Thanks, all. Roger, no poet writing in English has ever won. Some have won writing in French, one in Rumanian, some in other languages, but never in English. Here's hoping I can break that streak this time. I can't say I'm overly concerned about the euros, although Kate does need a new car. I do think a win would be good for the metrical cause: 600 lines of mystical iambic pentameter, in my signature stanza structure, might change a few minds on the subject.
For those whose Spanish is not good, here's the (machine) translation:
Twelve finalists from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, United States and Spain opt to Fernando Rielo XXXIII World Prize for Mystical Poetry. The finalists have been selected from a total of 264 poems from 29 countries.
The proclamation of the winning work of the XXXIII World Prize Fernando Rielo Mystical Poetry, worth 7,000 euros, publication of the work and commemorative medal will be held on December 12 in Quito (Ecuador) at the Headquarters of the Technical University Loja.
So, who knows, Kate and I may be dashing off to Quito soon. Please keep your fingers crossed, everybody.
Those with (very) long memories will notice this is a record third time we've been finalists. Maybe the third time will be a charm?
Meanwhile, my publisher is very excited, and wants to bring out a book with all my Rielo entries. That would be five 600-line mystical Catholic poems. Of course, I'll need someone to write an introduction. But surely there must be some well known writer out there who wants to support and celebrate contemporary Catholic writing?
Anybody have Dana's email address?
Yours, in hope and anticipation,
Bill