Counting down

 Those of a mathematical persuasion may know that 28 is an example of a 'perfect' number - it is equal to the sum of its divisors, excluding itself (1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14). And that's the number of days left before the competition closes. Keep the entries coming!

Happy New Year

 Once again, we're happy to let you know that the Charm Poetry Competition is back. Our principles remain as they always were: we're a competition for the lighter side of poetry. We noticed that prize-winning poems are usually on serious subjects. Free-form poems are more common than traditional structures, and rhyme is rare. We’d like to change some of that.

So entertain us. Brighten our day. We like warmth, wordplay, wit and whimsy. We believe it’s possible to write a good poem that conforms to these guidelines, and we'd like you to prove us right.

So as 2026 begins, sharpen your pencil, and start writing - you can find links for how to enter to the right of this page.

Results Day

 Once again, as the first Sunday of June arrives, it's our results day. We'd like to thank all of you who entered, and our judge, Alan Buckley, for his work reading and judging all your poems. You can read his report here. And we congratulate the winning poets - you can read their poems at the Results of the Competition 2025 page. 

Wishing you all the best with your writing,

The Charm Poetry Team

That's it!

 The competition is now closed. Thank you for all your entries. We'll now be passing them to our judge, Alan Buckley, for his consideration. Results will be posted on this website on 1 June.

A se'ennight to go

 Funny how the word 'fortnight' survived into modern English, and 'se'ennight' didn't. But you know what it means!

A fortnight left

 The time period, that is, not the computer game. Keep them coming!

Oh to be in England, now that April's there...

Whether your home thoughts are similar or different to Browning's, and wherever you are, April means that the Charm Poetry Competition deadline is nearly here. Keep those entries coming!