The English language wasn't born in a day. There are many other languages in it. Write a poem in a language other than English, and provide an English translation in the author's comments underneath the poem.
You are welcome to write in any style and on any topic. No erotica or profanity is necessary. Quality and originality is greatly appreciated. Quantity is welcome, go for it if you're that excited by this challenge.
I am familiar with French, Latin, and some Ancient Greek. DO NOT THINK I WANT TO SEE ONLY THESE LANGUAGES.
If anyone is interested in helping me judge this contest please say so by commenting on the contest page or my author page.
I'm hoping to give
1st place 300pts.
2nd place 200pts.
3rd place 100pts.
Honourable mentions is a possibility
Rules:
1) ***UPDATE #3***
Read this over, follow the rules and contest design, or your submission might be removed in judging. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES!!!! AGAIN! THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR TRANSLATION IN THE AUTHOR'S COMMENTS, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO WARN YOU EACH PERSONALLY -- THAT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG. I'VE ALSO DECIDED NOT TO REMOVE YOUR POEMS FROM THE CONTEST, HOWEVER YOUR POEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE IGNORED IN JUDGING! Everyone else has until September 6th to follow this simple rule. I'm so strict about this because I've met a lot of ignorant people in my past contests.
2) Be sure to provide an English translation and any explanation and footnotes you deem necessary in your author's notes bellow your poem
3)EDIT YOUR WORK. I'm particularly turned off by a lack of care by a writer where careless mistakes are concerned.
4) *** Underneath your translation in the author's notes type: "Language rocks"
5) Keep an eye on this page right until 2 days before judging. I have been know to come up with cool ideas to complicate things as I go (This includes surprise prizes and more options and challenges to be even more creative )
Guarantees by me:
1) I'll try to be a very fair judge. I will not leave comments on your poems before the contest closes for judging. I do this because my comments are part of my reasoning in judging. What good is it to show partiality before the contest closes for judging? There are many problems with doing that. As far as commenting goes, if I notice mistakes I'll tell you. I'll give you my honest opinion and impression in a fair well thought out manner. What I say is suggestion largely (especially in a case like this).
2) Because of the nature of this contest, if you notify me you need more time I'll do what I can to extend the closing of the contest.
**Update #4** this contest has been extended a day due to a request.
3) I'll try not to take too long to judge, but I will not rush judging, because I do want to judge to the best of my ability. I believe that an important aspect of contests is not only to engage the mind, provoke new ideas and share talents, but also to do some workshoping.
4) I'm eager to hear your thoughts and opinions regarding this contest or whatever is on your mind. (You interesting creatures, you )
****UPDATE****
YOU PEOPLE RULE! THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY EXCELLENT QUESTIONS IN THE CONTEST COMMENTS BELOW. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU HAVE A LOOK BELOW AND READ THE CONCERNS, IDEAS AND FEEDBACK EXPRESSED BY YOUR FELLOW POETS.
Another thought: there is no required length for your poem. I believe that if your poem does become insanely long in a contest like this you must be crazy. lol However, I'd say a poem needs two be at least two lines to require some depth. Otherwise it's a statement and not a poem.
Buy the by! Please spread the word on this contest! I would be highly impressed if I get over 20 submissions into this contest. BONUS POINTS WILL RESULT FOR EVERYONE IF I DO! I won't close this contest until I get at least 10 submissions.
**UPDATE #2**
I'm going to be off and voyaging August 26 through to early September. The final close date for this contest will be September 7th. This should give anyone working on their poem still plenty of time.
***Judging Update
There will be no on the side contest. It appears that no one attempted this challenge for extra points.
I got it narrowed down to the top ten now. As soon as I figure out the places I'll start leaving comments and awarding special points.
You are welcome to write in any style and on any topic. No erotica or profanity is necessary. Quality and originality is greatly appreciated. Quantity is welcome, go for it if you're that excited by this challenge.
I am familiar with French, Latin, and some Ancient Greek. DO NOT THINK I WANT TO SEE ONLY THESE LANGUAGES.
