Rotorua children encouraged to let verses flow for Mad Poets collection

Poets Julia Charity, left, Alan Kissock, Jane Fear, and Jackie Evans. Photo / File

Mad Poets Rotorua would hate to think that any young writer may miss out on the chance to be in its next poetry collection, so encourages local youth to get writing and sharing.

It is now almost 20 years since Mad Poets Rotorua published a collection of young people's poetry from Rotorua and surrounds.

This last collection, entitled Bubbling Up, included 101 poems from students of all ages, with 17 schools represented.

Mad Poets is now looking to publish a new collection entitled I Am From.

The I Am From theme aims to be a way to celebrate diversity, and young people can interpret that how they like and be as innovative as they want.

The poetry does not have to be a story about their own whakapapa, can be in English or Māori and can be illustrated.

Mad Poets' Terry Locke says that the arts, including poetry, may tell the best story about a place because people are bringing an active response to their lives.

"Rotorua is a very special place and it's a wonderful way to have Rotorua's story told by a number of young people, speaking in their own words in poetic form about their own experiences."

He says a collection of poetry like this in any other cities would differ, and that poetry is a wonderful, succinct way of telling a story.

Terry says this theme of I Am From is about young people sharing in an open way where they are from and opening up acts of acceptance and understanding.

"Having young people tell those kinds of stories is a step in the direction of enhancing tolerance in our society."

Terry says he has been asking schools to garner their interest in getting pupils involved, and encourages all young people in the community to send works in.

"There are young people out there where poetry is an important mode of expression.

"They may have little scribblings in journals tucked in drawers, and there are many people out there who write poetry but don't think they are poets."

Terry says the idea is to have a published collection out in time for New Zealand Poetry Week which takes place in August.

Mad Poets will not be accepting possible contributions until April 2, but encourages young people interested to start thinking about their entries.

There will also be a competition running for the cover of the published collection, so if young people would like to come up with a cover painting, picture or graphic, then they are welcome to send them through too.

For more information and to submit poems or cover designs from April 2, email locketj98@gmail.com