Poetry contest reaps entries

Budding poets have submitted their prose to the Harrogate Brigantes’ poetry competition which launched just two weeks ago.

The competition was conceived with the double aim of finding a good, creative activity for bored kids at home during lockdown and raising money for Brigantes’ Covid Relief Fund.

A spokesman said: “The Club has already given over £9,000 to help those most in need at this difficult time and has raised well over £6,000, much of it from its members and friends.

“Lockdown Lyrics is one of the innovative initiatives it is hoped will help raise funds at this time when most normal fund-raising methods are impossible.”

There’s a £5 entry fee which allows one child to submit as many poems as they like on any or all of three subjects: My Hero, I Wish, and A Better World. Each poem should be no more than 28 lines long. There will be a prize of a £30 book token for the best poem in each category.

Local Primary Schools are supporting the competition and poems have already been received from children in both town-centre and village schools.

Here’s an excerpt from one of them, called “Scarlett’s Better World Poem” written by nine-year-old Scarlett Dean:

I dream of a better world for myself;

I want to be brave and have self-belief

I want to be caring and for the world to have no grief

“Thank you, Scarlett, and Amen to that!” said Brigantes’ President Peter Wearmouth.

“We hope that many other children will be encouraged to write words of hope that will help inspire us all as we begin the slow path to recovery.”

Children aged under 12 years old can enter and help Brigantes make a difference. The competition runs until the end of the summer term (July 17). Entry form on the Club’s website: www.rotaryharrogatebrigantes.org.uk.