Poets hold annual competition

Poetry, in case you haven’t noticed, is in style. No longer the last refuge of the lovelorn or armchair patriot, poetry–and poets–come in all shapes, sizes and persuasions. For a second year the Belizean Poets Web Group is holding the Belizean Poets Contest. Writers are being asked to submit two new poems: one pertaining to the two hundred and eighth anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye and another on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Belize’s independence. According to founder of the poetry group, Adele Ramos-Daly, last year’s contest received plenty of submissions and this time around the competition and the prizes will be even bigger.

Adele Ramos-Daly, Founder, Belizean Poets Society
?There will be three broad categories. There will be emerging poets junior, those are poets who are ages fifteen and under, emerging poets senior, who are over fifteen, and accomplished poets. Now the difference between emerging poets and accomplished poets is that emerging poets are poets who are not well know, they aren?t performing, they haven?t published and they haven?t recorded. Accomplished poets are known to the Belizean public. They?ve either published a book, made a CD, done a video or have been out there performing on stage.?

?This year poets will be competing for some very beautiful trophies. They will be video recording deals, CD recording deals and other poetry related prizes. Cash and other prizes that would help to aid people in developing the art of poetry.?

Deadline for entries is August eighteenth. In related news, the Belizean Poets Society is also seeking submissions for a poetry exhibition to be held at the Bliss in September. For more information and contest rules, visit their website at www.freewebs.com/belizeanpoetscontest2006 or call Adele at 602-0181.