Great response to new Chichester-based poetry competition

The Wagtail Poetry Competition took as its theme “locked down but not out.”

Ken said: “It really seems to have made a connection with many people and we have received so many positive comments from the community welcoming the contest.”

Laurel said: “We have seen so many people stopping to read the poems we have posted in Wagtail’s window and people have come in to not only order a coffee but also to ask about the competition.”

Poems have ranged from blank verse to rhyming couplets to HaiKu, and poets have ranged in age from 11 to over 80. Ken and Laurel will be judging the competition with Hugh Dunkerley, reader in creative writing and contemporary poetry at Chichester University. Winners will be announced on February 28, and the winning poets together with honourable mentions, will be invited as the featured readers in Ken’s regular open mic poetry reading, Chichester Zooms, on March 10.

There is an additional readers’ choice prize. The public is invited to vote for their favourite poem on the Wagtail website, www.wagtailcoffeeandyoga.com where all the poems can be seen or the poems can be read on Wagtail’s window.

Ken’s Open Mic, Chichester Zooms, is on alternate Wednesdays at 6.30pm and can be reached using the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6417849483?pwd=SzlsWUVmMnBYa3pjeFI5OFBkNTZHdz09 - the next one being on Feb 24.

Wagtail Coffee & Yoga gift cards will be given to the winning poem in each category.

Winners will also be invited to present their poem at a virtual reading.