A Visit to Wells Festival of Literature 2016
After two weeks of intense poetry rehearsing, reading and listening at the glorious Bristol Poetry Festival, we were off to Wells today for more of the same at the Wells Festival of Literature.
It's never a hardship to go there, especially at this time of year. The light is golden on golden stone, the interplay with the trees astounding, even when you've seen it before.
And how can you not love England's smallest city, with this view on one side ...
... and this on the other?
We were headed for the poetry judging at the Bishop's Palace, as my poem 'Mr Cowper's Hares' was slugging it out with the other shortlisted poems for one of the prizes on offer.
I've a soft spot for the Wells Festival of Literature poetry competition because back in 2010, my poem 'Coleridge Changes his Library Books' took first prize. It was this that prompted me to stick my head above the parapet and start going to open mics and entering more competitions - which in turn led to a publishing deal for my poems and my novel, and the making of so many friends in the poetry community.
As it is, 'Mr Cowper's Hares' put up a good fight and came away with the Hilly Cansdale prize for local poets in their paws.
And how can you not love England's smallest city, with this view on one side ... 
... and this on the other? 
We were headed for the poetry judging at the Bishop's Palace, as my poem 'Mr Cowper's Hares' was slugging it out with the other shortlisted poems for one of the prizes on offer. 
I've a soft spot for the Wells Festival of Literature poetry competition because back in 2010, my poem 'Coleridge Changes his Library Books' took first prize. It was this that prompted me to stick my head above the parapet and start going to open mics and entering more competitions - which in turn led to a publishing deal for my poems and my novel, and the making of so many friends in the poetry community.
As it is, 'Mr Cowper's Hares' put up a good fight and came away with the Hilly Cansdale prize for local poets in their paws. 
So thrilled with your lovely poem's success. Hilly Cansdale was a dear friend of mine and she would have loved this poem. Sorry we didn't get to talk - you were too much in demand! x Ama
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry I missed you, Ama - C has just told me that you were there and waiting to chat; I have to concentrate very hard when I socialise as it's not the easiest thing for me to do, but I would have fallen on you - metaphorically! - as a safe person if I'd known you were there.
DeleteThanks for your kind words, and saying that Hilly would have liked the poem. It means a lot more to have an inkling of who she was and what touched her. xx