity to morning is a tad too reminiscent of Dylan Thomas’ description of Llareggub. However, the ordinariness of the following line redeems it somewhat whilst the unspecified threat within the penultimate line leaves the reader to ponder upon the relationship with the father and whether or not he is still alive. The final line takes the reader beyond the horizon – not simply regarding the father but the reader also. Thank you.
Fourth Prize Why We Did What We did When We Did by Ian Royce Chamberlain
Why did I choose what I chose when I chose it? Because I could Because the lack of punctuation forces all forward – there is no time for pauses in these lives Because it is a summation of an era, a generation who rebelled against post war austerity, fifties morality, explored sixties sexuality tied the knot but cut the rope/came crawling back to say our sorries and then did it all over again! Because it has the exuberance and the desperation of those who swallowed everything on offer tasted nothing Because it has Leonard Cohen Because it tells it as it was, is and captures the bleakness of what it will be as we are caught unprepared/to find the sun going down Because I really want everyone of a certain era to read this poem. Thank you. I do not know which generation you are but I have a suspicion!
Fourth Prize the sea children by Madeleine Skipsey
Lower case can be construed as a quieter form of text and it seems very appropriate for this this five verse poem beginning, as it does, with two contradictory commands speak; hush child;. Continuing with references to blanket, sleep, rest, one is in the land of nothing louder than a whisper. However, these are waves that are lulling you, drowning you. The chilling last line of verse one in a place we have yet to ruin firmly underpins that the root of all disaster that is to come is solely of our own volition.
Each verse is a vignette culminating in the return of the poem to its opening scenario – yet it has seemingly moved us once more to a different place with konjo – perhaps to Ethiopia, reminding us of the tragedy of that country. Thank you
Fourth Prize A lead pellet by Harrison Collett
One assumes that the setting of this poem is America with its references to Vietcong, Saigon and even the barn’s A-frame windows seems to uphold this impression. Together with schoolgirls who have tight pigtails and skip on asphalt, we are in the era of the Vietnam war which straddled two decades 1955-1975, the throes of which took son after son from grieving families.
Little wonder then that it is apparently an everyday incident for boys to enact what their fathers and elder brothers are enduring by taking potshots at a starling. Through the pain of this unfortunate bird, we are given the devastating agonies of a small town. The ingenuous fifth verse provides the volta and the reader ‘hears’ the beat of the war drum as the boys/soldiers crowd into the square to claim their victim – the principal victim being. of course, the townsfolk. Thank you
