ESU Formal Verse Contest 2025 - Winners

The English-Speaking Union (Victoria Branch) is pleased to announce the winners for the ESU Formal Verse Contest 2025, for a metrical, rhymed or unrhymed poem of 70 lines or less.

We received a large number of entries from poets around the world and thank everyone for participating. The Best Victorian Entry, Runner-up and Winner were selected by Dr. Stephen McInerney. The President’s Choice Award was chosen by ESU Victoria Branch President Robert Furlan. The Reader's Choice Award was awarded to the shortlisted poem that received the most votes in our open voting period. The winners were announced at an Awards Ceremony in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 28 February 2026.

Congratulations to our winners!

Winning Poems:

First Prize ($5,000) “Tumut” - Kevin Klein (USA).

Runner-up ($1,000) “Beach" - Leon Trainor (NSW)

Best Victorian Entry ($1,000) “Swimming Westernport Bay” - Tony Lintermans (VIC)

President's Choice Award ($1,000) “Abyss” - Jakob Ziguras (NSW)

Reader's Choice Award ($1,000) "The Philosopher" - Thomas McKendry (NSW)

Read the winning poems here.

This page was created on 3 March 2026.