Howard Kaplan, the 2017 winner, and partner Nancy Corbett, who won in 2016, went head-to-head for the first time.

Mr Kaplan, who has “probably written about three poems” in his life, said his entry last year just made sense.

“Nancy wasn’t taking part so I thought I’d give it a go.”

Ms Corbett jumped in, laughing: “So he had a chance.”

“We’ve had the cup in our house for two years – and we don’t want to give it up,” Mr Kaplan added.

The two have had to give it up now however, after a poem co-written by former Australian Poetry Slam winner Arielle Cottingham and her partner took home the prize in a Cup first.

Tasmanian Poetry Festival director Cameron Hindrum commended the high standard of all the cup entries.

“It’s always fascinating to witness the diversity of issues, styles, voices and quirks that cup entries represent,” he said.

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