My working day is 7am to 7pm, so I went straight from work to the Boyne Berries launch in Trim on Thursday night.In Michael Farry's head-swelling introduction to my poem, he mentioned that I had been shortlisted again for the Percy French prize for Humorous Verse at the Strokestown Poetry Festival. Very quick off the mark, our Michael, the nominations had only been released an hour or two previously and I had no idea.
My poem is called Revenge on the French - not of the French, as on the main site - dealing with Thierrygate. Its my fourth nomination in five years - I won it in 2008 and finished second last year.One would have thought they'd have been sick of me by now. I know I am.
Other nominees include Tralee's Sean Lyons (last year's winner), Ian McDonald of the brilliant but slightly mad Baffle group in Loughrea and also Martin Parker, another finalist from last year, who runs the Lighten Up Online website.
As if that wasn't enough, I got an email this morning from Merrily Harpur, the director of the festival. There had been a mistake on the website - they had listed seven finalists, not eight. One of my other poems was also in the final. So now I've two entries!
It seems somewhat churlish to mention the fact that I got nowhere with the serious poetry prize....
Well done Pete - and well deserved. I hope it feels great when you're not being churlish.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer. I try to avoid churl and rule it out of my life!
ReplyDeleteAh, but Pete, your genius lies in your wit and ability to convey it both subtly and with a punch. Not to say that you're not a fine "serious" poet as well—of course you are, but there's no denying you are the Master of poetic playfulness.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your winning. I think I'll commission a bust for your birthday. When is that, by the way?
Kat