Our final Poetry Competition for previous monthly winners proved to be a difficult task for our judge David Braziel to decide on.

Everyone who entered raised the bar significantly resulting in a very close run race with Glenn Wilson's 'Damselfly' getting

Highly Commended; Michael Kennedy's 'The Rag Bag' second; and by a short head Jordan Rafferty's 'Benny' our winner of

the £100 prize. 

Other finalists where Ellen McKenna 'Fragments'; Mary Jbara 'The Unanswered Question'; Liam McIlvanna 'What if'

Dymphna Ferran 'Rhapsody in Blue'; Jenny Murray Unanswered Question' Lily Rose Conway 'Sonder Embrace'. 

Thank you all so much for making this inaugural competition such a success. Hats off to David Braziel  as independent

judge and all who helped in the background to make this a memorable occasion. Poetry needs a platform and found one in 

Abbey Lane @Open Mic Nights. 

Winning poem; 'Benny' by Jordan Rafferty

Couldja give me a hand, Benny? Can't get

the lid off. Gotta get my smiles from a pill

bottle, Benny. Nothing else for it these days.

Doctor says I've got a touch  of the blues but

I ain't talking about all that jazz. Scars ain't

worth the stories that gave you 'em, don't

you know that yourself Benny?

How're you anyhow benny? And the old boy?

And the missus? Gone? All Gone. I'll split

a smile with you Benny, if I can get the damn 

lid off it. Man needs a wife and a father, you know,

Benny? They know where the bottle opener is kept.

Do you hear that Benny? Can't beat Gershwin

on vinyl, not for the world. You don't have 

one on you, do you benny? Anyone'll do.

Can't stand this old one anymore. Too green,

too blue, too full, too lonely. Pick me out some-

-where new, Benny, near a hardware shop. Can

never have too many bottle openers. You know

the score Benny. Some place where they only play

Our house on repeat. Had enough of old Blue eyes

Benny. Think I'd quite like brown now. None? No?

Not to worry. A mug’ve brown will do just as well.

You ever had your tea leaves read Benny?

It's all Hogwash, don't give 'em a penny Benny.

A Washerwoman at the Fair read mine Once.

A dog or a King or both says she to me, Benny.

What d'you make of that eh, Benny? Unclear says she, 

Another fiver might clear her eyes a bit. I left on

a question mark. A question mark, Benny.