We are pleased to announce the shortlisted poems for this year’s Poet of the Year Awards and send our congratulations to all the poets.

The shortlisted poems will be read by the poets themselves at the on-line Awards Evening on Thursday 6 October from 7.30pm (BST). The winner and two runners up will be announced at the end of the evening. Look out for the link which will be available on the website nearer the date here.

An anthology of the longlisted poems will soon be available from the Festival office for £5 each. Please contact [email protected] to order a copy.

Shortlist 2022:

Ivan makes a violin for his son	Greta Ross
Last Wednesday at the Laundrette	Tina Cole
Mr Kay’s Passion	Caroline Franklyn
The Inventory Keeper	Christopher Horton
We Have a Twin	David Lewis
Sylvia – On the Beach in a White Bathing Suit	Martin Cordrey
Fear	Kate Young
When she was a body of water	Kerry Darbishire
Patchwork Carpet	A C Clarke
Patrick Kennedy 15 June 1924	Gordon Aindow
Lightning	Cathy Whittaker
Mrs Blake is Born	Isobel Roach
Fantasia	Miriam Patrick

Many congratulations to all shortlisted poets and participants! We look forward to award the winner and two runners up of the Poet of the Year Competition 2022 on Thursday 6th October.