4th Annual Canadian League of Black Artists' Poetry Competition Winners.

David Woods of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Our 1997-98 first prize winner for his poem,

'The Love Song of Gottingen Street.'

David Woods is a poet, playwright and painter. He is very active in the cultural life of Nova Scotia. He founded the Cultural Awareness Youth Group of Nova Scotia and Voice Black Theatre Ensemble. An actor and director, his plays have been featured on radio. He has organized many cultural events, including the first exhibition of Black artists in the province. In 1997, David Woods was awarded the George Elliott Clarke prize for his contribution to the arts in Nova Scotia and the second prize in the 1996-97 Canadian League of Black Artists' poetry competition. His collection, Native Son (Pottersfield Press 1990) has earned him the reputation as a new voice on the horizon of Black Canadian thought.

Wayde Compton of British Columbia

Second prize winner for his poem,

'Company.'

His poems have appeared in Boo, Absinthe, Capilano Review, Diaspora, Judy, Prism International, Tads, and West Coast Line. His winning poem 'Company' is from his new manuscript 49th Parallel Psalm, which is about early black pioneers of British Columbia. Wayde is a student at Simon Fraser University.

Diane Jacobs of Montreal

Third prize winner for her poem 'Out of Sight.'

Her poems and short fiction have appeared in At the Cross Roads and KOLA. Diane is also a contributing editor of The Community Contact newspaper (Montreal) and a columnist for the Arizona Republic newspaper. Diane currently studies at Arizona State University.

The National Poetry Competition is sponsored by the Canadian League of Black Artists' as an incentive and encouragement for black creativity in Canada. Congratulations to everyone who participated. We hope that you will continue to write. I express my gratitude to those who made these prizes possible and look forward to their continued support.

Anthony Joyette

Competition Coordinator