Australia, 7th Oct 2024, -
The Chrysalis BREW Project has announced the winners of the BREW Poetry Award 2024, honouring poetic excellence from diverse voices across the globe. This year’s grand titles of Judges’ Poet of the Year and Community’s Poet of the Year have been awarded to Julie Avis, whose poem Black Swan fascinated both the judging panel and the public, securing both the Judges' Poem of the Year and Community’s Poem of the Year titles.
Esperanza Pretila, founder of The Chrysalis BREW Project, expressed her enthusiasm for the impact of the BREW Poetry Award, stating, “This is a fitting way to celebrate the incredible talent and diverse voices within our global poetry community. The BREW Poetry Award not only highlights poetic excellence but also fosters connections among writers, readers, and advocates of the literary arts, thereby creating a vibrant space for expression and inspiration.”
Winner's Poem
Julie Avis’ Black Swan tells a deeply moving story of personal transformation, survival, and the beauty of resilience. With striking imagery and lyrical depth, Avis explores the profound strength that emerges through hardship, capturing the hearts of readers and critics alike. Her powerful lines resonate deeply:
“In shadows where the fears collide, a swan emerges, wings spread wide,
From ashes cold, the past undone, a fierce rebirth, a life begun.”
Finalists
In addition to Avis’ achievement, several other outstanding poets were recognised as category winners and finalists, each contributing remarkable pieces to this year's competition.
Rachel was awarded for her emotionally raw poem 6ft Deep, which reflects on loss and introspection, winning both the Judges' Pick and Community’s Pick in the Secondary School Category. Rachel's heartfelt lines express her struggle:
“My eyes camouflage with the water, red with intent.
Red with motivation to not be dead with only devotion.
I moved fast, grabbed your hand and went for the sky.”
Margot Amnesty received recognition for her urgent call for environmental awareness in Run Out of Room, with the compelling lines:
“Mother nature has run out of room, even birds are screaming, cars engines vroom, vroom.”
Fifi captured the transition from childhood to adulthood in A Voice of Her Own with her poignant question:
“Can I go back to the days when I was strong?”
Sneha Sabu's deeply personal narrative of struggle and resilience shines in The Phoenix’s Fire, where she states:
“From ashes I rose, to voice and express the silenced corners of my heart.”
To view the complete list of winners and their winning poems, visit the official announcement page on The Chrysalis BREW Project's website.
Year-Round Submissions Open to All
The BREW Poetry Award is open to everyone, welcoming poets from all walks of life, regardless of background or experience. The competition runs year-round, with the annual cut-off for submissions falling on 31st August. This open format encourages poets at any stage of their literary journey—whether seasoned professionals or budding writers—to share their unique perspectives and creative expressions.
Entries are free to submit and are judged across four categories: the Open Category, which is accessible to all poets regardless of age or experience; the Primary School Category, encouraging creativity from young poets in primary education; the Secondary School Category, supporting the emerging voices of teenage poets; and the Tertiary Category, recognising the work of students in higher education institutions.
Each category awards two distinctions: the Judges' Pick, chosen by a panel of experts, and the Community's Pick, awarded based on public support and engagement. Winners receive digital badges, publication in upcoming print and digital collections, and the opportunity for further literary recognition and visibility through a long-term placement in the BREW Directory. This year's winning poet may also opt to receive a medal sponsored by Store with a Heart.
How to Submit
Submitting your poem is simple and free of charge. Poets can enter through the Entry Submission Form on the BREW Poetry Award website. Poems must be original, unpublished elsewhere, and between 4 and 100 lines in length. Multiple entries are allowed. For more information and to submit your work for next year’s award, visit the website or contact the BREW team directly.
To know more about the BREW international book, blog, and poetry awards, visit the BREW awards page.
About the BREW Poetry Award
The BREW Poetry Award, hosted by The Chrysalis BREW Project, celebrates the power of poetry to capture human experiences and emotions in just a few words. In addition to the poetry award, the project also oversees the BREW International Blog Award and BREW Book Awards, which honour exceptional works in digital storytelling and literary achievement across various genres. Through these initiatives, The Chrysalis BREW Project continues to foster a vibrant, inclusive global literary community.
