The 1997 competition was adjudicated by Jo Shapcott and Harry Chambers.
First Prizes
- via Garibaldi/Rina’s War – Julian Stannard
Second Prize
- Leaving Home – Kate Rhodes
Third Prize
- The Yellow-Hammer – Lewis Watling
Commended Poems
- Yellow – Florence Cox
- The Day of the Poem – Robin Maunsell
- Reincarnation – Gill Phillips
- I guess I owe you an apology – John Riddens
- The Crossing (Old Felixstowe) – Julian Stannard
- Lines on the Turtle – Julian Stannard
- San Siro – Julian Stannard
- Since you died – Theresa Turk
- Letter found in the Family Bible – John Watts