Winners announced in Mansfield poetry competition
Three talented local poets have received their prizes after being named as the winners of The Writing on the Wall poetry competition in Mansfield.
An awards ceremony was held at Mansfield Museum to celebrate the winning and shortlisted poets, who received their prizes and copies of a printed anthology of 15 shortlisted entries.
Launched in March by Mansfield Council, the competition invited local people to submit poems inspired by the words from the town’s Memorial Garden including community, hope, kindness, courage, strength and respect.
A mural to be added to the rear wall of the Old Town Hall, which overlooks the garden, will be inspired by words from some of the 60-plus poems entered into the competition.
First prize went to Stephanie Bognar from Mansfield, who was thrilled at winning the competition with her poem Stop and See.
She said: “I wasn’t expecting to win.
"I have written a few nonsense rhymes for myself in the past, but I haven’t written for a long time.”
Stephanie, who works in education, is also supportive of efforts to revitalise the town centre and improve life for residents and wanted to inspire others to be positive about Mansfield's future and to feel that when they are troubled, they are not alone.
She continued: “Mansfield has a lot of hidden talent and has lots to offer.
"Creative writing has to mean something, and you have to feel something.
"I entered on a whim because I related to the words of the Memorial Garden.
“The town has a lot of heritage and history and it tends to wear its pain on its sleeve.
"We have all suffered loss, we all have something we want to memorialise and we all want to feel like we are not alone.”
Runner-up was Lisa Brown with her poem Kindness, and third was Laura Leedham with her poem, Stones that Hold our Stories.
Lisa, a volunteer at King’s Mill Hospital, in Sutton, said: “I was inspired to enter the competition because my volunteering role makes me very aware of the need for kindness towards others when you don’t know what is going on in their lives behind the surface.”
Laura, from Mansfield, who works with children with special needs, said: “I entered because I was inspired by the theme words, which resonate with how I feel about Mansfield.
"I wanted to inspire children to look around them and be proud of the place they live.”
The competition was part of Mansfield Townscape Heritage Project which is helping to repair the rear wall of Old Town Hall and create the mural.
Shortlisted poems were judged anonymously by Mansfield Poet Laureate, Richard C Bower who attended the awards ceremony along with Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams, who said: “What amazing talent we have in Mansfield.
“We knew people here would rise to the challenge and give us some good poetry, but we were bowled over by the quality of the writing.
“Very well done to all the winners of this competition.
"I can’t wait to see how these poems inspire the artwork on the back of the Old Town Hall.”
Competition organiser Theresa Workman added: “It was difficult to narrow the entries down for a shortlist, so we were extremely grateful to Richard C Bower for taking on the final judging.”
Here is Stephanie Bognar’s winning poem, Stop and See:
Ayup! Sit yersen dahn, Here in this small garden of ahn.
Think about the day, Or don’t think abaht owt. Sit alone or with a friend, Whatever floats your boat.
Are your feet aching? Are your hands full? Take a moment to yersen, Weather shine or dull.
Is your mind restless? Or your heart full of woe? Do you need a break From the stress of tomorrow?
Do you miss how things were? Think, ‘It can’t get any woss!’ Are dark thoughts consuming you? Fear, frustration, and loss?
Stop.
Take a break, Close your eyes. If your limbs need rest. Your hands full of good buys.
Rest, breathe, and observe, All walks of life you’ll see. Different feelings and faces Create our community.
Reflect on your surroundings, See you’re not alone. Everyone carries an inner burden. Heavy, secret, or unknown.
Take courage in yourself, You’re stronger than you know. Loss is a part of life, And gives you room to grow.
Be proud of yourself, You’ve come this far. You’ll never finish discovering Who you really are.
See.
If these walls could talk, what tales Of support and strength they’d tell! ‘Chin up! Head high! Is the only way To read these words well!’
If you find inspiration in them, Take it home with you. Share your ideas and passions. The quirks that make you you.
A simple act of kindness Can cheer up someone’s day. And in return, their thanks Can also go a long way.
Don’t give up hope, There’s plenty more to do. For every thing ending, Something starts anew.
So, are ye guin’ inte tahn? Or are ye guin’ om? The adventure is still ahead of you, No matter where you’re from.