Aspiring wordsmiths take note, the fifth annual AVBOB Poetry Competition will officially open on August 1.
For this year’s theme, poets are invited to submit poems that can inspire their fellow South Africans during these difficult times.
“Words of comfort and consolation can help us survive this deeply difficult time,” said AVBOB CEO Carl van der Riet.
“We are glad to offer this platform where people can express their feelings. We anticipate that the poems we receive will uplift the writers’ hearts and spirits, as well as touch those who read their verses.”
Poems can be in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages, and each person can submit up to ten poems each.
First-place comes with prizes to the value of R12,500 which will include R10,000 in cash, a R2,500 book voucher as well as the AVBOB Poetry trophy.
Entrants also stand a chance to have their poems included in the AVBOB Poetry library, which will earn them a usage fee R300. The top three poems in each language category will also feature in a special print anthology.
The AVBOB Poetry website also offers a wide collection of past poems, resources and informative articles to help spark the imagination.
To enter, register on the AVBOB website from August 1 onwards. Entries will be open until November 30.
