A poem by Erica Jong.
Climbing You
I want to understand the steep thing
that climbs ladders in your throat.
I can't make sense of you.
Everywhere I look you're there--
a vast landmark, a volcano
poking its head through the clouds,
Gulliver sprawled across Lilliput.
I climb into your eyes, looking.
The pupils are black painted stage flats.
They can be pulled down like window shades.
I switch on a light in your iris.
Your brain ticks like a bomb.
In your offhand, mocking way
you've invited me into your chest.
Inside: the blur that poses as your heart.
I'm supposed to go in with a torch
or maybe hot water bottles
& defrost it by hand
as one defrosts an old refrigerator.
It will shudder & sigh
(the icebox to the insomniac).
Oh there's nothing like love between us.
You're the mountain, I am climbing you.
If I fall, you won't be all to blame,
but you'll wait years maybe
for the next doomed expedition.
Erica Jong
Free verse poetry inspired by the piece above.
Left Alignment.
No more than 45 verses.
No erotica.
Climbing You
I want to understand the steep thing
that climbs ladders in your throat.
I can't make sense of you.
Everywhere I look you're there--
a vast landmark, a volcano
poking its head through the clouds,
Gulliver sprawled across Lilliput.
I climb into your eyes, looking.
The pupils are black painted stage flats.
They can be pulled down like window shades.
I switch on a light in your iris.
Your brain ticks like a bomb.
In your offhand, mocking way
you've invited me into your chest.
Inside: the blur that poses as your heart.
I'm supposed to go in with a torch
or maybe hot water bottles
& defrost it by hand
as one defrosts an old refrigerator.
It will shudder & sigh
(the icebox to the insomniac).
Oh there's nothing like love between us.
You're the mountain, I am climbing you.
If I fall, you won't be all to blame,
but you'll wait years maybe
for the next doomed expedition.
Erica Jong
Free verse poetry inspired by the piece above.
Left Alignment.
No more than 45 verses.
No erotica.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on March 25, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 350, Silver: 75, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 1 people
- Final notes: The three trophies awarded for this contest were given for the following -
1st and foremost: the tone of the poem itself with some sort of contrasting feelings from the woman to the man.
2ndly - that the poem was written with clarity in the verses as to some story that is being told that drew me further into the poem and almost had me wishing for more.
3rdly - I'm a big fan of closure. The poems I chose had such a strong closing thought and well written closing verse. I think the first verse and last are always the hardest.
At any rate, thanks to all five of the poets who entered. As much as I wish there were more entries - I also was quite happy with the power of the five entries I did have and was happy to award them trophies.
Kimmie
- To judge this contest, you need to have at least as many finalists as you have rewards. You have 4 awards but only 2 finalists.
Contest Winners
-
Captured is the beat
Breath of conversation• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [2]
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Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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have you listened to Vanessa Daou's "Zipless" album?
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I just picked up one of Erica Jong's poetry books this weekend! Great contest idea!
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This poem gets me right where I live, Kimmie. Thank you for sharing it. I would love to enter this contest... Erica Jong. I will have read more of her poems. I'm intrigued with her style.
~ Karen
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love this idea-
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Oh, I so wish I had seen this a few days ago and had time to enter...Erica Jong is one of my all time favorite poets
Ruth -
Thanks again for hosting
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Thank you for the gold kimmie! This poem really means a lot to me and I am so pleased you liked it too. Congratulations to all the winners!
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Thanks for hosting and congrats to all. I just couldn't resist the idea of trying to write something unerotic for a contest inspired by Jong. I guess I succeeded. LOL.
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