Young poet Udit saluted for prestige contest entry
APUPIL from Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School has been awarded ‘Commended Winner’ in the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award.
Udit Mahalingam’s entry was chosen from over 11,000 entries and its the largest competition of its kind.
Writers from 89 different countries entered the competition, from as far afield as Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Syria and Zimbabwe.
Fifteen poets see their work online; 85 others including Udit receive commendations.
The award is an opportunity for any young poet to accelerate their writing career. Winners will have their poems published in the annual Foyle Anthology.
Udit, who is from Ormskirk, was thrilled and said: “The fact I was selected as a Commended Winner has really given me the confidence to write more as a whole, across all types of literature, and has provided motivation for me to enter next year.’’
He added: ‘‘I have always loved English as a subject, and this award has taught me to appreciate all aspects of it, and made me love it even more!
‘‘Im still a bit in shocked that the judges thought my work was good enough for commendation, especially since it was one of my first attempts at writing poetry.
‘‘I honestly have to say it is one of the best things, writing wise, that has ever happened to me.”