My boyfriend Mark and I have recently become engaged.
The wedding planning has already begun, and we have to write our entire ceremony ourselves. I would love to involve as much poetry and music as possible, and I know there are several amazing writers on this site-- so I thought I would come to you.
I've looked through thousands of readings and poems and decided that I want something completely new and unheard for my wedding.
Rules:
1.) Nothing religious-- Neither of us are very religious and we are trying to downplay religion in the ceremony.
2.) Nothing too risque. The ceremony will be held in an LDS (Mormon) church.
3.) Freeverse only. I really hate rhyming. Sorry! 
4.) No line limits. But be reasonable, please. I don't want a novel.
5.) Don't write about us. Just write a generic love poem.
6.) No cliches!! No white wedding images, no doves, no corny flowered speeches.
7.) Show, don't tell. Use lots of imagery and metaphor. Be abstract in your thinking but concrete in your words. Flood my senses.
Suggestions:
1.) My favorite poet is Pablo Neruda. If you can effectively imitate his style and his vaults of imagery and metaphor, you're going to win.
2.) Here are some words to build from. This isn't a word bank contest-- use them if you want, but it's not required. Some of them would probably never even appear in a love poem. They're just here to provide you with some inspiration.
- equivocal, taste, dream, jubilant, sonorous, coloratura, chimera, petal, saffron, incandescent, oyster, nightgown, net, ardor, fingernail, malevolent, vigor, thrall, nocturnal, lime, plateau, uncharted, aerial, tremulous, lustrous, jungle, padlock, fissure, piano, violet, anise, marrow, charcoal, droplet, thicket, legion, ambush, cupola, blind, surrender, bonfires, gold, vines, opaque, coiled, whorl, unencumbered
3.) Here are the musical selections for our ceremony. I think music is a good indicator of poetic taste at times. It's also great background music to listen to while you write the poem.
- Clair de Lune-- Claude Debussy
- Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
- Her Eyes, Twin Pools-- J. Aaron McDermid
- Kala Kalla (Light Bride) from Five Hebrew Love Songs-- Eric Whitacre
- Amazing Grace-- arr. Keith McCutchen
- Alleluia Fugue ("Little Fugue")-- J.S. Bach
- The Lord Bless You and Keep You-- Traditional
And that's about it. If you have any questions don't hesitate to send me a message.
Elizabeth
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on September 23, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 900
- Final notes: Thanks to all of you who actually FOLLOWED THE RULES and submitted good poetry. I wish I could give all of you points. Unfortunately I don't have that many points to give out.
The three winners gave me good poetry. Some of the other stuff was good too.
But most of it, I'm sorry, was crap. Please, people, take the time to read the rules. I said explicitly that I didn't want rhyming and I got tons of rhyming poetry. Some things were obvious prewrites that didn't belong here.
Thanks to my trophy winners for some beautiful poetry.
Elizabeth
Contest Winners
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by Annalise 27 lines, 10 comments, on Sep 9 10:59 PM 2007. In Contemporary, Love Stories
Gold trophy winner
• Viewed by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 3378252, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [20]
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To dance it to love without trying. You need not to learn, but to feel, and to feel, you must understand.• Viewed by judge.
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I see my future
in your eyes.• Viewed by judge. Prewrite -
I love it when you tell me your dreams.
'Cause then I know
What to wish on stars for you.by eveningthought 21 lines, 9 comments, on May 4 12:02 PM 2007. In Personal, Love, Lyrics, My own style, Friendship, Dedication, Happiness• Viewed by judge. Prewrite -
Light up the ceremony With a thousand incandescent lampsby karaharapriya 20 lines, 1 comment, on Sep 5 3:32 PM 2007• Viewed by judge.
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• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Through all the thoughts inside my head,
Only one thought can come to mind at a time like this,by Irish-rain 19 lines, 1 comment, on Sep 5 3:48 PM 2007• Viewed by judge. -
When the world was created, God must have looked around, saw what he had done and felt very pleased with this very unique exceptionby Tercil 8 lines, 8 comments, on Sep 5 4:03 PM 2007
• Viewed by judge. -
What about me do you ask, / That drives you crazy? / Well my dear, / It's your eyes, / And how they sparkle, / How they capture all the light, / And then shine, / When you look into mine. / Also Loveby Ignis Corpus 40 lines, 5 comments, on Jul 11 2:59 PM 2007• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Holding hands, smiling and slowly walking The bride and groom meet to appear before you• Viewed by judge.
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I am your dream / your conscious stream / in every shining sunbeam / you will see me / / in the lowest valley / atop the highest peak / iby poetesswiththemost 25 lines, 11 comments, on May 6 7:56 AM 2007• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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Take my hand
and walk with me• Viewed by judge. Prewrite -
by Shenton 12 lines, on Jun 1 10:55 PM 2007• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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I wrote this to read a friend's wedding this summer.• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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by Forgotten Tink. 17 lines, 6 comments, on Feb 5 8:11 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Please be mine / your eyes sparkle like diamonds / your hair is so silky smooth / your lips taste sweeter than honey / From the moment I first saw you / my heart went all a-flutter / my senses all were heightened• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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As the day has come my love,
All shadows have been lifted.• Viewed by judge.
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Comments
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Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I was married last month, and I know how meaningful it was to share words that are not a part of everyone else's ceremony. I will try to draw on my own experience and write something that is not cliched. Peace, Liz
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Aww... Congrats
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Congratulations on getting engaged! And best of luck too. Have the best day ever XXX
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I'm sorry! I hate to enter a prewrite, but I thought it would fit.
My Creative Writing Teacher actually read this at his wedding to his (NOW) wife.
I wrote it for my BF at the time, and its truly from the heart.
I know I wasn't especially invited, but, oh, I thought I'd enter it anyways. Use it or don't, but congratulations on tying the knot!
~VoT -
I didn't even know you two were back together - I thought there was something going on - maybe I'm mixing info up. I wish I could write love for you
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Many congratulations! You make a very special couple and I wish you both a lifetime of love, joy, peace and happiness. xx
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Oh dear you!!!! My goodness.
I will certainly be entering this one, even if it's not my usual subject matter.
Challenges of this nature are fabulous. *hugs* -
Don't know you, and not going to enter the contest as this just isn't my subject. But, wanted to offer my congratulations on your engagement. If you're not very religious, how on Earth do you get married in a LDS church? They're about as religious as you can get. lol
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haha. Yeah I know... Mark's mom is very strict Mormon, and since neither of us are religious and my family doesn't care where the hell I get married, we figured we'd do it in the church he grew up going to.
But trust me when I say neither of us hold to any of the rigid beliefs. I'm sure he'd be excommunicated if the church officials knew what everyday life was like for him. lol
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Tinuelena The Tart, you've come a long way from your tart days Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials. You make an awesome looking couple ~ so here's to an awesome life together! Deb (don't you think a plaid wedding dress would be really original???)
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Nice Contest
I hope you and Mark will see into my words of commitment
I wish you well
Rick -
Thank you for the gold. Love poems are not my thing, so this definitely took me by surprise.
Congrats to the other trophy winners... and to you for your upcoming wedding.
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congrats all..it would be nice to have host comment on poems...after our effort and time....oh well
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Host did comment, in final notes, most of everything was "crap". lol.
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