If anyone is interested in helping me judge this contest please say so by commenting on the contest page or my author page.
I'm hoping to give
1st place 300pts.
2nd place 200pts.
3rd place 100pts.
Honourable mentions is a possibility
Rules:
1) ***UPDATE #3***
Read this over, follow the rules and contest design, or your submission might be removed in judging. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES!!!! AGAIN! THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR TRANSLATION IN THE AUTHOR'S COMMENTS, I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO WARN YOU EACH PERSONALLY -- THAT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG. I'VE ALSO DECIDED NOT TO REMOVE YOUR POEMS FROM THE CONTEST, HOWEVER YOUR POEM WILL MOST LIKELY BE IGNORED IN JUDGING! Everyone else has until September 6th to follow this simple rule. I'm so strict about this because I've met a lot of ignorant people in my past contests.
2) Be sure to provide an English translation and any explanation and footnotes you deem necessary in your author's notes bellow your poem
3)EDIT YOUR WORK. I'm particularly turned off by a lack of care by a writer where careless mistakes are concerned.
4) *** Underneath your translation in the author's notes type: "Language rocks"
5) Keep an eye on this page right until 2 days before judging. I have been know to come up with cool ideas to complicate things as I go (This includes surprise prizes and more options and challenges to be even more creative )
Guarantees by me:
1) I'll try to be a very fair judge. I will not leave comments on your poems before the contest closes for judging. I do this because my comments are part of my reasoning in judging. What good is it to show partiality before the contest closes for judging? There are many problems with doing that. As far as commenting goes, if I notice mistakes I'll tell you. I'll give you my honest opinion and impression in a fair well thought out manner. What I say is suggestion largely (especially in a case like this).
2) Because of the nature of this contest, if you notify me you need more time I'll do what I can to extend the closing of the contest.
**Update #4** this contest has been extended a day due to a request.
3) I'll try not to take too long to judge, but I will not rush judging, because I do want to judge to the best of my ability. I believe that an important aspect of contests is not only to engage the mind, provoke new ideas and share talents, but also to do some workshoping.
4) I'm eager to hear your thoughts and opinions regarding this contest or whatever is on your mind. (You interesting creatures, you )
****UPDATE****
YOU PEOPLE RULE! THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY EXCELLENT QUESTIONS IN THE CONTEST COMMENTS BELOW. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU HAVE A LOOK BELOW AND READ THE CONCERNS, IDEAS AND FEEDBACK EXPRESSED BY YOUR FELLOW POETS.
Another thought: there is no required length for your poem. I believe that if your poem does become insanely long in a contest like this you must be crazy. lol However, I'd say a poem needs two be at least two lines to require some depth. Otherwise it's a statement and not a poem.
Buy the by! Please spread the word on this contest! I would be highly impressed if I get over 20 submissions into this contest. BONUS POINTS WILL RESULT FOR EVERYONE IF I DO! I won't close this contest until I get at least 10 submissions.
**UPDATE #2**
I'm going to be off and voyaging August 26 through to early September. The final close date for this contest will be September 7th. This should give anyone working on their poem still plenty of time.
***Judging Update
There will be no on the side contest. It appears that no one attempted this challenge for extra points.
I got it narrowed down to the top ten now. As soon as I figure out the places I'll start leaving comments and awarding special points.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on September 24, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 300
- Final notes: I know you're probably thinking finallllllllllllllly! (Especially sippinfreakishkiwis
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11-
Aqui me tienes esperando
Pensando en ti• Commented on by judge. -
Growlin' grummlin', a' the day
Afftakin ithers on the way• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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• Commented on by judge.
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je aiment Te means "i love you" a french poem, translatedby beebee2003 23 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 9 11:36 AM 2005. In Love• Commented on by judge.
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Hierdie mense is in my bloed
Al hul grasse, blomme weef my tuisteby painted veil 94 lines, 8 comments, on Aug 9 4:44 PM 2005. In Contemporary• Commented on by judge. -
this poem is in Frenchby Not-The-Sun 16 lines, 25 comments, on Aug 23 10:12 AM 2005. In Love• Commented on by judge.
