NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION 2022
Poetry Festival (Singapore) [PFS] is challenging aspiring poets to submit entries to the National Poetry Competition 2022. The writers of the winning entries will have the opportunity to perform them at the awards ceremony on July 30 at LASALLE College of the Arts Library.
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2022
Categories: Super Junior (10 to 13 years old), Junior (14 to 17 years old) and Senior (18 years old or above)
Length: Up to 40 lines
Language: English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil. The poems are evaluated by published poets in their respective mother tongues. English translations are required only for public performance at PFS or possible publication.
Theme: Resurgence
Entries have closed and below are the shortlisted poems.
National Poetry Competition 2022 Winners & Finalists
Note: There is only one winner (if any) designated for the 10 to 14 years old category. Merit winners (if any) will each receive a Certificate of Achievement. Certificates of Participation (if any) may be awarded. Special Mention may also be awarded.
This year we received a total of 484 entries!
English - 378 entries, Chinese - 40 entries
Malay - 32 entries, Tamil - 34 entries
<Click here to view all the poems!>
CHINESE LANGUAGE FINALISTS
Super Junior Category (10 to 14 years old)
Special Mention
“从新冠中突破重⽣”
(“Break Through And Reborn From Covid”)
by Chen Pin-Rong
Junior Category (15 to 17 years old)
First Place
“进化论”
(“Theory of Evolution”)
by Liu Ku
Second Place
“那个我触及不到的我”
(“Whom I Cannot Become”)
by Wong Jing En
Third Place
“致往昔”
by Lin Yu-Guan
Senior Category (18 and above)
First Place
“我们拥抱一种倒叙——”
(“Round and Around”)
by Wong Ying Tyng
Second Place
“轨迹”
(“The Path”)
by Ng Cheng Khiong
Third Place
“该说早安还是晚安”
(“Morning, or Good Night”)
by Sun I-Feng
Merit Award
“透光”
(“Light Passing Through”)
by Tey Jack Yi
Merit Award
“寻石记”
(“Finding Stone”)
by Ng Kiat Fah
Merit Award
“今夜又梦”
by Wee Sue Yin
MALAY LANGUAGE FINALISTS
Super Junior Category (10 to 14 years old)
First Place
"Hei, diriku"
("Hey, myself")
by Nasywa Sabila Binte Muhammad Hotib
Second Place
"Syawal Nan Meriah"
("Joyous Syawal")
by Naila Khalisha Mohammed Hisham
Third Place
"Ya Illahi"
("Dear God")
by Nur Marsya Alya Binte Mohammad Iskhandar
Junior Category (15 to 17 years old)
First Place
"Ilmu dan Manusiawi"
("Knowledge and Humanity")
by Kien Khai Chin
Second Place
"Jarum Kehidupan"
("Needle of Life")
by Dian Tiara Binte Sapari
Senior Category (18 and above)
First Place
"Mentari di Balik Kaca"
("The Sun Behind the Glass")
by Fadhli Fadzil
Second Place
"Sengaja (Purposely)"
by Nurul Ashikin Seman
Third Place
"WARNA SEBUAH KEBANGKITAN SEMULA"
("THE COLOUR OF A RESURGENCE")
by Goh Mey Teck
TAMIL LANGUAGE FINALISTS
Super Junior Category (10 to 14 years old)
First Place
"வகுப்பறை"
("Classroom")
by Afeefa Ahmad
Second Place
"வாழ்க்கை மலர்"
("Life Blooms")
by G K Sri Harihar
Third Place
"சன்னல் வெளியே பார்த்தபோது"
("As I looked out of the Window")
by N GENELA
Junior Category (15 to 17 years old)
First Place
"கடலின் சிகரம்'
("Peak of the Seas")
by N REMILA
Second Place
"தொழில்நுட்பம்"
("Technology")
by Alief Ahmad
Third Place
"ஆனந்தம் ஆரம்பம்"
("Happiness begins")
by Vishalini Selvaraj
Senior Category (18 and above)
Third Place
"தீயினால் சுட்டாலும்"
("Even if burned by fire")
by Priya Jaikumar
Merit Award
"முன்பிருந்த கணத்தின் மலர்ச்சி"
("Efflorescence of the earlier moment")
by Mohanapriya Chandrasekaran
Merit Award
"விடியல் பறவை"
("Dawn bird")
by Agamadou Marecar Assaraf Millat Marecar
ENGLISH LANGUAGE FINALISTS
Super Junior Category (10-14 years old)
First Place
"A Dying Trade"
by Kuah Rui Yi
Second Place
"Death's Plea"
by Avishi Gurnani
Third Place
"Sun Mother"
by Nidhi Somashekar
Merit Award
"take-them-with-you"
by Annetta Seah
Merit Award
"Winter Sleep"
by Valentina Anburaj
Merit Award
"Shoe"
by Ung E-Shuen
Merit Award
"Women’s Work"
by Sophie Tung
Junior Category (15 to 17 years old)
First Place
"triple-tongued"
by Su Thar Nyein
Second Place
"letters"
by Durva Kamdar
Third Place
"a reconciliation with entropy"
by Tham Yu Xuan
Third Place
"Bugis Street, Revisited"
by Cheryl Tan
Merit Award
"i only want to speak mandarin"
by Nicole Ang
Merit Award
"Circles"
by Ashleigh Ng
Merit Award
"wildflower tea: tempest in a teapot"
by Leia Yap
Senior Category (18 and above)
First Place
"Prodigal"
by Conan Tan
Second Place
"Breve Rest"
by Calvin Goh
Third Place
"Sestina For Departures"
by Christian Yeo
Merit Award
"Dear Yang"
by Lucas Tan
Merit Award
"A First-Time Mother Reacquaints Herself with Her Mother’s Tongue"
by Frida Ho
Merit Award
"I know you, but sit down, let’s get a drink again"
by Lee Tze Min
Merit Award
"And This, Too, Shall Stay"
by Anna Onni