Rachel Sawaya wins Takahe 2012 Poetry Competition
The MA in Creative Writing graduate's winning poem 'draws you into its mystery', says judge.
The Takahe Editorial Committee and Takahe Collective have announced that the winner of its 2012 Poetry Competition is New Plymouth poet (and MA in Creative Writing graduate) Rachel Sawaya for her poem, "The Baobab Tree".
The 2012 competition, which attracted nearly 400 entries, was judged by Christchurch poet and creative writing teacher Kerrin P. Sharpe.
"This is a sustained and mysterious poem which draws you into its mystery", Sharpe says of 'The Baobab Tree'. "I found myself being drawn into an African setting, perhaps along with others crowding round me, to witness the tree’s mysterious influence."
Rachel Sawaya completed the Masters in Creative Writing in 2011 and won the Biggs Poetry Prize that year. She has been published in magazines such as Sport and Poetry New Zealand, and has self-published a YA novella under the pen name Joey Deleen.
Another MA in Creative Writing graduate Jo Thorpe was among the winners; receiving a Highly Commended prize for the second year in a row. Kerrin P. Sharpe’s full judge’s report and Rachel Sawaya’s winning entry can be read in the forthcoming issue of the magazine, Takahe 77.