Poetry In Bloom
A Nature Poetry Initiative - celebrating the power of storytelling and nature
Calling all writers aged 7 and upwards: Powerscourt Estate & Fighting Words want your poems and lyrics!
The “Poetry in Bloom” at Powerscourt initiative, developed by Powerscourt, in partnership with creative writing organisation Fighting Words, is an invitation and call to everyone from the age of 7 up to 107 to create a poem or write lyrics inspired by nature observed at Powerscourt Gardens. All submissions are online and will be automatically entered into an open prize draw to win a variety of wonderful prizes.
The initiative also pays homage to the life of the “Poetess of Powerscourt” Shelia Wingfield, a gifted poet and Viscountess of Powerscourt. She crossed paths and was a contemporary of some of the greatest literary figures of the early twentieth century Ireland, including W.B Yeats. Shelia Wingfield led a colourful life and lived and breathed poetry. Her writing and poetry clearly emanate from her love for nature, with many of her poems inspired by her surrounds at Powerscourt Estate.
In these uncertain times, connecting with nature is good for everyone’s wellbeing, creating stories through poems or lyrics keeps us connected to those magical creative moments in nature and helps us all tread a little lightly on ourselves and the natural world.
Fighting Words offers free workshops to children and adults to explore their creativity and create new stories at locations all over Ireland. Powerscourt Estate and Fighting Words have now come together and are inviting all visitors to Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall this summer to immerse themselves in nature and be inspired to write a poem or lyrics.
Create a Poem or Lyrics Inspired by Nature
Powerscourt Estate and Fighting Words are asking visitors to Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall throughout August to submit their own written poem or lyrics inspired by nature. Your unique poems, lyrics (maximum length 250 words) can take any form – from a short poem, lyrics to 2-3 lines of a poem. There is no minimum length required. The only requirement is that your poem or lyrics must be inspired by nature in full bloom at Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall.
There are three different submission categories: 1) children, 2) teenagers and 3) adults. All entries are automatically entered into an open prize draw to win a variety of amazing prizes. The first twenty submissions online will also receive family passes to Powerscourt Gardens.
Throughout August and September a virtual “Poetry in Bloom” at Powerscourt poetry wall will be created on the Fighting Words and Powerscourt Estate websites where all entries can be viewed. Powerscourt will also install a poetry trail where selected entries (poems, lyrics) will be featured on the trail throughout Powerscourt Gardens in August and will be shared weekly on social media.
The overall winner of the open prize- draw will be announced at the end of September and will receive a year’s annual membership to Powerscourt Estate and a gift card worth €250. The three runners-up will also receive annual memberships.
Get Inspired
Powerscourt Gardens are now beautifully in bloom and are a perfect place to visit to unwind and experience nature in all its summer glory. The roses in the Walled Garden, some planted over forty years ago are now coming into their more vibrant second flush over the next few weeks. The Herbaceous Border, the longest double border in the country is now a haven for biodiversity and has something for everyone to enjoy, especially eagle-eyed children.
In these uncertain times, connecting with nature is good for everyone’s wellbeing, creating stories through poems or lyrics keeps us connected to those magical creative moments in nature and helps us all tread a little lightly on ourselves and the natural world.
Writing Tips
To get started with writing your nature-inspired poetry, why not try creating a Haiku? Take a look at this quick guide to Haiku writing. Video coming soon!
If you're not sure where to start, before you visit Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall, take a look at the recent beautiful dawn chorus time lapse video in association with Tourism Ireland of the Gardens. Click here to watch.
Celebrating Poetry in Bloom
All submissions will be reviewed by Fighting Words and included in a nature filled digital online anthology which will be published on Fighting Words’ and Powerscourt Estate websites in October.
A selection of entries submitted (poems, lyrics) will also be transformed into a poetry-film inspired by nature at Powerscourt (short 2-5-minute film) which will be circulated widely also.
- You never know - your poem or lyrics may be selected and showcased!
- To read the works submitted so far click HERE to go to our Poetry Wall
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions open on Monday 5th July, to Tuesday 31st August at 12pm
- Submissions close on Tuesday, 31st of August at 5pm
- Maximum word count: 250 words
- Submissions may be in English or in Irish
Authors can be ages of 7 + years of age. Three categories of entry:
Category 1 - Children: 7-12-years old
Category 2- Teenagers: 13-17
Category 3 - Adult: 18 +
To enter, email your piece as an EDITABLE attachment. Send your poems and lyrics in an editable format (e.g. Microsoft Word or Google Docs).
Please DO NOT send submissions in PDF format as they cannot be edited.
IMPORTANT: All submissions should be sent to fiction@fightingwords.ie with POETRY IN BLOOM SUBMISSION in the subject line. Entries from authors under the age of 18 should be sent on their behalf from a parent/guardian’s email address. Please include the following information in the body of the email:
- Name of author
- Age of author + Submission Category (1, 2 or 3).
- County where you live
- Title of piece
- Word Count (please note maximum of 250 words)
- Parent/Guardian Name if author is under 18
- Parent/Guardian Contact Telephone Number if author is under 18
- Contact details of author if 18+
- IMPORTANT: Submissions from children and teenagers should be made on their behalf from a parent/guardian email address.
- All submissions will be acknowledged by email and entrants will receive a copy of the terms and conditions.
- Powerscourt Estate and Fighting Words reserve the right not to publish submissions if details listed above are not included.
- Any questions should be sent by email to Pierina@fightingwords.ie with POETRY IN BLOOM QUESTION in the subject line
Consent – Attention Parents/Guardians
By submitting a story for your child using your email address, parents/guardians confirm that they are the parent/guardian for the entrant in the project "Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt", which will result in a digital publication.
Parent/guardians understand that all rights to submissions belong to the contributing writer/artist and to Fighting Words and Powerscourt Estate and the project partners, which may reproduce the contributed work in connection with the promotion of the project and the publication together with the project partners. Any possible proceeds from the project will support Fighting Words and its partners.
Fighting Words, Powerscourt Estate and the project partners reserves the right not to publish content that contravenes the Fighting Words Equal Opportunities and/or Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy. Both policies are found on www.fightingwords.ie
Privacy Policy
Fighting Words and Powerscourt Estate are responsible for storing your data securely.
By submitting a piece of writing or other artwork to this project, you accept that Fighting Words, Powerscourt Estate and their project partners may use your information in connection with the creation of the project "Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt" and publish your child’s contribution digitally. All rights are reserved to you as the parent of the author / artist and Fighting Words, Powerscourt Estate and the project partners.
No unauthorised person will gain access to your information. Your e-mail address will not be used for purposes other than to communicate with you directly regarding "Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt".
