Dear Poetry Institute

Thank you very much for the beautiful book "Venturing Vistas", sent to me for my second
place in your poetry contest. Needless to say, I am totally delighted with the honour.

I am sure your competition will continue to bring much joy to many people. Your hard work
is appreciated.

Sincere good wishes
Francois Rautenbach


    Dear Publisher / Editor

The other day I received my copy of "Departing Dawn". The book was outstanding and
furnished to perfection. I was very proud to see my poem appearing in the above
mentioned anthology.

Thank you for all the co-operation and faith that you have given me. I'm sure that with
your help I shall surely succeed.

Rishan Singh

    Hi,

I just wanted to thank everyone who worked on the previous compilation "Silent Skies"
and send my congratulations to you all.

Dawie du Toit

    Dear Darren Joubert

I wish to thank you for a wonderful, unexpected and lovely certificate and much needed
cheque. It was wonderful and arrived on a perfect day and time in my life. God Bless you
all.

Joan Owen

    Dear Poetry Institute of Africa

I want to take this opportunity to thank you very much for a fantastic competition. We look
forward to entering again next year! We are so proud of our learners who are having their
poem published in your publication.

Miss A Blake
(Cape Town High School)

    To Poetry Institute of Africa

Thank you for my copy of "Departing Dawn", I was very pleased to receive it and read the
wide selection of poetry contained in its pages.

Your sincerely
Susan Wicks

    Dear Friends

My brain has been functioning "rhymingly" for as long as I can remember over the 81
years that I have spent in this world. In the process I have produced what could by now
have filled a fairly large space, by for instance writing all the weekly Grenswag High
School news in the Kokstad Advertiser in this form for some thirteen years and following it
up with similar contributions for Suid Natal High School to the local paper in Port
Shepstone, but having anything published (officially) had never entered my mind.

May our Good Lord Bless and keep you in the service that you render.

W Eric Bouwer

    Dear Mr Joubert

Thank you for my winning prize in your anthology "Departing Dawn". I am truly delighted
and honoured to have my poem "Waterwalk" included in the above anthology, my first
experience of going into print!

I enjoy writing and illustrating and have only ever composed two poems. With your
encouragement I now feel I should further my writing of poetry.

June Foster

    To Whom It May Concern

Thanks a mil for choosing my poem to be published! I just wanted to let everyone know
how proud I feel and a "Thank you" in hard times makes me feel worthwhile and proud.
Thank you for creating such an opportunity!

Best regards
Laeticia

    Dear Chantal

Thank you for much for the books, I was delighted to add them to the collection. Your
publishing house is certainly growing in leaps and bounds and I wish you all the best. We
put every title on our computer database for easy retrieval, so when students come in
wanting poems on certain subjects we can give them a database search with a listing of
the poems. You would be amazed at how often your books come up. I really appreciate
the donation of these books to the museum library as I know how expensive they are to
produce.

Best wishes,
Debbie Landman
National English Literary Museum

    Dear Chantal

The news that my poem had been chosen was most gratifying. I have been writing for
many years and had secretly hoped for this day.

Kindest Regards
Nadia Lambat

    Hi,

I just received my anthology and wanted to say - Thank you so much, it's such a treasure!

Luiza

    To Whom It May Concern

In my personal capacity as an Afrikaans language teacher at Irene Primary, I would like to
express my appreciation for the effort you put into running the annual poetry competition.
It definitely helps inspire and motivate the kids and I have found it most beneficial in
encouraging the learners. You can't imagine the excitement of the learners when they
receive their letters of acceptance from you. Thank you very, very much.

Erika Horn

    To Poetry Institute

Thank you for all the good work you are doing. The learners are priviledged to have the
opportunity to submit their poems to a competition such as this.

Charmaine Uys

    Greetings to You

I would like to congratulate you on the wonderful work you have been doing for poetry in
our country South Africa.

Gareth Whiteley


    To Poetry Institute

Thank you very much for your encouraging words. I thank the Poetry Institute of Africa for
its platform for young writers.

Whilst I'm immensely proud of my poem "Through the Gate" for having won St John's
College's Lawson Poetry Prize in 2004, I have no doubt this competition will be a fierce
one.

I wish the judges and staff the best of luck and success. May the nimblest pen triumph.

Jonathan Lewis

    Aan Poetry Institute

Net ’n woord van dankie vir alles wat julle al vir my beteken het. Julle doen wonderlike
werk en ek is opreg trots op julle. Hoop 2005 vir julle wonderlike sukses en geluk in.

Thank you for your help and guidance with my written work.

Gideon Visagie

    To Poetry Institute

It is a great honour and priviledge to have participated in this competition.

Keyuri Naidoo

    Dear Poetry Institute,

I was ecstatic to find that I came 4th in your poetry competition, it's the highest
achievement I've had so far concerning poetry! When I first started writing poetry, it was
to let out my restricted feelings, but now I've taken a broader approach. Thank you for
expanding my horizons and renewing my confidence.

Michelle Nel

    Dear Poetry Institute

I have to congratulate you and the writer of the winning poem in "Shattered Pillars" ie
"Bloodstone" by Rui Cunha. I cried when i read it and so enjoyed finding someone that
felt the same as I do about the suffering of animals (especially just so we can eat them). If
abattoirs where made of glass, every caring person would be a vegetarian. Thank you
again!

Dee Redwood

    Dear Darren Joubert,

Belatedly thank you for informing me that I had won 4th prize in the Second Open Contest
for 2003. It is rather nice for an old dodger like myself to attain such dizzy heights. I will
certainly enter again with the aim to get into the top three. It will certainly do my ego good,
to show my friends that sometimes my fancy putting words together does please some
people.

Fred Godwin

    Dear Poetry Institute,

Very many thanks for the cheque which you sent me on my winning Fourth Prize in your
2003 competition. What a lovely surprise - had a good giggle to myself because I never in
a million years expected to win anything at all! I have written poetry for many years and so
was thrilled when I had an answer for some of my feelings! Thank you all for all your hard
work and encouragement.

Lorraine du Plessis
Guest Book