London to host poetic competition finals on Pushkin's birth anniversary

London is to host the final round of a competition involving poets, who write verses in Russian, soon enough; this event will be timed to coincide with the 204-th birth anniversary of Russia's great poet Alexander Pushkin.

The British capital has never hosted such an event before, the competition's organizers told RIA-NOVOSTI. Those taking part in the competition's first round were asked to write a short poem beginning with the following line from Pushkin's 1830-vintage poem "To The Nobleman", i.e. "Having A Tedious Time On The Banks Of The Miserly Thames".

More than 150 poems were submitted, with the jury choosing ten best ones and inviting their authors to take part in the final round at London's Menier gallery. The finalists will be able to recite three of their own poems.

Those present will listen to all contenders, choosing the best poets or poetesses, who will thus win the event.

The first prize is 500 pounds; meanwhile the second and third prizes are 400 pounds and 300 pounds, respectively.

The event's organizers, including Russian and British newspapers, magazines and book publishers, hope that new British talents, who write in Russian on the banks of the Thames, will reveal themselves during the competition.