Winners of Fenland Poet Laureate awards Hannah Teasdale and Lacey Vinn receive trophies for creativity and talent at ceremony at March Town Hall
A district poetry award ceremony has seen worthy winners rewarded for their creative work.
The Fenland Poet Laureate was held at March Town Hall on March 15, with His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Dan Schumann in attendance alongside Cllr Elisabeth Sennitt Clough, Cllr Chris Seaton and last year’s winner Qu Gao.
Some 63 people entered this year across the main and Young Fenland Poet Laureate categories including published poets and creative writing graduates, teachers, NHS staff and budding writers.
Hannah Teasdale, who moved to the Fens from the South West, won the Fenland Poet Laureate’s main category, beating 27 adults with her piece named ‘The Un-Coupling’, which was inspired by her winter sightings of migrated swans in the area.
“It feels so surreal, but I feel like I’m home,” she said.
“I’ve got lots of plans for the year ahead and can’t wait to get started.”
Following as runner-up was Pen Avery, a course director at the College of West Anglia in Wisbech, with her poem, ‘transient’.
Grabbing first place in the younger category for ages 17 and under was Lacey Vinn, from Sir Harry Smith Community College, who received a unanimous vote with her poem ‘Christmas Truce’, inspired by a Christmas Day football match from the First World War.
Second place went to Wisbech Grammar School student Nathanael Wilson for his poem ‘River’s Rest’ and third place was awarded to Lydia Shillings, also from Wisbech Grammar School, for her poem ‘I the eel of Ely’.
All the winners and runners-up from the evening received a trophy, sponsored by the Etec Group, and have had their poems published in a Fenland Poet Laureate anthology.
Cllr Sennitt Clough said: “The Fenland Poet Laureate Award is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase the talented writers living, working, or attending school in Fenland.
“It has been recognised as one of the most prestigious awards of its kind in Cambridgeshire, and you can see why when you look at the literary talent that emerges year after year.
“Congratulations to our winners and runners-up and all the shortlisted finalists for their inspiring work.”
First place: The Un-Coupling, by Hannah Teasdale
I cannot hear her through the interjection
of wild-life and traffic. I tread
on the damp-hope of finding less barren land
where in our hundreds we winter-gather
But even in this light-whisper of dark,
I cannot see. The moon – our gift
has turned its back on me. No sanctuary,
no space left in its wisp of crescent. I am blind
to life without her. It is I who should provide
but already I am nothing without her side of reason.
I miss her hiss of protection when others’ young
come on weekends, stand too close
to the edge with offerings of stale bread, tantrums,
melting ice-creams and good intention
The air smells more of spoiled crops than open waters
Perhaps the icy fingers have lost her discretion –
the wind blows in the wrong direction. The cold
refuses not to rise. A hint of presence in the mirk
Spider-web traces are all I find. I wish
for once, to feel her sharp beak bite.
Young Fenland Poet Laureate winner: Christmas Truce, by Lacey Vinn
A far away chant
A whisper of a song
A recognizable voice
A place where they belong
A sudden light appears
The carols start to get loud
But they continue with their song
So young yet so proud
Silence fell upon the night sky
No more missiles or gun
Now just birds tweeting
And a distant sound of fun
He risks it all in a few seconds
But two nations learn to trust
Commanders get angry
But soldiers state it's Christmas we must
The sun rose as the fun begun
Exchanging pictures and a story
Both countries would whisper
“I wish we both could have the glory”
As fast as you know it
Both countries play a game
Foosball slash football
As soldiers enjoy the fame
Hours go by
Laughing and talking
Every soldier rests their legs
As they've been doing so much walking
A far away thunder
Falls upon them all
They say goodbye and leave
An explosion “there goes the ball”
All the magic
Of Christmas past
Both country’s soldiers
Praying it wasn't the last
But a secret exchange
A sausage for a treat
A heart-warming gift
Wishing the end was down the street
Proof no soldier wanted to be there
Wishing it was more than a Christmas Truce
They get forced to shoot again
Thinking hard to find an excuse
In the end the battle continues
The soldiers forced to put friends aside
Pow! Boom! Goes the guns
Both country’s only fighting for pride
Winning and shortlisted poems can be found on the Fenland District Council website
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