Tauranga writers encouraged to submit their poems

Tauranga Writers president Jenny Argante. Photo/Jay Drew

Bay of Plenty writers are encouraged to turn their ideas, observations or emotions into poetry as part of today's National Poetry Day.

Writers have until the end of the day to submit their poem entries to Tauranga Writers.

Tauranga Writers president Jenny Argante said National Poetry Day allowed generations to share poetry across the ages, from a James Baxter sonnet to a poetry slam performer.

She said it also allowed emerging and established poets to have a turn in the spotlight "too often reserved for bodily rather than mental skills and talents".

"Finding you shared a favourite poem with someone else or discovering a poet or poem you had never come across before that reached out to you, and coming across poetry in unexpected places and from unexpected writers, readers and lovers of poetry, rhymed or unrhymed."

The open poetry competition was sponsored by Freelance Writers Helping Writers and was free to enter.

Each entry will go in the draw to win prizes and other rewards.

This year Tauranga Writers was celebrating its 50th anniversary, which Ms Argante said was the longest-running self-help group for writers in New Zealand.

A free, open-mic, preparatory workshop for National Poetry Day to deliver poems, songs and music with Marion Arts, John Baxter, Marcel Currin and Archaeo will be held at Mount Social Club tonight from 6pm.

"We usually get a turn-out of 50-60 in the audience, and it is always a highlight of our year, Ms Argante said.

She said the idea was to be surprised and delighted and to enjoy a happy mix of happy and sad, old and new, known and unknown.

"Perhaps on Saturday when they are in town they will stop at the bookshop to buy a book of poetry, or at the library to borrow one."

Enter the competition

Emailed your poem and your a name, email and contact phone number to taurangawritersnz@gmail.com