Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Ekphrastic Competition

My poem, Theatre of Marcellus, has been judged runner-up in the 2008 Creative Writing Competition run by the National Galleries of Scotland, the English-Speaking Union and the Scottish Poetry Library. The idea was to write a poem inspired by an artwork in one of the National Galleries. You have to scroll down to the bottom of the page (at the link), under the “published adults” category, to find that Shore Poet, Ian McDonough, was the winner, and that I shared the runner-up spot with none other than Alan Gay.

Not sure I want to post the poem here at the moment, but here’s the photograph (a little information also at the link) that inspired it. Amazing photo!

11 comments:

Colin Will said...

Congratulations Rob. As well as you, Ian and Alan, another friend - Anna Dickie - was a runner-up in the 'Unpublished writers' categories. I'm publishing her first chapbook very soon, so she'll be in a different category next year.

swiss said...

my but it's a small world this bloggery. i think i missed you in passing at the weekend when you met sorlil. and now i'm one of the merit people in the same competition! well done

Matt Merritt said...

Congratulations, Rob! It is a great photo, isn't it?

apprentice said...

Congratulations Rob, well deserved I'm sure. Alan was runner up last year too, I hope he makes it all the way next year.

I got a special merit in the unpublished, which was a lovely surprise.

I think all the poems are being posted on the National Galleries website, and lasy year they produced a book of the winning entries, so maybe they'll do that this year.

SarahJane said...

Good news, Rob. Congrats.
Indeed a fabulous photo.

Rob said...

Thanks everyone. Well done to you, swiss. Also to you, Anna - I had seen your name on the list but didn't know whether I should mention it. I wasn't sure if your blog was anonymous or not.

From what I understand, they are producing an anthology of winning entries in 2009 - presumably of winners from this year and next year.

apprentice said...

Oh don't worry my name is linked on my photos etc.

It makes sense that they'd do the book every it every two years, something to look forward to.

I enjoyed looking up the info on your photographer. It must have been a wonderful time to photograph Rome. I got the Herald 225 year supplement this week, and parts of Glasgow in the 1800s, pre the car, looks fantastic too - wonderful buildings and empty streets.

Unknown said...

Congratulations Rob - the photo strikes a chord having been in Rome recently..! Off to have a look - well-deserved you!

Andrew Philip said...

Well done, Rob.

Andy Jackson said...

Well done Rob - will you be reading your poem at the Public Reading on April 17th? I look forward to hearing it, if so...

Rob said...

Thanks everyone. And Andy J, yes, I'll be there, and I'll look forward to hearing your poem. Don't wory about being confused with Andy B Jackson - he always signs ABJ on the this blog.