My poem “Imago” won second prize in the 2026 Ros Spencer Poetry Prize. Of the poem, judge Jaya Penelope said “Subtle and generous, the poem offers something approaching consolation to those who are walking in liminal spaces of grief and loss.” The winner was Fiona Burrows for “Microchimeric” and all of Jaya’s beautiful comments can be read at the link below.
The two winners, highly commended and commended poems will all be included in the anthology Brushstrokes which is due for release in August and all winning poems can be read on the website: https://wapoets.com/ros-spencer-prize-winners/
One of the many nice things about poetry is that it tends not to have a use-by date for publishers. It stays out there and you never know who will pick it up or when (often with fiction you have a limited window to be ‘new’ and then it’s rarely sent out or even read unless it’s a classic or you win a prize and your back catalogue gets promoted). 
My fellow writer and interviewer extraordinaire Ed McManis invited me to participate in his fun project Sugar Frosted Koans. Koans are meditations from Zen Buddhism that transcend rational thinking. Along with a dozen or so other poets, we were invited to contribute 2-5 Sugar Frosted Koans in McManis’ invented form of three stanzas with a repeating introductory line: “In Heaven…” with a volta or some twist or turn (I had Laurel Near’s very strange song from Eraserhead stuck in my head the whole time I worked on this project). The book is now out on Amazon here and I’m pleased to be a part of it (I believe I’m the “Maggie Pops” on the cover): 
On Saturday 16 May, 12.30-1.30pm Windale Hub, bilyabayi, I’m hosting a panel including George Kemp, Raaza Jamshed, and Clare Stephens called 
The session is free (gold coin donation only) but book in advance here: 
I’ll be launching Michael Liebowitz’ new poetry book Mellow Fruitfulness on Saturday April 18th at 2pm, Woollahra Library. Everyone is welcome but please get in contact with me or Mike to request a formal invite if you’d like to join us so we can keep track of numbers.