OUR PRIZE-WINNING POETS

After much deliberation the winners of this year’s Daily Mirror poetry competition have been plucked from a sea of talent by our poet judge Blake Auden.

The competition was tough but Blake says: “The winning entries are both beautiful, sophisticated poems. I had a hard time choosing between the two of them, but Linda Ford’s Seashell is the winner.

“Her descriptions are beautiful and it’s just a wonderfully crafted poem, the last line is stunning, and probably what stole it for me.

“Richard Scott’s A Funeral of Crows is incredibly evocative, it’s like a painting – really transports you to the place he’s describing. Again, I loved the last line.

“I would also like to give a special mention to The Figure Eight by Liam Hunt in Blackley, Manchester, as his poem was also beautifully written. But all the entries had something about them and I really enjoyed reading them all.”

Signed copies of Blake’s books of poetry, Tell The Birds She’s Gone and his brand new release, Beekeeper, will be winging their way to Linda and Richard.

Congratulations to our winners – and thank you to everyone who sent in their poems.

JUDGE: Blake Auden

Runner-up: Richard Scott, 63, Portadown, Co Armagh

A Funeral of Crows

Black crows roil in the slate grey sky, like leaves torn from some sombre, sable tree, by hungry November winds. They congregate as mourners round the grave of some ‘dear departed.’ Then disperse, respects paid, cordially invited for tea and cake, in the steamy yellow glow of the old church hall.

Seashell

Before you were sea-wrapped each recollection was hidden between lip and pinnacle

involute with cavern-like whorls as gregarious as mountain ranges

footholds fade ribbed against the turned sand barnacled

fragmented in your hand but listen listen for the sound of the tide

clutch the seashell tight against your ear close enough to hear the anthem

of soft slow waves always undeterred always taking something from the shore