28th February 2024
We are thrilled to announce the winners and shortlisted entries from Ó Bhéal’s 11th Five Words International Poetry Competition, judged by Theo Dorgan.
Our congratulations go to first place winner Derek Sellen for his poem against cartography, to second place winner Mary Anne Smith Sellen for her poem Gardening in the Otherworld and to third place winner Laura Theis for her poem imagine a field. Remarkably, Derek has won the competition twice before, and Mary Anne has won it once. Marcella Remund, shortlisted beneath, is also listed among our alumni competition winners.
The selection was made from 480 entries representing 16 countries. As per usual, winners will read their entries at Ó Bhéal’s 17th anniversary event, during the launch of Five Words Vol XVII (both online and via zoom, on the 8th April 2024), as will many of the commended (other shortlisted) poets and regular five word challenge contributors.
Congratulations to the shortlisted poets, and our sincere thanks to all who entered!
| against cartography | by Derek Sellen (England) 1st | |
| Gardening in the Otherworld | by Mary Anne Smith Sellen (England) 2nd | |
| imagine a field | by Laura Theis (England) 3rd | |
| Inheritance | by Alison McCrossan (Ireland) | |
| Storm Glass | by Brian Kirk (Ireland) | |
| self-care für unsichtbare | by Laura Theis (England) | |
| To Be Done Before Anything Drastic | by J.A.Speta (USA) | |
| A Tale for No Tail | by Mary Louise Kiernan (USA) | |
| Out of the Woods | by Kevin Conroy (Ireland) | |
| Rapture | by Marcella Remund (USA) | |
| For Sam Lawler, Who Used His Gun | by Tracy Newlands (Australia) | |
| Leaving Ursa Minor | by John D. Kelly (N.Ireland) |
The 12th Five Words International Competition will commence at noon on Tuesday the 9th of April 2024, and will continue until the 28th of January 2025.
