Henley’s poets celebrated at Greener Henley’s awards

Greener Henley hosted their annual poetry awards last week, a celebration of poems with the theme: Stop. Look. Listen. The Earth is Speaking. The event, held at Henley Library, showcased local poetry talent from children and adults, with their work now being displayed in the venue.

The competition, which is now in its forth year, was organised by Sue Turner and David Williams – whose passion for books and poetry was evident at the well attended event. All entrants were invited to attend and share their poems with the gathered audience in what was an intimate and friendly reading platform.

“I am very impressed by the turn out,” David said to the gathered audience. “We were so delighted with the standard of poetry, but it did make our job very hard in deciding on winners. There was so much thought and emotion in the poems – it makes me glad to be alive when I read the expressions of love for the Earth.”

The event was sponsored by the Farnfield Environmental Trust and Candela Hypnosis, with The Bell Bookshop donating poetry books to the winner of the Richard Fortey Memorial prize. All winners received book tokens.

Sue said, “It is lovely that this event has become so popular and we thank Henley Library for hosting this for the community. It’s also gratifying to know how many people of all ages love writing and tapping into their own creativity.”

The range of poems on display was wide, from simple, yet effective acrostics to the lively and ambitious, the imaginative and meditative, to the spiritual and mystical. The children’s poetry competition was won by Hannah Bishop from Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, with her poem The Earth’s cry for help and was commended for the confidence she wrote with, which enabled her to get an impressive degree of emotion into her writing.

The adult category was won by St Mary’s School teacher, Claire Deli, with her poem Taking his time.

This year’s winner of the Richard Fortey Memorial prize, Jennifer Leach – who wrote How it was, said “I’d like to thank the organisers for creating such a wonderful opportunity for us all to share such a weaving of a wealth of poetry.”

Diana Barnett, also of Greener Henley thanked the organisers for inspiring people to engage with nature and giving people the opportunity to express themselves in such a creative way. “It’s vital that we share our thought and our feelings about the planet and this has been such a wonderful way to do it,” she said. She went on to explain about Greener Henley’s Pledge for the Planet, whereby everyone is invited to sign up and make a pledge…one of which is to Speak up and Spread the word. By recording a pledge on the website (for free), the charity are hoping to prove that collective action is possible, there is an appetite for environmental change and individuals working together can make a big difference.

Children’s Category:

First prize:

Hannah Bishop, Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge – ‘The Earth’s Cry For Help’

Second prize:

Avani, St Mary’s School – ‘The World’

Third prize:

Jarvis, St Mary’s School – ‘Earth’

Gabi Williams, Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge – ‘The Earth is Not a Toy’

Alex Glen – ‘Stop look listen’

Adult Category:

First prize:

Claire Deli – ‘Taking His Time’

Second prize:

Khudeeja Begum – ‘Stop Look Listen’

Third prize:

Nicolette Jane – ‘Hare’s Breadth’

Richard Fortey Memorial Prize:

Jennifer Leach – ‘How It Was’

Do you recall how it was to be still, so still

In the gladed place,
That the young leaves birthed about you,

And the lichen sought your north-growing face?
And how, standing still, so still,
You caught the whispers of the forest space,

And slowed your breath to the woodland pace,
Breathing in long,

And breathing out deep,

To the slow and ancient moss-filled beat?

And silently, around you,

The old trees fell,

And life rested awhile on their wizened wood,
And new trees nestled within their roots?

Ah yes, there was a time to grow, and a time to seed,

A time to flower, and a time to grieve,

A time to seed, and a time to grow…

How well it all was.

Do you recall?

by Jennifer Leach