2016 Poetry Competition

Since ancient times our understanding of ourselves, our sense of what lies within, was said to come out of the blue: inspiration, the breath of heaven, the song of the muse, the voice of the poet. But now, in these bitter-sweet times, our new nation tensing in conflicted diversity, how do we hear ourselves – mice-quiet or bull-bellowing? What is the intimate content of our common voice now?

We are mirrors to each other in our humanity and our poets, giving voice to individual truth, express for us the insights in which healing is found. It is the joy of the sky’s eternal renewal, after all that the poet’s voice realises: the simple idea of freedom, our common South African goal. Because freedom, above all, is a state of mind, an experience of being, not a static social reality. When said and done, it is not the poet’s insight itself, but the experience of it emerging into our mind that makes the difference. We feel the presence of what was absent. We live Creation itself. We know the fathomless blue of heaven inside the vault of the human skull.

Open Category “Voices on Fire” 
Poetry Competition

· Have you ever thought of writing poetry?

· Are you an unpublished poet?

· Would you like to see your poetry published?

· Are you over the age of 19?

Then you are eligible to enter our Open Category and stand a chance of winning R 7,500.00 CASH and a trophy. The finalists may have the opportunity to have their poetry published in our annual “Poetry in McGregor” Anthology and their winning entries will be read during our “Poetry in McGregor” weekend which will take place from the 26 to 28 August 2016.

Competition Guidelines : Entries restricted to unpublished poets *The poem must be the original work of the entrant submitting it *Poems must have a title * Length submitted must be between 12 and 40 lines * Poems may be in English or Afrikaans or IsiXhosa* Full names must be provided plus date of birth and contact numbers * Maximum of two poems per poet * Entries must be submitted separately * The judges’ decision is final * No correspondence will be entered into *Entries must be typed and emailed to: mcgpoets@gmail.com /posted to PO Box 361, McGregor, 6708 / faxed to 086 756 0864 / delivered to the Temenos Office, corner Voortrekker and Bree Streets, McGregor. 

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 16h00 on Friday the 22nd JULY 2016

The name of the (one and only) winner will be announced at the prize-giving function which will take place at 11.30am on Saturday 27th August in Caritas at Temenos Retreat, Long Street entrance, McGregor, 6708.

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High School Category “Voices on Fire” 
Poetry Competition

· Have you ever thought of writing poetry?

· Are you an unpublished poet?

· Would you like to see your poetry published?

· Are you between the ages of 13 to 18?

Then you are eligible to enter the High School Category where the winner will receive a R2,500 book voucher and a trophy plus the opportunity to have your poetry read at the next “Poetry in McGregor” weekend which will take place from the 26 to 28 August 2016 and the top poems may be published in the 2016 “Poetry in McGregor” Anthology

Competition Guidelines : Entries restricted to unpublished poets *The poem must be the original work of the entrant submitting it *Poems must have a title * Length submitted must be between 12 and 40 lines * Poems may be in English or Afrikaans or IsiXhosa* Full names must be provided plus date of birth and contact numbers * Maximum of two poems per poet * Entries must be submitted separately * Our judges’ decision is final * No correspondence will be entered into *Entries must be typed and emailed to: mcgpoets@gmail.com /posted to PO Box 361, McGregor, 6708 / faxed to 086 756 0864 / delivered to the Temenos Office, corner Voortrekker and Bree Streets, McGregor. 

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 16h00 on Friday the 22nd JULY 2016

The name of the winner will be announced at the prize-giving function which will take place at 11.30am on Saturday 27th August in Caritas at Temenos Retreat, Long Street entrance, McGregor, 6708.