This annual competition is open to local poets and consists of three sections: Maltese, English and Italian. This year the poems were judged by Manuel Mifsud, Pawlu Aquilina and Saviour Sammut.

In a short speech Alfred Massa, the Association's president, reminded the audience that on that particular day Malta was commemorating Dun Karm, the National Poet; three days before it was Poetry Day, a very happy coincidence indeed! Mr Massa expressed his satisfaction that the competition is reaching the aim it was first set up 28 years ago as year by year there are new entries.

After the result was announced the winning poems were read by Charles Magro and Dr Audrey Ann Fava, who also compered the evening. Winners in each section were as follows:

Maltese:

1. Paceville Insomnja by Raymond Grech. 2. Is-Sebh by Fr Edmund Teuma ofm conv. 3. 11 ta' Settembru 2001 by Oliver Aquilina.

English:

1. A visit from Down Under by Therese Vella. 2. Under the Benign Stars of love by Jean Paul Schembri.

Italian:

1. Il trapasso by Maurice Mifsud Bonnici. 2. Se sei te stesso by Margaret Attard Baldacchino.