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PRIZES MAGAZINE THEATRE


   

THE MOTH POETRY PRIZE 2023 IS NOW OPEN


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The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for a single unpublished poem. The prize is open to anyone, as long as the poem is previously unpublished, and each year it attracts thousands of entries from new and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide.

The prize is judged anonymously by a single poet. Past judges include Claudia Rankine, Billy Collins, Nick Laird, Warsan Shire 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 2022 was British poet Laurie Bolger. Watch her read her winning poem ‘Parkland Walk’ here. 
 
‘I am over the moon. To be recognised by Louise Glück is honestly wonderful. Thank you for being so bloody lovely & making my year.’ Laurie Bolger


THE JUDGE

Hannah Sullivan’s debut collection, Three Poems, won the T. S. Eliot Prize in 2019. She studied Classics at Cambridge, received her PhD in English from Harvard, and taught as an Assistant Professor at Stanford University. She is an Associate Professor of English at New College, Oxford. Her latest collection, Was It For This, was published by Faber earlier this year.
 
‘Sullivan's authority, reach and ambition are exhilarating.' Lavinia Greenlaw, London Review of Books
 

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The Prize is open to anyone (over 16) from anywhere in the world, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.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 2023

The shortlist will be announced in March 2024 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 ceremony online in the spring of 2024.

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
 


 

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00 353 87 2657251