Ofi Press Editor Jack Little is looking for new poems by Young Poets Networkers for the April 2015 edition of their magazine!

The Ofi Press was founded in December 2010 by poet, editor and Young Poets Networker Jack Little, with the aim of promoting Mexican literature around the world and publishing the best in international poetry, fiction, essays and more in a monthly online magazine.

In 2013, Young Poets Network collaborated with The Ofi Press to produce a special edition of poems by young poets, whose work was translated into Spanish and published in both languages.

Now we have a new collaboration with The Ofi Press: read the three poems by Mexican poets below, and choose a theme from their work to create your own poem!

Jack told Young Poets Network, “For us, connection is vital – whether it be producing a bilingual edition of West African or Geordie poetry, or hosting our monthly reading series in the heart of Mexico City with writers and poets from all over the world. It personally gives me a massive buzz to connect with people from all over the world, hear new perspectives, build friendships and give writers a little step up through publication and further collaboration. We are looking forward very much to hearing from you!”

The challenge

Read the poems below and Jack’s short discussion of their themes. Then choose one of these themes, or others you find in the poems, to write your own new poem. It can be a broad or specific interpretation – we look forward to seeing what the poems inspire!

“Let there be no lack
of hammers and chisels”

From ‘Noisy Homeland’ by Alberto Blanco, translated by Elise Miller

Jack says: I love this poem, which brings to life the business and the bustle of Mexico City. Is yours a noisy homeland, or something more tranquil? What does your homeland, your identity, mean to you?

*

“we must face towards the rising sun
so that our hands talk
with the shadows that inhabit this moorland”

From ‘a vision’ by Georgina Mexía-Amador

Jack says: This poem explores humanity’s battle with nature in a dreamlike state. Who do we battle with? In what do we find adversity? What visions do you see in your dreams?

*

“Caress the paranoia

Before and after us
a war begins.”

From ‘II’ by Ingrid Valencia, translated by Laura Venables

Jack says: What does it mean to exist? Our lives are but a tiny drop of time in the grand ocean of infinity. What does our existence mean? What is faith? How do we deal with our own frail immortality?

Sending in your poems

This opportunity is for poets aged 25 and under. The deadline is Sunday 8 February 2015. Send in as many poems as you like – just let us know what theme you have found in the original poem or poems to inspire you. This only needs to be a few words.

You can send a page poem written down, or a performance poem as a video or as an audio file – we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Send your poems to educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk with your name, age and address. If you are sending a written version of your poem, please include it in the body of an email. If you are sending a video or audio file, please attach it to the email (making sure it isn’t bigger than 4MB or it won’t come through) or send us a link to where we can see/hear it.

We will add you to the Young Poets Network emailing list – please let us know if you’d rather we didn’t!

Prizes

Jack, Alberto, Georgina and Ingrid will choose poems to be published on The Ofi Press website in April 2015 – a fantastic addition to your writing CV! We will also send each published poet a Young Poets Network notebook.

Jack Little (b.1987) is a British poet, translator and editor based in Mexico City. He is the founder of The Ofi Press and his recent publications include in Wasafiri, Under the Radar and The Screech Owl.