Welsh Poetry Competition Anthology 2007-2011

"‘The First Five Years’ is a celebration of the best poetry submitted to the annual Welsh Poetry Competition in its opening years (2007-2011).

A distinct yet varied expression of the world we inhabit. Experimental, vibrant, musical, shocking, unapologetic. This anthology is as much for the unseen writers as it is for the commemorated. All art is opinion and all rules are meant to be broken. So if we have pushed a little further back the conventional and the humdrum, if we have shook up the establishment a little and injected life back into one of the greatest art forms available to mankind then we stand guilty as charged. That was indeed our intention.

This collection of over 100 poems contains some fearsome poetry. Of that there is no doubt. And the reason, I would venture, is that the poets contained herein were not afraid to say what they wanted for fear of failure or ridicule by those out of touch with true avant-garde literature. And so, this anthology, like the competition, is for the real artists, both within Wales and beyond.

So grab a copy, sit back and enjoy. ‘The First Five Years’ is just that. The beginning. And yes, there is much more to come, so watch this space."

- Dave Lewis