'Covidioms': Collaborative Poem Submissions

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and social lockdown, life is changing. With developments and headlines moving rapidly, loved ones shut off from each other, people working from homes and public amenitiies closed, we are having to get used to a life indoors, and for some, a life rapidly more online. We've seen innovative responses, volunteer drives, community spirit and offers of help and advice extended. But we've also seen panic-buying, people ignoring social distancing, fake news being spread. Either way, life insists, and persists.

Poetry NI wants to capture people's responses to this crisis, and naturally, we feel the best way to do this is through poetry. We are asking people to send in a haiku, giving a snapshot of their life under lockdown. This could be a positive or negative aspect of your current situation; either way, we want to read about it. Together, these haiku will form a sequence, a haikai, detailing people's lives, which will be published in an e-pamphlet, available for free download from our website. This will be a one off Panning for Poems special edition.

In the spirit of collaboration and comnunity, people's names will not be given alongside each haiku in the sequence, but rather a list of contributors given at the end.

Please complete the entry form below to submit. All submissions must be in by Sunday, April 12th.

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