Winner - Indigo Spring Poetry Prize 2024

Deborah's poem 'Confiscating blue from the city' has won first prize in the Indigo Spring Poetry Prize 2024, from Indigo Dreams judged by poet Vic Pickup.

The judge's comments on the prize-winning poem:

‘Confiscating blue from the city’ had me at the mention of gumballs. Taking the everyday familiar and elevating to great effect, this poem creates a character with an unknown (and absurd) plan, presents a story evolving and building intrigue; I was hooked. The perfect use of a well-positioned swear reveals what I took to be fury at an ex-lover, the ‘baby blue’ eyes reflecting the language of traditional love poems, the inescapable feeling of being broken-hearted. It’s mad, smart, fun, ultimately devastating and brilliantly crafted. I may have applauded whilst sat alone in my study. - Vic Pickup

Vic also wrote a blog about the judging process, which is available to read here, and had this to say about her selection of the three winning poems:

As for the winners, they deserve their glory in full-blazing technicolour. I truly believe these poems have earned their place. They affected me with their language, imagery, form, all very carefully crafted, worked on, given the time they needed to breathe and become. Each reading of the three placed poems impacted me, regardless of whether I was at my desk, waiting in the car, in bed at night or taking a breath of morning air with the first coffee of the day. I deliberately chose different times and settings to linger over those on the longlist. Ultimately, those I selected for the final three stayed with me, their images lingering in my mind and resurfacing unprompted over the days which followed. That’s the ultimate achievement, I think, and the goal of every poem I write.

It is really lovely to have work read so closely, and be appreciated, so huge thanks to Vic, for selecting this poem, and for the wonderful comments - and to Ronnie and Dawn at Indigo Dreams.

'Confiscating blue from the city' is one of the poems in Deborah's new pamphlet, 'Amortisation', out in September, but available to pre-order now from Live Canon.