ABOUT THE PRIZE
The
Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for a single
unpublished poem. The prize is open to anyone, as long as the poem is
previously unpublished, and each year it attracts thousands of entries from new
and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide.
1st
PRIZE €6,000
3 RUNNER-UP PRIZES
OF €1,000
8 COMMENDED PRIZES
OF €250
The prize is judged anonymously by a single poet. Past judges include Claudia
Rankine, Marie Howe, Deborah Landau, Daljit Nagra, Leontia Flynn, Billy
Collins, Nick Laird, Warsan Shire, Hannah Sullivan and Nobel Laureate Louise
Glück.
Past winners include Aniqah Choudhri, Michael Lavers, Natalya Anderson, Lee
Sharkey, Ann Gray (whose poem was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best
Single Poem) and Abigail Parry (who was shortlisted for the Forward Prize
for Best First Collection).
The winner of The Moth Poetry Prize 2023 was American poet Lance Larsen. Watch
him read his winning poem ‘Things I’m Against’ here.
‘Talk about being caught off guard! I was just happy to be
among the shortlisted and commended poets. So much to learn from them. It feels
great to be struck by lightning. I certainly have more confidence in this poem
now, and the book manuscript it’s a part of. Thank you!’ Lance Larsen
THE JUDGE
Fiona Benson is the author of four poetry collections: Bright
Travellers, Vertigo & Ghost, Ephemeron and Midden
Witch (forthcoming). All three of her published collections have been shortlisted
for the T S Eliot prize, and her books have won the Forward Prize, the Seamus
Heaney Prize, the Roehampton Poetry Prize and the Geoffrey Faber Memorial
Prize. At the time of writing, Infamous Offspring, a collaboration
with the Belgian choreographer Wim Vandekeybus, is in production across Europe
with the company Ultima Vez. In 2024 she received a Cholmondley Award from the
Society of Authors. She lives in mid-Devon with her husband and their two daughters.
HOW TO ENTER
The Prize is open to anyone (over 16) from anywhere in the world, as long as
the work is original and previously unpublished.
There is no line limit, and the
poems can be on any subject.
The entry fee is €15 per poem.
You can
ENTER ONLINE or
send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘The Moth
Magazine Ltd.’ with an
ENTRY FORM or a cover letter with your
name and contact details and the title of your poem(s) attached to: The
Moth, Ardan Grange, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland H14 K768.
**If you are concerned about formatting online, please go through the online
process and then email your poem as a Word attachment with your entry
number directly to enquiries@themothmagazine.com.**
Please remember to
READ THE RULES of the competition before
you enter.
CLOSING DATE 31 DECEMBER 2024
You will need to subscribe to our mailing list if you wish to be
notified of the results
The
shortlist will be announced in March 2025 and the four shortlisted poems will
appear in the Irish Times online.
The overall winner of €6,000 will be announced at a special award online
in the spring of 2025.
Call 00 353 (0)87 2657251 or email enquiries@themothmagazine.com for more
details.
TESTIMONIALS
‘Judging
The Moth Poetry Prize was a beautiful experience. I’ve come away changed ‒
inspired and hopeful.’ Warsan Shire
‘The great thing about winning with this poem is that I have actually
submitted it to other competitions without success. Sometimes you have to give
up on your favourites, but sometimes it is worth ignoring the feedback and
sticking with your gut. I am glad I did with this poem.’ Damen O’Brien
'I'm thrilled and honored and excited! I can't believe it.' Michael Lavers