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Quirky love poem takes out poetry prize

15 October 2008

Chloe Brien

The Monash poetry prize for undergraduate students has been awarded to Chloe Brien for her quirky and sensuous love poem Salivary.

Established in 1963 the Monash University Prize for Poetry is awarded annually for the best poem by an undergraduate student.

The prize is an important part of the tradition of promoting literary creativity at Monash. Previous winners include prominent Australian poets John A. Scott and Laurie Duggan.

Competition judge and senior lecturer in English Dr John Hawke said Chloe's poem stood out in a strong field of entrants for its striking and varied imagery, and its reference to French Surrealist poets such as Paul Eluard and Robert Desnos.

"It was especially encouraging to see openness to stylistic experiment amongst this year's entries, which included visual poems as well as performative texts," Dr Hawke said.

Other quite different but equally accomplished poems commended in this year's prize included Pam Ingram's Leaving, a carefully wrought meditative poem, and Inner City by Sam Walsh, which adopts an observational urban style with a deftness of technique and assurance of tone.

"We thank all the 2008 entrants for providing such an engaging and lively range of work," Dr Hawke said.

To view Chloe's poem and for more information on the competition visit the School of English, Communications and Performance Studies website.