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Dorset Perspective an anthology of contemporary Dorset Poetry

Following on the success of the three previous years' Children's Anthologies, when we collated the winning entries from each of the three Young People's Competitions, aimed at encouraging children to write and read poetry, we thought this year we would try out a new idea: adult poetry inspired by Dorset's unique contours.
The word was put around local writers' groups, and travelled via our annual East Street Poets Wessex Poetry Platform! Festival, emails and the Dorset Literature Network. Entries came in droves. They were sent off anonymously for selection.
Whittling these down was no easy task for our selector, JoAnn Sharples, to whom we are indebted. JoAnn commented on her experience as selector as follows: 'There are so many different
perspectives of Dorset highlighted in these poems; they journey the reader through time, and a range of emotions. To my mind, this is exactly what an anthology should do. Each scene of Dorset is framed in a poem; the reader views each scene on each page in turn, much like paintings in a gallery'
Some of JoAnn's poems have been selected by the editor for inclusion in this anthology.
Thanks are also due to various members of the East Street Poets, the Committee, and individual poets, for their time and their comments.
Tricia Bishop, an award-winning poet, whose comments feature on the back cover, has several collections to her name:
Saving Dragons (Oversteps, 2000); Time's Doppelganger (Oversteps 2002); her new collection is due out late in 2005.
We are also appreciative of North Dorset District Council for their funding of this project.

If you are a Dorset resident interested in joining an active programme of workshops and cafes, do get in touch via the Dorset Literature Network, the Dorchester Library, or though the current Chair. We meet on the first Friday evening of each month in Blandford Forum.

Val Bridge,

East Street Poets Chair / Wessex Poetry Festival Director
Email: val.bridge@tiscali.co.uk

Read a Poem from the book.....................
...................................................... author Zo Venner (one-time assistant at 'The Book Shop')...........