Joyous poems sought

POETS are being invited to submit work written in dialect and based on the theme of “joy” for the 2015 Rhoda Bulter Award. The winning poem will then be published in the New Shetlander magazine.

The award, now in its second year, is presented in memory of Rhoda Bulter who was one of Shetland’s most important dialect writers. 

The competition is administered by the dialect promotion group, Shetland ForWirds, on behalf of the Bulter family who judge the entries.

Rhoda and Dennis Bulter’s daughter Margaret Stevenson says: “Mam’s herty gaff an love o beauty an onything  upliftin med wis think dat we wid lik ta hae ‘Joy’ as da theme dis year – we hoop fok can be inspired by dis an uplift baith demsels an aabody at reads or hears dir poem.”

Shetland ForWirds convenor, Mary Blance, is pleased: “Wir blyde ta be runnin dis competition ageen an wir hoopin da theme will be an inspiration fir folk whedder der wint wi usin da dialect in der writin or been winderin whedder dey sood hae a go at it.”

Poems should be no more than 40 lines in length. The closing date is 31 August. Entry forms and more information can be obtained through info@shetlanddialect.org.uk or you can ring Mary Blance in Lerwick on (01595) 694104.