The current Manx Bard will get to wear the ceremonial robes and wield the Bardic staff for just a little while longer.

Rather than seek a new poet to represent the nation later on this year, Zoe Cannell will retain the position of Manx Bard and will continue in the role until the Manx Bardic committee feel it is safe enough to hold an open competition and public ceremony to find another.

Zoe was named as the sixth Manx Bard in August last year and the chairman of the Manx Bard committee, Bridge Carter, said that she was thrilled when Zoe said she would be happy to stay on as Bard for another year.

’With the recent outbreak of Coronavirus it suddenly dawned on me that things were inevitably going to change for everyone, life was not going to be the same as it was before and changes would have to be made all round,’ said Bridge.

’We couldn’t possibly hold this year’s Manx Bard competition with the current issues surrounding us and as such I asked our current Bard, Zoe, how she felt about another term as Bard in order to try to complete all the amazing plans she’d made.

’I was thrilled when Zoe said yes and even more so when I realised it was something she was equally excited about.

’With Zoe’s continuing popularity within the community, I’m sure she will be just the tonic we need to lift our spirits.’

Bridge also said that the team of current and former bards, including Stacey Astill, Sara Goodwins, John ’Dog’ Callister and Annie Kissack, are working on a fun project to help with the public requirement to wash their hands for around 20 seconds each time.

Each bard, along with the two youth bards, including Xander Shirtliff and Holly MacRae and last year’s runners-up Esther Waters and Rhian Ashton, will create a short poem that lasts around 20 seconds, which people can recite while washing their hands.

’All of the bards are working behind the scenes presently with the Isle of Man Arts Council and Isle of Man Newspapers to deliver some entertaining and interactive poetry to the public over the next couple of months,’ said Bridge.

’The initial idea for this particular theme comes from our fourth Manx Bard, Sara Goodwins, and is a fun poem lasting just 20 seconds and aimed at handwashing.’

The first poem is written by QEII student Esther Walters, 17, and is published on the right of this page.

There will a new poem written by the team of bards and published in the pages of Island Life each week.

Bridge would also like to encourage anybody with a love of writing poetry to join in and create their own.

If anyone would like to take part and write a poem which takes 20 seconds to recite, email them to [email protected]

We will publish one a week while the advice to keep washing hands is in place.

20 Seconds

20 seconds to wash your hands,

Another one of society’s demands,

But, how to make the time go quick,

While ensuring you don’t get sick?

Think about; the toilet roll inflation,

Or the boredom found in isolation.

Only 10 seconds left, you’re half-way there!

Keep on scrubbing, I know it’s not fair,

With warm water and lots of bubbles,

Together, we fight our corona troubles.

So when washing your hands, think of this rhyme,

And like magic, seconds pass in no time.

by Esther Walters

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers