This year’s Arvon International Poetry Competition attracted thousands of entries from more than 43 countries – including the Philippines, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and the United States of America.

The shortlist was decided by a judging panel chaired by Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and included leading poets Elaine Feinstein and Sudeep Sen. 

The shortlisted poems are:

Cherries by Linda Anderson

Squaw duck for the bard by Jeff Bien

Love and the Orchid by Zoe Brigley

The Stoup by Frances Butler

Making Rounds by Frances Butler

Triptych by Geraldine Clarkson

Miss Jenkins by Julia Copus

Sea Bream Dinner by Paul Deaton

The Blue Dressing Gown by Ross Donlon

Hide and Seek Champ Found Dead in Cupboard by Angela France

Sin of Unrequited Love by Heidi Garnett

The Disposition of the Whiskers by Richard Gaunt

Inshallah by Gary Geddes

Alms for Anne by Rae Howells

Into The Horse by Sarah Jackson

The Calmness of Sheep by Hannah Lowe

Night Crime by Jo Lowry

Stone by Nick Makoha

Entertaining the Dictator by James Manlow

Advice to Wives by Sam North

Merman by Jean O'Brien

Kru Child by Timothy Ogene

And then you made me feel..... by Catherine Ormell

Zoo by Angela Readman

Lazarus by Sian Rider

Operation Cast Lead by Seni Seneviratne

Flying by Deirdre Shanahan

13th August, 1964 by Penelope Shuttle

Black Bat Burn by Andrew Slattery

How is it possible to ever say goodbye? By Sally St Clair

Silkworms by Ruth Thompson

The Butterflies, Kew Gardens by Christian Ward

Goldrush by Colette Watson

The winners will be announced on Thursday 4th November at a prize-giving ceremony, and results will be publicly announced online on 5th November. All prize-winning and commended poems will be published in a special competition anthology. Pre-order your copy here. 

About the Competition

Founded by Ted Hughes and now in its 30th year, The Arvon International Poetry Competition is one of the UK's most prestigious open poetry prizes. The first prize of £7,500 is one of the largest available for a single poem. The competition is truly international, welcoming entries from around the world.