Celebrating Poetry Excellence: Winners of the Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry 2024 Announced

Photo: Katrina Naomi (competition judge) – Photo credit Ian Kingsnorth

A Prestigious Event for Poets of All Ages

The winners of the Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry 2024 were announced on Saturday, 26th October, at an awards ceremony hosted at The Exchange in Penzance. This international competition, sponsored by The Morrab Library and The Myner Trust, drew over 1,300 entries across adult and children’s categories, showcasing both local and international talent. The event featured live and virtual attendance, with shortlisted poets joining in person or via Zoom to celebrate their achievements. The library plans to share recordings of the winning poets reading their work on its website soon.

Winning Poem Offers “More on Every Reading”

The top honour, judged by acclaimed poet Katrina Naomi, was awarded to Miruna Fulgeanu for her poem ‘American Eclipse Sonnet’. Katrina praised Miruna’s work, noting her admiration for the poem’s “taut language and fine imagery.” Miruna attended the ceremony via Zoom, where she read her winning piece to an attentive audience. Julio Trujillo and Abigail Ottley, who placed second and third respectively, also received high praise from Katrina. She described Julio’s ‘The Whales’ as a poem that offered “surprising new perspectives on the ocean” and Abigail’s ‘Aged twenty-nine, she buys her first running shoes’ as both “evocative” and “powerful.”

Photo: Competition Judge Keith Sparrow -Photo credit Ian Kingsnorth

Honouring Emerging Talent: The Sonnet Prize and Children’s Categories

This year, a special Sonnet Prize judged by Arizona-based poet Jodie Hollander was introduced, awarding first place to Kyle Potvin for ‘After the Biopsy’. Jodie commended Kyle’s sonnet for its “seemingly effortless movement of a compelling narrative” and “beautiful musical structure.” Jodie also recognised ‘Play it London’ by Jez Punter and ‘Mother Playing Baseball’ by Nathan Congdon as highly commended.

In addition to the adult prizes, the competition included categories for young poets, drawing entries from Cornwall and beyond. Keith Sparrow, one of the children’s competition judges, described the standard as “remarkable” and challenging to judge. The first prize in the 4-11 category went to Martina Lima Barbata for her poem ‘Another Stroll Along the Thames’. Charlie and Charlotte Viohl followed closely with second and third place for their poems ‘Time’ and ‘Friendships’. The 12-17 category was won by Charlie Jolley with ‘The Drowners’, praised by judges for its maturity and powerful themes.

Photo: Katrina Naomi and Abigail Ottley – Photo Credit Ian Kingsnorth

A Legacy of Literary Inspiration

The Patricia Eschen Prize, sponsored by The Myner Trust, continues a legacy of artistic patronage in honour of Patricia Eschen, whose family history is deeply intertwined with The Morrab Library. Patricia’s brother, Dennis Myner, an architect and dedicated library member, used her inheritance to fund significant extensions to the library, including its Art Room, which bears her name. The Morrab Library itself, founded in 1818, remains a centre for cultural enrichment and education, housing an extensive collection focused on Cornish history and literature. It also regularly hosts events, workshops, and artist residencies, welcoming members and day visitors alike.

For a full list of shortlisted poems and updates on the competition, visit The Morrab Library’s website and social media platforms.

Photo: Katrina Naomi and Julio Trujillo – Photo credit Ian Kingsnorth