The Bermuda Poetry Association honoured the winners of its premier poetry contest last week during the official launch of their first publication.

Dale Butler, president of the year-old association, told The Royal Gazette he was delighted with their first publication entitled, A Tribute to Mothers and Fathers.

Mr. Butler said he was prompted to start the association after a former student last year expressed interest in starting a poetry association and requested his help.

After conducting some research, he said he discovered that past poetry organisations had failed to survive their founding members.

"The whole issue of poetry had died out over the years,'' Mr. Butler said.

"But Leon Edmead had started to revive interest in it.'' He said he decided to initiate the Bermuda Poetry Association with the contest, A Tribute to Mothers and Fathers.

"All of my research showed me that a contest was the easiest to increase membership,'' Mr. Butler explained. "When the contestants entered they got a membership to the association and would receive a copy of the book.'' In all 20 people entered the contest, producing some 65 poems for the five judges, who were all teachers, to review.

"The book is comprised of poems from the contest,'' Mr. Butler said. "Guest poets and some poems out of the best seller This Is My Country.'' Cecile Musson-Smith contributed two pieces entitled When I Began and Have You Smiled At Anyone Today, while Patricia Gordon-Pamplin submitted a poem about her father called A Capsule of the Life of Dr. E.F. Gordon.

One of Mr. Butler's poems entitled This Is My Country and a Kevin Bean work called You, were included from the 1978 book This Is My Country, which is currently out of print.

And he added that he hoped the fledgling group would produce additional books in the future.

Mr. Butler did not suppress his disappointment with the fact that they did not meet its original publication date. It was originally expected to be completed in February, in time for Mother's Day.

Despite the delay, Mr. Butler said he hoped the Bermudian public would support the book which contained pieces by contest winners Cynthia Buell Thomas, Waverly Minors and Joy Tucker Wilson.

Mrs. Thomas' poem entitled Cyanne took the first place prize at the competition was written years ago for one of her twin daughters named Cyanne.

*** My dear child, you lie here with sleepy eyes, in unquestioning trust, that your Mommy knows all, can do all... is all.

*** Mrs. Thomas said there was a "twin'' poem written for her other daughter , Ester.

"A twin poem to this one called Ester was published a long time ago,'' she said. "So I didn't enter it in this contest.'' Mrs. Thomas said she has been compelled to write poetry since she was six-years-old.

"Since I was child I have been really driven to write poetry,'' she said.

"I've always loved poetry.'' Mrs. Thomas advised other young budding local poets to read all the poetry they could.

"Read, read, read,'' she stressed. "Read all the poetry you can. Don't have a preconceived notion that it is snobbish or boring. And read them out loud, it is wonderful relaxation.'' And she advised youngsters to remember that there was no such thing as a "baby'' poem and a "grown up'' poem.

Mrs. Thomas maintained that budding poets should write " a lot''.

"It is very rare that a good poem comes around the first time. Good poems are rewritten. And remember that presentation of the poem, on paper, is almost as important as the poem itself. After-all that is what the eye sees.'' Second-place winner, Mrs. Minors said her poem, A Mother's Love, described parenthood and the love a mother gives every day of the week.

*** It's Mother's Day not just today, But it's Mother's Day everyday.

For when doesn't a mother spend her care Washing her children and combing their hair? *** Mrs. Minors, who described her poetry talent as a gift from God, said she first wrote the poem for church function.

"Then I entered it and some other ones in the contest,'' she said. "And this one won.'' Mrs. Minors, who has been a member of the association since last August, said she had been writing poetry since 1987.

Mrs. Wilson-Tucker, whose poem, Silver Threads - To Mom, took the third-place prize, boasts numerous literary credits to her name including pieces in all the local papers, National Poetry Anthology, Daughters of Africa and Atlanta AME Journal Review.

Mrs. Wilson-Tucker told The Royal Gazette she wrote her poem just before Mother's Day in the early 1980s.

*** I know the joy of loving you That time will not erase.

I keep life's memories Tucked away in my heart embraced.

*** "Most of my poems are inspired by my family,'' she said. "This one was written around Mother's Day and was probably inspired by the fact that I didn't have my mother around.'' Mrs. Wilson-Tucker, who has been writing for over 30-years, added that she would possible enter some of her other pieces into future association contests.

"Its a possibility,'' she said. "It depends on what the topic of the next contest will be.'' Mr. Butler said the association planned to hold a contest every other year and will once again publish the winning poems in a book.

"The contest allows people who want their work publish an opportunity to get into a book.'' "Poetry is starting to see a revival,'' he added, "partly from the impact of Lee Edmead's readings on the radio.'' And he said the association would begin holding meetings and having poetry readings next year in a bid to attain their goal to keep poetry alive.

"Our first year we concentrated on disseminating information to our members,'' Mr. Butler explained. "Our long term goal is to ensure Bermuda has poetry. If not Bermuda will become culturally bankrupt.'' The Bermuda Poetry Association has just launched a membership drive. Anyone interested in joining should contact Mr. Butler in care of the Writers' Machine P.O Box WK 108 Warwick WKBX.