The time has come’ the Walrus said ‘To talk of many things....
So that’s why, now’s the time to leave logical thinking behind you and move into a world of “Nonsensical Poems” which will become something unique and special and a celebration of the less serious side of life.
Reita Gadkari, Chair of the Edward Lear Prize for Poetry together with her business partner Shane Thantirimudalige, is again extending the invitation to all those who enjoy living on the radar of nonsense to take part in the competition for which applications opened on September 1 and will close on November 10. So hurry move out from that indecisive mode and get yourself the entry form at www.edwardlearprizeforpoetry.com
Only the first 100 entries will be accepted.
It all started at Reita and Shane’s hotel, Owl and the Pussycat. A favourite quote of the owners’ says it all which couldn’t be more apt not only for their resort boutique hotel, but also the now popular Owl and The Pussycat.
They dined on mince and slices of quince
Which they ate with a runcible spoon
And hand in hand on the edge of the sand
They danced by the light of the moon,
the moon, the moon
They danced by the light of the moon.
(Edward Lear 1812-1888)
To Reita the poem is one of her favourite childhood poems and now as an adult she gets pleasure in reading nonsensical poems over and over, in particular, The Owl and The Pussycat. In fact, it inspired her to name her first investment in the country which has become her second home. Furthermore, she hopes that this prize will inspire young aspiring poets to create something that is unique.
The criteria to enter is not complicated. It is open to citizens of Sri Lanka between the ages of 18 and 30. The entries should be an unpublished single poem or a collection of up to five poems. Each poem should have a minimum of 200 words and the total of five poems should not exceed 1,200 words. The theme should be in the vein of Edward Lear’s ‘Nonsensical Poems’, bringing about a feeling of lightness and optimism to the world in which we live.