Noëlle Manoni, 19, won first prize for her poem “Farewell”, described by judges as a “beautifully crafted piece of writing that mesmerises the reader with its original and emotional approach”.

Manoni said the poem was written in remembrance of a show-jumping horse called Amazonia, who retired early because of injury and then died. She said: “Her story, but also the poem depicts how we often struggle in vain in front of the unavoidable before we finally find peace and rest.”

Second prize was awarded to Marie Wivenes, 18, for short story “Shock”, relating the aftermath of a bullying attack. The publishing house received a huge response when they opened the contest for 16 to 19-year-olds opened in October 2017. They received 189 texts from 87 different participants, spanning poetry, short stories, flash fiction and song lyrics.

“It was extremely interesting to see what topics young writers are interested in,” Black Fountain Press editing director Anne-Marie Reuter said in a press release, adding: “We had the rare privilege of getting an insight into the imagination and reflection of young writers.”

New book launch

The winners will be awarded at a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the publishing house on 28 March. The same day, Black Fountain Press will launch a collection of poems from Lambert Schlechter which have been translated into English. “One day I will write a poem”, includes a selection of Schlechter’s nine-line poems from four previously published collections as well as some unpublished works. It goes on sale in book shops from 29 March.