Literature North West

8th July 2010

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will judge a new international poetry competition celebrating the life of master lyricist and published poet John Lennon.

The final stages of an international hunt for ‘Liverpool Lennon Poet 2010’ will take place during this autumn’s John Lennon Tribute Season, marking 70 years since Lennon’s birth and 30 years since his untimely death.

The deadline for all entries is 10 September and the competition will culminate in a Poetry Slam on 6 November 2010 co-hosted by Jason Richardson of poetry collective, Wirral Ode Show.

Poets from across the world are encouraged to enter unpublished verses which celebrate the life of music legend John Lennon. Prizes will be awarded in two categories:

1.      Performance Poet – Poems composed and performed in Liverpool by their writers

2.      Paper Poet – Poems submitted by email

The Liverpool Lennon Poet competition is being organised by the Beatles Story and Liverpool-born poet Roger Cliffe-Thompson.

The competition is open to anyone in the world and the winning poet will be the first to hold the accolade of Liverpool Lennon Poet 2010. Competition organisers are hoping to publish the poems in a poetry anthology.

Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate said, “I’m delighted to judge this competition which honours a famous son of a wonderful city. Liverpool is a city vibrant with language and poetry and from his earliest lyrics John Lennon displayed a poet's sensitivity to language.”

How to enter

Closing date for all entries: 5pm Friday 10 September 2010

1 - Performance Poet Category

Email your entries to: poetry@beatlesstory.com

Poems will be performed on Saturday 6 November 2010

2 - Paper Poet Category

Email your entries to: poetry@beatlesstory.com

Finalists will be notified by 5pm Friday 8 October 2010

For full entry details, terms and conditions please visit www.beatlesstory.com