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The Papers are 104!

The 104th edition of The Frogmore Papers has now been published and is available from The Frogmore Press (still only £5.00, post free). The issue includes all ten poems shortlisted for this year’s Frogmore Poetry Prize, which was adjudicated by Graham Mort, including the winning poem by Kathy Miles (see below), alongside new poetry from the likes of Sharon Black, Maggie Butt, Robert Hamberger, Maitreyabandhu, Christine McNeill, Jackie Wills and Lynne Wycherley (to name but a few), prose from H Alder, Robert Charles and Mark Levy, and the usual clutch of reviews of recent publications from the world of poetry.

The Frogmore Papers No. 104, cover designed by Eva Bodinet

German artist Eva Bodinet has created another memorable cover for the issue. Julia Casterton (1952 – 2007) is the writer featured in the ‘From the Archive’ section, and our 104th edition also includes what may prove to be one of the last poems by the Irish poet Fred Johnston, a frequent contributor to the Papers, who very sadly died unexpectedly earlier this month.

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38th Frogmore Prize heads west to Wales

Kathy Miles from Aberaeron, Ceredigion has been awarded the 38th annual Frogmore Poetry Prize by adjudicator Graham Mort for her poem ‘After a Termination on Medical Grounds’.

Born in Liverpool, Kathy has lived in Wales since 1972. She worked for many years at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, where she also completed an MA in Creative Writing. Her fourth collection of poetry, Bone House, was published by Indigo Dreams in 2020, and her latest collection, Vanishing Point, was published earlier this year by Palewell Press. Commenting on the process of adjudicating the Prize, Graham Mort said: ‘I avoided poems that explained themselves, trying to choose those that yielded up further meanings or significance, that burned brightest in my own consciousness, remaining irreducible. I wanted to acknowledge adventure in theme, form and language, to find transformative endings that left my own visions active in the lingering aura of the poem.’

The Frogmore Papers 104. Cover art by Eva Bodinet

First runner-up was Pamela Job from Wivenhoe, Essex, with her poem ‘Nikolai Astrup shows a rare visitor around his village’, inspired by an exhibition of the work of Norwegian artist Nikolai Astrup at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Second runner-up was Ben Verinder from Tring, Hertfordshire, with his poem ‘The Marfa Lights’. His poem ‘Dilapidations’ also reached the shortlist of ten. Other shortlisted poets were Jane Davidson, Tim Dwyer, Kate Horsley, Sarah Salway, Thea Smiley and Vivienne Tregenza.

Their poems will all be published in the September edition of The Frogmore Papers, available from The Frogmore Press for only £5.00, including post & packing.