Poets & Players Competition 2015 – highly commended and winners with judge Paul Muldoon

Professor Paul Muldoon is a fine poet and fellow Ulsterman, so I couldn’t resist including ‘Ulster Grill’ in my selection for this year’s Poets & Players competition, which he was judging. I thought it might at least give him a wry smile but certainly didn’t expect it to be a winner, being short and fairly sparse. I can only say I am delighted to receive third prize and feature on Poets & Player’s website. http://poetsandplayers.co/competition/poets-and-players-competition-2015/

Ulster Grill

Three breads, two puddings, sausage
stuffed with grain, an egg on top

and a careful rasher of bacon
laid with grace. A tray of tea follows,
breaking the silence with its little bell

and always you are asked: Is it enough?
Would you like some more?

Along the coast
from this butter-scented room
in a small town with seven castles,

through three loughs, a city
and a pinball of glens and arches

you’ll be asked the same questions: Is it enough?
Would you like some more? 

Soda and potato, wheaten and oats,
blood and guts, sunny side up.

Comments from judge Paul Muldoon
3rd Prize: ‘Ulster Grill’ by Janine Pinion

witty take on the “sunny” attitude of a beleaguered nation set against their diet of “blood and guts.”

And here’s the video: