Philip Larkin said far too many writers rely on the classic formula of "a beginning, a muddle, and an end". So we decided to muddle things up by giving you the ending to your poem before you even start!

Below are the end lines of four poems. We'd like you to choose one of them and use it not just for inspiration, but as the actual end of your poem.

This isn't a competition to replicate the original poems. We want you to create something entirely new and fresh.

Choose one of these four endings:

her voice half heard as something overhead
-- a splash of white against the wavering sky --
drones through the clouds, mechanical, bereft.
--John Burnside

EDIT: due to conflicting versions of the Burnside ending, either 'light' or 'white' is acceptable in the second line.

her voice half heard as something overhead
-- a splash of light against the wavering sky --
drones through the clouds, mechanical, bereft.
--John Burnside

and Why? And down in the lake, the sudden
star-burst of four kittens under a lid of ice,
heading to the four corners of nowhere.
--Neil Rollinson

the one that crossed
my knuckles like a ring seeking
the perfect finger.
--Nancy Willard

Eyes cast down
With no admission of disappointment the company
Dispersed and prepared to land in the city.
--David Constantine

Then write your poem so it leads up to that ending and submit, complete with the end lines you have chosen to: community projects > contests > in the end

Your poem should be no more than 40 lines.

The closing date is: Midnight GMT Wednesday 18th October and the winners will be announced the following week.

Prizes:

First Place
Detailed critique of a sample of the winner's poetry by one of the gallery directors
£15 amazon voucher or donation to a charity of your choice.
Sub and a mug

Second Prize
Detailed critique of a sample of the winner's poetry by one of the gallery directors
Sub and a mug

Other Prizes
Subs and mugs and stuff

Your judges are: ^imperfect, =vivus, *caveatLECTOR, =shotgunmessiah *SparrowSong and ^PoeticWar.