If you're looking for a contest with lots of options, hit the back button now; if you like a good poetic challenge, you're in the right spot.
This is my 4th contest and I'd like to believe my contests are well run, quickly judged and fair and I believe if you ask any who've entered them they'll say the same. I won't guarantee you'll win a trophy but I will guarantee I'll read ( at least twice, usually more) and comment on your poem.
For all those of you who've ever dreamed of being Dear Abby or Ann Landers, this contest should be right up your alley. The challenge is simple. Below you will find a poem I wrote, entitled Dear Poet, your challenge is to write a reply to the poem.
Dear Poet
~Ruth Kephart~
Dear Poet,
I have tried to write you
many times before
in hopes that you may know the answers
I’ve been searching for.
Like did the earth begin to tremble
when you found true love?
And on the night that you first kissed,
did moonbeams shine above?
Or did it hurt the day she left you
for some other man?
And can a heart that’s once been broken
ever love again?
Dear Poet is it really true
there’s good in everyone?
Or at the end of darkest nights
there’ll be a rising sun?
Is there hope, when hope’s been lost,
or is that just a line
created to instill some peace
in weary hearts like mine?
Dear Poet, can love lost be found?
Should dreamers dare to dream?
Or is true happiness a part
of someone’s evil scheme?
I’ve heard that poets know the key
to mysteries like these
and that they know the depth of love
that brings one to their knees
So Poet, can you give the answers to
these questions I’ve proposed?
Or simply tell me how the kiss
of dew’s still on the rose
he gave to me three days ago,
the day before he died,
and brought a new companion,
they call grief,
here to my side.
Oh there’s so much left unanswered
and so much I need to know
like, will ever there be joy again
where now I feel sorrow?
I know you’re probably busy
solving all the worlds myst’ries
but I hope you’ll spare a minute
of your time to answer me.
And now the day is waning
and the sun is setting low
there’s no further hope complaining
and dear Poet, I must go.
For it’s in the nighttime hours;
in the stillness of my sleep
and the misty fog of slumber
that, the memories I keep
become more than a memory
or so it is, they seem,
as he comes once more to hold me
if only in my dreams.
And so I end this letter.
Your reply, I’ll kindly wait.
Signed sincerely,
Simply me
(A heart broken by fate)
I'm not even going to bother posting rules, if you've read the above poem, I think my rules should be easy enough to figure out. Any poems that don't meet the one requirement (a reply to the above poem) will be disqualified.
Good luck and have fun!
1st place 300 points and a lovely gold trophy for your mantel
2nd place 150 points and a okay silver trophy for your bookcase
3rd place 75 points and an old bronze trophy you can put in the attic
Honorable Mentions will receive points also
As with my other contests, anyone who enters and meets the challenge will be awarded with a small sum of points.
Depending on the number of entries, this contest is subject to early closing.
Thank you
Ruth
This is my 4th contest and I'd like to believe my contests are well run, quickly judged and fair and I believe if you ask any who've entered them they'll say the same. I won't guarantee you'll win a trophy but I will guarantee I'll read ( at least twice, usually more) and comment on your poem.
For all those of you who've ever dreamed of being Dear Abby or Ann Landers, this contest should be right up your alley. The challenge is simple. Below you will find a poem I wrote, entitled Dear Poet, your challenge is to write a reply to the poem.
Dear Poet
~Ruth Kephart~
Dear Poet,
I have tried to write you
many times before
in hopes that you may know the answers
I’ve been searching for.
Like did the earth begin to tremble
when you found true love?
And on the night that you first kissed,
did moonbeams shine above?
Or did it hurt the day she left you
for some other man?
And can a heart that’s once been broken
ever love again?
Dear Poet is it really true
there’s good in everyone?
Or at the end of darkest nights
there’ll be a rising sun?
Is there hope, when hope’s been lost,
or is that just a line
created to instill some peace
in weary hearts like mine?
Dear Poet, can love lost be found?
Should dreamers dare to dream?
Or is true happiness a part
of someone’s evil scheme?
I’ve heard that poets know the key
to mysteries like these
and that they know the depth of love
that brings one to their knees
So Poet, can you give the answers to
these questions I’ve proposed?
Or simply tell me how the kiss
of dew’s still on the rose
he gave to me three days ago,
the day before he died,
and brought a new companion,
they call grief,
here to my side.
Oh there’s so much left unanswered
and so much I need to know
like, will ever there be joy again
where now I feel sorrow?
I know you’re probably busy
solving all the worlds myst’ries
but I hope you’ll spare a minute
of your time to answer me.
And now the day is waning
and the sun is setting low
there’s no further hope complaining
and dear Poet, I must go.
