Giles Goodland (pictured right with Alice Oswald) wrote the poem Serpent, which was awarded second place in the 2008 Poetry Competition.

1. What inspired you to write Serpent?

I would not say that this poem was quite inspired, *I am not sure if I believe in ;inspiration'). I am a moderately compulsive journal writer and periodically go through my journals to find potential poems. Finding a description of nearly running over a snake that I saw being run over by the van behind me in the rear view mirror I found this proleptic of what was happening in any relationship, especially one with children, while also the idea of the snake provided the terms for a mimetic game in the poem in which a sentence could fold and unfold, eventually being fouled up under a full stop. In reality the family I am in did not break up, but this event seemed to foreshadow to me how fragile it is to be in a car with wife and children, especially when feeling cross and tired.

2. What were you hoping to say through it? Why did you choose the form you did?

I find this question impossible to answer, the poem says exactly what it says. The form should be the content, ideally.

3. Why did you enter the Arvon Poetry Competition?

For many reasons. I am not averse to either prestige or money

4. What does Arvon mean to you?

Arvon means some interesting methods of teaching and sharing poetry and other writing. I think of Ted Hughes, I admire him greatly.

5. Why did you start writing poetry?

Despite its drawbacks, poetry still has the potential to give the means o fsaying a lot in a kind of suspended immediacy. A good poem is a moment you always want to return to.

6. What sort of poetry or poets inspire you, do you have any topics/themes that you always return to in your work?

I love most poetry unfortunately (because I never feel I read enough), in particular recently I have discovered Piero Heliczer and become friends with  Robert Fitterman. Ted Berrigan and his friends.

I find writing a journal helps me write personal poems, but my published books so far have really been collages from the media etc.

7. Have you ever won a prize, been a writer in residence, taught poetry, collaborated with other writers, etc.?

I got an Eric Gregory award many years back.