Judges
comments:
After reading nearly a hundred
poems submitted to this competition, I have finally decided
on five poems which represent the most successful interpretations
of the aim and the spirit of the competition. These five poems
achieved a very stylish balance between a subject which has
current social/political interest, a rhyming scheme which
showed great technical virtuosity, and, most Swiftian of all,
perhaps, an ironic sense of humour. They also managed to do
something quite difficult, namely, to imitate the spirit of
Swift while creating something very original. In other words,
these poems are not merely slavish imitations or simple tributes,
but original variations upon a classic theme. Swift's good
friend, Alexander Pope, thought that the highest art usually
concealed the hard work which went into its completion, remarking
"True ease in writing comes from Art, not Chance/As those
move easiest, who have learned to dance." These five
poems also achieved this illusion of a relaxed, spontaneous
kind of verse, but showed a very high order of design and
discipline. They also seemed to be enjoying themselves, which
would have met with Swift's approval.
There were many other fine poems, and I was sorry to have
to exclude them. I extend my congratulations to all who entered
this competition, but especially to those who have entered
the final rounds.
Professor Joe McMinn, Ulster University |
