We’re delighted to announce the winners of our fouth annual Metro Poetry Prize in partnership with Nexus on the theme of ‘Care’. 352 entries were received and four - one winner and three runners up - are now on display in large poster sites at Longbenton Metro Station, which is used by more than one million customers every year. The poems were judged by representatives from Nexus, plus poet Jane Burn and Alice Mullen, manager of the Poetry Book Society.
Abigail Ottley, a former English teacher and now full time writer and poet, from Essex, won the competition with a poem titled ‘Taking Care’ about her mother. The runners up were Thea Smiley, Ama Bolton and Tracy Davidson.
PBS Manager Alice said: “The judges and I were incredibly touched by the winning poem, ‘Taking Care’ by Abigail Ottley, with its beautifully crafted and moving scene of a daughter washing her elderly mother’s hair. This is a tender role-reversal written with such sensitivity, care and love – a powerful image which will resonate with many."
"Our three runner-ups bring great variety to the theme of “care”, from the surprising sense of fun found during chemo appointments in ‘Mother Daughter Time’ (“Mum really rocked the Mohawk”) to the striking scene of care in a disaster zone in ‘Survivor’ and a powerful refugee perspective in ‘Mexican Oranges’, which conjures up such a bright image of hope. There is something for everyone in each of these winning poems – a taste of empathy and a reminder to “care” for those around us on our daily commutes.”
Read all the winning poems here.
