Poetry competition for entrants around the world. First prize £ 750. Deadline 25 Jan 2022. Paid entry.
The 9th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition
About The 9th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition
The 2021/2022 (9th) competition runs for 41 weeks.
Every Tuesday at midday (UTC) from 13th April 2021 – 25th January 2022, five words will be posted on this competition page.
Entrants have one week to compose and submit one or more poems which include all five words given for that week.
Poems cannot exceed 50 lines in length (including line breaks), and must include all five words listed during this week.
A modicum of poetic license is acceptable. As long as the original spelling is intact within your syntax, you’re welcome to extend, pluralise or even split the words to appear across two adjoining words. Poems should be newly written, during the relevant 7-day period.
There is no limit to volume of entries. Each payment and submission should be made separately.
The judge for 2021/22 is Maurice Riordan.
Who can participate?
Entry is open to all countries. Entrants should be at least 18 years of age at the date of submission.
Awards/Prizes
- First prize £750
- Second prize £500
- Third prize £250
These three, if available will be invited to read at Ó Bhéal’s fifteenth-anniversary event, on Monday the 11th of April 2022.
Should we be able to host a physical event at that time, then an additional travel fee of £100 plus B&B accommodation will be provided for this.
The overall winner also receives a physical award, hand-crafted by acclaimed glass artist (and poet) Michael Ray.
The shortlisted poems and winning entry will also be published in Five Words Vol XV – the next annual anthology of five-word poems, to be launched at the same event.
Deadline
Application deadline for the prize is 25 Jan 2022.
Entries to be sent no later than 12 p.m on the relevant Tuesday.
Entry fee
Submissions carry a £5 entrance fee.
Some useful information
Please visit rules, FAQ and previous winning entries from the official website to take part in The 9th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition.
More Information
- Target Participants Anyone, Age-restricted
- Official Source Website https://www.obheal.ie/blog/five-words-poetry-competition/