St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Carden Place, Aberdeen

Pro-Cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney

Poem Competition

Competition rules:

  1. Anyone who wishes to enter the competition should submit their poem(s) via the St Mary’s email address stmarycardenplace@gmail.com.
  2. The subject of your poems is entirely up to you and need not be necessarily church related.
  3. The poem should be all your own work.
  4. As a guide your poem maybe two verses and between 4 to 6 lines per verse. Deviation from the suggested format is permissible.
  5. There is no limit to the number of poems that can be submitted by each entrant, but the Vestry of St Mary’s has the right to decide which poems are published.
  6. Poems will be published on the St Mary’s website with a number and title.  Each entrant will be deemed to grant St Mary’s Vestry a royalty free non-exclusive licence to publish the material.
  7. The entry fee for each poem submitted is £2 and you can enter as many poems as you like.  Payments can be made direct to St Mary’s bank account, or by cheque made payable to St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Carden Place, Aberdeen or via the PayPal donation facility on our website.
  8. The closing date is set as 17th October (Harvest Sunday).
  9. The best three poems will be selected by the Vestry of St Mary’s.

Competition entries

1. The Busy Wind

Oh busy Wind do tell me why
When you come blowing from the sky
You whip around between buildings high
As in Marischal Square
 
Where seating should be a welcome rest
For people to sit where sun shines best
Instead you rush around and by your zest
You are chasing incomers away
 
Says Busy Wind that in my mind
I search for places where I find
Especially to me are very kind 
That by their lift I’m stronger
 
The high lift of the 'New Built Square'
So wonderful, is exactly where
Happily swishing I want to share
The joy that is given to me
 
Wind stay up not down be on your way
Give grace to people who want to stay
Enjoying sun and rest while they may 
Letting people linger longer.

2. Tomorrow

“I’m too busy” said he, as he put down the phone,
“I’m too tired” said he as he turned off the light
Maybe tomorrow I won’t need to moan,
Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel just right
 
No time to delay, no time to look back
No time to slow down, no time to be here
Maybe tomorrow I’ll start to unpack,
Maybe tomorrow I’ll just disappear.

3. Congregation Revelation

St Andrew’s Cathedral was closed for renovation,
What was happening to its Congregation?
Then suddenly they heard of Zoom,
Would this lead to doom and gloom?
On the contrary with hearts uplifted,
View from the Upper Room was gifted.
 
The Priest appeared in Robes arrayed
At the altar, Service, Eucharist was displayed.
This choice for many a revelation,
Rejoining some of the congregation,
Thankfully plus Pro-Cathedral St Mary’s Church,
The Congregation were not left in the lurch.

4. It is our Turn

What can all persons do the cry went out,
With the pandemic we can’t get about.
Self-isolate is now the “new”,
Freely about a privilege of a few,
Including wild animals on the road,
Are creeping out from their abode.
 
Blatantly walking, clearly are seen,
Makes us wonder where they’ve been.
Where once they watched us fill the streets,
Now animals do strut as freedom greets,
While we converse at home on Zoom,
When shall we like them be free to roam.