Annually the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) invites writers to submit original, unpublished poems for the Poet’s Pause poetry competition.
The poems are displayed at the two Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park: the large metal chimes art piece titled “Lost in Sound” at the north part of the park and the giant Adirondack chairs titled “Lakeside Couple” at the south end of the park. The poems are inspired by the sculpture sites or by Whistler.
Poet’s Pause is part of a public art concept created by the late Joan Baron, an artist who developed the two Alta Lake Park sculpture sites with the intention of inspiring creativity.
2024 Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition
Seasoned and amateur writers of all ages were once again invited to contribute to public art in Whistler through the Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition, with a deadline for submissions of March 14, 2024.
The two winning selections (see below) each received a prize of $250 and were read during a Council meeting in April as part of National Poetry Month. Both of the winning poems will also be displayed at the Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park: one at the large metal chimes titled “Lost in Sound” located in the north part of the park, and the other at the giant Adirondack chairs titled “Lakeside Couple” in the south end of the park.
Winning poems:
Matrilineal – By David Footle, 2024
believe me when I say – By Nancy Issenman, 2024
For more information: 2024 Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition Terms of Reference
2023 Poet’s Pause Poetry Competition
The 2023 Poets Pause poetry competition is now complete.
Listening Theme: Congratulations to Georgia Butler with her poem “Pause, Hear, Listen, Love”
Togetherness Theme: Congratulations to Jessica Beth Brown with her poem “Companion Planting”
