"I've stayed in the front yard all my life.
I want a peek at the back
where it's rough and untended and hungry weed grows.
A girl gets sick of a rose.
I want to go in the backyard now
and maybe down the alley,
to where the charity children play.
I want a good time today.
They do some wonderful things.
They have some wonderful fun.
My mother sneers, but I say it's fine
How they don't have to be in at a quater to nine.
My mother, she tells me that Johnny Mae
will grow up to be a bad woman.
That George'll be taken to jail soon or late.
(on account of last winter he sold our back gate.)
But I say it's fine. Honest, I do.
And I'd like to be a bad woman, too,
and wear the brave stockings of night- black lace
and strut down the streets with paint on my face."
-Gwendolyn Brooks
[A song in the front yard, 1945]
__________________________________________________________________________
Give me your opinion in a small column of what you think
this poem is about or what it represents.
Poetry and Literature contains many answers, the beauty of it all,
but in this case there is a right answer.....
The poet with the right answer will take the gold.
The two runners up with the best opinions, will take
the silver and bronze.
As usual, if anyone has every remembered in my competition, winner
takes all.
Good luck everyone.
Noel Lovett
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on May 25, 2006
- Rewards: Gold: 405
- Final notes: I would like to thank everyone who entered my contest and hope to see more of your work sooner than later.
Noel Lovett
Entries [3]
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This poems enables us to look at the so called 'lower classes' through a little girls taint free mind. The writer suceeds in driving home the message that ,by sheakespear in love 36 lines, 3 comments, on May 18 2:15 PM 2006. In Contemporary
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
I feel that this poem is a reflection of a childs mind in choosing a path in life. The front yard in this piece represents the more orderly and disciplined patby Heartfelt Darkly 0 lines, 3 comments, on May 18 6:24 PM 2006. In Society, Other, Dark
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. -
Really it is all about....• Commented on by judge.
Bronze trophy winner
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Great idea for a contest, but I have one question that just popped into my mind, whats to stop the later entries from just reading the previous entries and pillaging their ideas, then you would have several pieces that could indeed be right. I am not saying that this would happen, but it is common practice for everyone to read the other entries to get an idea of what the contest holder is looking for. Anyway just popped into my head and thought I'd ask, lol...
Bunny
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Hmm this is an interesting point, I suppose they could check the dates of the posting and determine wether or not soemone violated the sanctity of the contest...
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no no, i understand you concern, and that is great thinking, I read them in the order of which they come and I judge the one that has the right answer first..that was a great thought though
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Thanks for hosting this contest -very unique idea for a contest. As I was on my way to owork saw cows and horses arching their hecks through the fence to get at the grass that was on the other side.
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Appreciate the bronze trophy for this write of mine. Thanks again for hosting. Neat idea for a contest. Congrats too the other winners too.
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I'm curious about why you stated in this contest "but in this case, there is a right answer?" Are you talking about the right answer for you personally or is it something you know about from her own notes about the poem? I would appreciate a response. Thank you for hosting and all the best, ea
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