My ‘Wellington Writers Walk challenge’ winning poem

Mia Farlane and I entered the inaugural Wellington Writers walk poetry competition, 2023, run by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN).

My sonnet, ‘Writers Walk Sculptures’, won the Wellington Writers Walk challenge, one of five challenges in the competition. Mia’s poem ‘Twenty-three Wellington Writers, 2023’, was commended.

The last time I won a poetry competition was in 2000, in London. It was the Write Now poetry competition, and my poem was called ‘Oysters and Olives’. Marilyn Duckworth was in London at the time and came to Morley College for the readings and prize giving. Good memories. And wonderful that she was also at the prize-giving at Wellington City Gallery on 25 August, this year.