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Le monde de demain que je prévois
Pourrait être un monde des humains sans humanitéby DamnUnique 16 lines, 17 comments, on Aug 23 1:36 PM 2005. In Weird, Society, Dark
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
La lluvia:
Un ritmo ineludible• Commented on by judge. -
Pour chaque moineau en cielby rannilt 10 lines, on Sep 6 7:53 PM 2005. In Contemporary• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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Interesting contest! I'll surely come back to this. I've been gong to a French school my whole life (...well, you know what I imean!) so I'm very fluent in French.
Question: Are the translations literal or should they be poetic and rhyming as well?
Anyhow, great contest! Good luck with it!
~lavender shadows~ -
Well this is an interesting contest
hmm... I can speak Dutch, French, English and German, but since my muse is lacking (the darn tart 
) I'm afraid I won't be able to enter...
but I can find some time to cooperate though
Leander -
Are we alowed to write our poem in a combination of languages? I think that it would be quite fun to try, so please, may I?
-Ceilinh -
This is a great idea - especially for those of us whose first language is not English. I speak Afrikaans (one of the 11 official languages of South Africa) and English, and a little German as well. I can read and understand Dutch and Flemish quite well and even some Frisian (which I discovered here on AP in another contest about foreign languages). I write mostly in English (well, for AP's sake), but welcome this opportunity to write in my first language. One can't always translate with the same poetic effect, but that is where the real challenge lies! I hope to enter something....well that is if my muse decide to come out of hibernation - it is winter here in SA, lol
. I am bookmarking this contest and hope to be here. And don't worry about Leander above - he will come up with something!!
~ Nicolette
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I have a contest going similar to this-- I wonder if you have looked at this? Just curious. Anyway, good luck judging your contest.
- sky -
Dear lavendar shadows,
That is an excellent question! Yes, it is important to consider whether to do the translation literally or poetically suiting. I really do appreciate the thought and the question because it shows me you really are interested and are considering how to go about this. *jumps for glee* 
Oh yes, the answer to the question, lol. Which ever you believe will do your poem the best justice. I've found that the further you go in learning how to translate a language -- the very act of doing such is done in the translator's style. Everyone has a different way of interpreting what they mean, but what's important is that you believe that you are giving your poem of another language justice in its English translation as well. I would say, therefore, that your translation should be a balance of both. You don't want your English traslation to be so literal that the English poem is unintelligible in English. At the same time, if the poem is too poetically perfect in English, chances are your translation will become another poem altogether and will not reflect the meaning of your other language poem. Therefore, it is essential, I think, to have a balance of literal and English poetic sense in your translation.
I love foreign films. One of my favourites is Life is Beautiful. If you haven't seen it, you must, it is gorgeous. however, make sure you get it with captions and not dubbing. That's the way I see it with writing to.
I'm very good with languages -- I can get a sense of what makes sense, but it's always nice to have an accurate caption to give some guidance.
Edited on Aug 12, 8:11 p.m. because ''. -
Dear Ceilinh,
You know what? Go for it. Impress the heck out of me. I admire your ambition, but remember that there should be some sense to it.
Edited on Aug 12, 8:13 p.m. because ''. -
Hullo there Flaming Sky!
It's been a while since I heard from you. I was not aware of your contest. I have been planning to do a contest like this for almost two years -- I just never got to setting it up until now, lol.
May you have a ball with yours too! Maybe I'll even enter it, lol.
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I posted a poem recently that was in Latin. I don't think people liked it, so I'm glad to see that there is someone on this site that would appreciate it.
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LOL! That's the thing- I think I'll make better sense if I don't try to stick with just one language.
Wish me luck! (or whatever)
-Ceilinh -
I'd love to see it in the contest! Feel free to submit it. Veni! Scribe! me amicum Romanae
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Awwww... What a cool contest! I'd love to enter, but I'm leaving in like 15 minutes to go on vacation, and I don't come back until the 21st.
Well, great luck with this contest! I think it's an awesome idea. Language is very important for communication, expression, and cultural identity.
Kyla -
could i write something in hebrew?
however i could only type how the words would be pronounced because i cant get the correct script,
thanks
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Sure, why not? lol. . . I have to learn it some time within the next bunch of years or so.
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hi!
how many poems can we enter?
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I don't feel like setting a limit. Go crazy
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i think this is a great idea, I think I will try to enter
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I'm not going to close the contest until September 6th so feel free to enter stiil
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Thanks, hun! I think I will!!!
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This is an awesome contest! Thanks very much for posting it... now I have to think of an idea...
/jannin -
Sorry, I'm a bit confused as to what you want for the "on-the-side" contest. Would you be able to clear it up for me?
Thanks!
~lavender shadows~ -
WOW! great idea!!! Finally! A contest where I can write a poem in latin! Eugapae!!!
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I just found this! Could you please bump up the deadline 1 day? PLEEEEASE???
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You have your day.
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Awesome idea! I LOVE IT!
why didn't I think of that? -is being slightly jealous-
YAY! now I can write in swedish!
Edited on Sep 07, 4:13 because ''. -
The "on-the-side" contest is totally optional. It's meant to serve as a mini contest for those that are intimidated by writing in a different language or are up to a second challenge -- it still encourages poets to be creative with language, while not forcing them to write in another language.
Awards for On the Side contest will be as follows:
20 pts. 1st place + pt.per line
10pts. 2nd place + pt. per line
5pts. 3rd place + pt. per line
In other words if you write a 21 line poem and it wins, then you get 20pts. + pt. per line =41 points. However, a poem that demonstrates more in less words is more likely to win.
I decided to set the limit to 21 lines because that is enough lines to develop a meter.
"Meter is the recurrence, in regular units, of prominent feature in the sequence of speech-sounds of a language." (Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. ed. 7. Boston: Heinle and Heinle, 1999.)
Meter is basically a combination of patterns involving stressed and unstressed words, syllables and accents (depending on the language). Most English meters are created based on a numerical system of stress and syllables. If you chose to try this mini challenge your goal will be to create your own variation of meter. In other words try to avoid common meter systems and create your own. If you are still confused about meter please look it up in A Glossary of Literary Terms by M. H. Abrams, which provides an indepth explanation with examples of common meters. -
i'm bilingual
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BOnnE CHanCe pour le CoNCouRS!!!
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hurry up with the judging
i wanna know the winners!
good luck,
-Thora -
HEY!!! Thanks a ton for the bronze!!!!
My thank-you bouquet. 
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Thank you for your submission! It may have seemed a little dark to you, but it was wicked indeed. Buy the by. . . Your points are coming in 3. . . 2. . . 1. . .
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Muchas gracias para la plata!!!! Me asorprendio! Pero ahora estoy muy feliz. Gracias!
Thank you for the silver! You surprised me! But I'm so happy and excited! Thank you!!! s
Kyla
Edited on Sep 24, 10:12 p.m. because ''. -
Good job everyone, I think everyone did great
-
First of all, that's an interesting comment coming from someone who did not provide a translation for one of the poems they submitted in this contest! Nor did you follow the contest rules, on any of your three submissions, so how could you expect to place? Mind you, IF YOU HAD FOLLOWED THE CLEARLY STATED RULES, I won't deny that you would have been given greater consideration for your poems.
Secondly, I don't understand Spanish, as you falsely assume. I never have. I can guess, just like I can with most romance languages because I have a sense of how languages work, but that doesn't make me a Spanish teacher, nor even a pupil of the subject.
Thirdly, only 16 poems actually followed the rules, and that's not my fault. I chose the poems I did because their messages were original, moved me personally and deserved to win. NOT BECUASE THEY WERE IN FRENCH OR SPANISH! The point of this contest was that the submissions could be any language. I can't help it if the majority of submissions were in French, especially of those that didn't disqualify themselves.
Please don't insult me with your ignorance. You didn't win, and you're upset, fine. Move on! There's no sense in attacking a completed contest as a sore loser.
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Silver trophy winner
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