Traditional styles of poetry are being revived and there is no better time to celebrate that than through the annual Robert Burns Poetry Competition, its judges tell Rebecca Fox.
Passion and a unique voice are top of the agenda for the judges of this year's Robert Burns Poetry Competition.
University of Otago Burns Fellow Louise Wallace and last year's competition winner Helen Williford-Lower will judge the entries, which had to be inspired by the life or works of Robert Burns and could be written in Scottish or English.
The Scottish poet was regarded as a pioneer of the romantic movement.
Ms Williford-Lower said she had fallen in love with Robert Burns and his poetry during the past year so was looking forward to judging the competition, even though she would be living in Hawkes Bay by the time entries closed.
''My philosophy is modernism has had its 100-year run; [it] is tired and ready for a nap. I love Robert Burns, it is a great outpost to celebrate traditional styles .''
Burns was a passionate man whose feelings came out in his poetry and songs.
''I like to see that passion. When you read poetry you definitely feel it when you run across it.''
Ms Wallace said she would be drawn to entries that demonstrated a genuine connection to Burns and his work.
''I'll be looking for something unique, a more innovative approach that grabs my attention.''
She was aware her fellowship was coming to an end so was focused on completing her manuscript before she headed back to Wellington in January.
''It's crunch time. I'm feeling that pressure of time.''
Ms Williford-Lower is working on a Robert Burns-inspired collection of poetry.
Part of that had been sharing her love of his work with pupils at Taieri College, who were encouraged to write poetry in his style and in Scottish.
''We really need to revive youth interest in poetry.''
It was hoped some of those pupils would enter the work they did in the workshop with Ms Williford-Lower, in the youth section of the competition.
She had also become more involved in the Burns Club.
The competition will be launched in conjunction with the Dunedin Burns Club and Dunedin Public Libraries after the annual Robert Burns St Andrew's Day Public Lecture Reweti Kohere and Ropata Purana: Reading Robert Burns in Te Reo Maori, by Dr Nikki Hessell (Victoria University of Wellington) and Tai Ahu (Waikato and Te Paatu) on November 30.
Entries close on January 6 and the winners will be announced on Robert Burns' birthday, January 25.