For it’s in the nighttime hours;
in the stillness of my sleep
and the misty fog of slumber
that, the memories I keep
become more than a memory
or so it is, they seem,
as he comes once more to hold me
if only in my dreams.
And so I end this letter.
Your reply, I’ll kindly wait.
Signed sincerely,
Simply me
(A heart broken by fate)
I'm not even going to bother posting rules, if you've read the above poem, I think my rules should be easy enough to figure out. Any poems that don't meet the one requirement (a reply to the above poem) will be disqualified.
Good luck and have fun!
1st place 300 points and a lovely gold trophy for your mantel
2nd place 150 points and a okay silver trophy for your bookcase
3rd place 75 points and an old bronze trophy you can put in the attic
Honorable Mentions will receive points also
As with my other contests, anyone who enters and meets the challenge will be awarded with a small sum of points.
Depending on the number of entries, this contest is subject to early closing.
Thank you
Ruth
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on May 9, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 300
- Final notes: I'd like to sart by saying that you people certainly didn't make my judging this an easy task. Wow, I'm drained! I wish I could give everyone a trophy. I've never had a contest yet where I could not find even one bad entry...until now, you all should be proud of yourselves for that. The winners and honorable mentions were choosen by how well they answered the letter. For anyone who thinks I took this contest lightly or awarded trophies to my friends, feel free to ask a few of my friends who entered and didn't even get honorable mention.
Thank you all for your entries...you're a wonderful, no amazing, group of poetsEntries [6]
1 - 6 of 6-
by XShades0fwhitEX 109 lines, 16 comments, on May 4 12:47 PM 2005. In Other, Other, Hope
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
Dear Heart, broken by fate,
Your letter was simply great !• Commented on by judge. -
To the broken heart who wonders.....• Commented on by judge.
-
Dear Androgynous,
I saw you in the wings tonight• Commented on by judge. -
You see, I'm just a poet,
Not a god, nor ruler of the world.• Commented on by judge. -
Dear Writer,
I'm sorry I haven't responded• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 14 of 14-
Ok, I'm DEFINATLEY entering this contest. It will be a little hard to do, but I'm up for a challenge. I'll try to submit one either later tonight or tomorrow. It'll take me awhile to critique my own work, but I'll get one in. This is an awesome contest to hold.
-
Well you have thrown down the gauntlet and I have taken it up, you are difficult to please so this will be a fight to the death,A very good idea for a comp, all the best, about to post my humble entry, hugs Di
-
Mmm never tried anything on the vein before, a reply, my. dare i take up the challange,Perhaps,its so hard to not even try
-
I just have to say that all of these poems are fantastic and I dont believe I would ever be able to win this contest with my poems. Great job!!
-
FINALLY a contest with a TRUE poetic challenge! I could hug you for this! I don't even care if I fail, but I'm grateful to have the opportunity! Great idea!
-
Interesting contest. I like the idea. Good job.
-
Yikes! Well, I must say that this contest is a challenging one. The idea is concrete so it gives you something to base your thoughts on, and that is why I took you up on the challenge. I've read two of the poems entered so far, and I must admit that this will probably be a very difficult contest to judge. Good luck to everyone who enters!
Edited on May 04, 12:58 because 'I forgot how to spell, I guess.'.
-
ooooooweeee... this looks good ruth... i'll sleep on it and hopefully come up with something in the a.m.... thanks for the invite... michele
-
I was moved by the challenge, and am going to try my best to write a response worthy of your questions... we'll see... it's been a long few weeks... Anywho, my most sincere thanks for making a contest worth writing for... marvelous!
~Andrew -
I wanted to applaude your poem, but it seems i cannot since it is simply on the page of your contest. But you should know that you poem is, in my opinion, absilutely amazing! I love it. And though I have not yet fond the words to reply, I think it's a great piece. You showed true talent with that!!
-
Ruth!
I do love a good challenge. : ) Can't wait to sink my teeth into this one.
Mary -
beautiful words that seem to look to be able to accept the sadness
I read this in a round about way. I had read Sandy Alford's poem and was curious as to what it was that inspired the write , so the link to this was forwarded to me I do hope this contest will prove successful,
Reenie
-
You know what I love about these contests? Is that we get to meet so many new wonderful muse, and make new friends along the way!!
A very big Congratulations everyone!!!
Thank you Ruth for a GREAT contest! And for the Honorable mention!
and many blessings, Sandi
-
Thank you so much for the honorable mention. What a nice surprise, and you did make great choices for the winners! Congrats all!
1 - 14 of 14 -
Gold trophy winner
Adding your comment:
