Poems about the beach or the edge of the sea, or connected to it. You don't have to comment on any of my poems, but if you look at them you will get an idea of the sort of writing I like.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 21, 2005
- Rewards: Gold: 300
- Final notes: This has been a very interesting contest. It has attracted many more entries than any other contest I have held. This made judging very difficult as several poems were very good and worthy of prizes. It certainly shows the importance of our relationship with the edge of the sea, and how much the beach means to many of us. I hope I have read all the entries fairly. It took me quite a long time.
Many of the poems were very good, and I hope their authors will preserve them. I would have awarded more prizes if I had had the option to do so. I considered the prize-winners and several others very good, as might be expected in this big field. They have survived fierce competition. I also gave four applauses and would have given more if I had them.
The chief faults were:
1) Too many adjectives and adverbs. They are no substitutes to lyricism. Remember: "Show, don't tell." The most effective lyrical and descriptive poems have few if any adjectives. Please read the great descriptive poets, like Kipling, Betjamen,Frost, Etc., to see how they achive their effects.
2) Bad rhymes and sentences distorted out of correct grammatical work order to achieve rhymes. Rhymes should be natural, unforced, and in a sense inevitable.
3) What I call "Tame dogs." Poems that haven't anything wrong with them, but by the same token don't say anything original. Remember, this is a well-worn subject, though I hope never worn-out.
4) I detest what are known on this site as "emo." pems. Poetry which expresses the poet's personal emotion - As I suppose in a sense all poetry does - should do so subtly, by implication ands association, not a "poor little me, I feel sad again today!" Manifesto. Fortunately, there were few if any such poems in this contest.
A poem by Robert Frost - one way - certainly by no means the only one! - of writing about the beach:
The people upon the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their backs on the land,
They look at the sea all day.
As long as it takes to pass
The ship keeps raising its hull.
The water ground like glass
Reflects the standing gull.
They cannot look out far,
They cannot look in deep.
But was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?
Entries [18]
1 - 18 of 18
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Sparkling water, rolling to and fro,
Pebbles turning gently in the tide as it goes,• Commented on by judge. -
Sand squishes underneath feet between toes
waves throbbing to shore on ocean tides• Commented on by judge. -
I walk the long twisted beach,
alone.by XKornXChildX 27 lines, on Jun 28 3:24 PM 2004. In Personal• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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The subtle sigh of a still cool breeze
Tip-toeing above and all around meby guardian angel 33 lines, 1 comment, on Sep 23 8:30 AM 2004. In Nature• Commented on by judge. -
Then I see a seagull soaring high in the sky above
I know this place is special, made by God with love• Commented on by judge. -
wavelet tears
of the sun--• Commented on by judge. -
As I sit in somber thoughts
a leak within my soul,by Frozentearz 51 lines, 8 comments, on Apr 29 8:04 PM 2005. In Love• Commented on by judge. -
Stood on the cliffs at Saltburnby I-Like-Rhymes 25 lines, 31 comments, on Aug 17 5:41 AM 2005. In Nature• Commented on by judge.
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Soon we'd fall asleep,
Lulled by the wind and the sea...• Commented on by judge. -
A girl stands on the cliffs,
Looking out at the sea.by LillianEmrys 35 lines, 3 comments, on Oct 13 12:04 PM 2005. In Fantasy• Commented on by judge. -
Sand crumbling between toes
The lapping of soft foam wavesby SixPennyGirl 23 lines, 10 comments, on Oct 15 11:02 AM 2005. In Nature• Commented on by judge. -
A splash of beach or a flip-flopped
Footprint molded in wind blown sand• Commented on by judge. -
Can you hear it ?
There is life inside a shell.by River Tear 20 lines, 3 comments, on Oct 15 3:54 PM 2005. In Nature• Commented on by judge. -
Three foot letters in mottled white,
peeling and drifting• Commented on by judge. -
So far from my home, so far from the sea,
so far from the tradewinds defining me.by DisgruntledBadger 26 lines, 2 comments, on Oct 20 9:45 PM 2005. In Angst• Commented on by judge.
Silver trophy winner
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Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Thank you, I look forward to seeing your entries
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This is a great contest. omg and i am so happy because i wrote a great poem connecting ut not about the beach. The whole poem is a metaphor very very deep. I can't wait to read the other greqat poems too.
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How many poems may be entered per contestant? I always write involving ocean imagery...
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Well you have to admit your contests are a bit like a pendulum, they swing from one entry to dozens,
I don't envy you this time.
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There is a risk that at a certain point I may get tired of them. This contest seems to be attracting a lot of entries so I'd suggest not more than two.
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Owing to the very large number of entries and the fact that I am currently very busy with work, there may be a few days' delay in judging.
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liked the contest yet I had a pretty good feeling about winning a trophy yet guess my poem was not good enough for this contest.
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