Early in the Morning
While the long grain is softening
in the water, gurgling
over a low stove flame, before
the salted Winter Vegetable is sliced
for breakfast, before the birds,
my mother glides an ivory comb
through her hair, heavy
and black as calligrapher's ink.
She sits at the foot of the bed.
My father watches, listens for
the music of comb
against hair.
My mother combs,
pulls her hair back
tight, rolls it
around two fingers, pins it
in a bun to the back of her head.
For half a hundred years she has done this.
My father likes to see it like this.
He says it is kempt.
But I know
it is because of the way
my mother's hair falls
when he pulls the pins out.
Easily, like the curtains
when they untie them in the evening.
-- Li-Young Lee
- left justified
- monochromatic background
- no pictures please
- use poetic devices
- show don't tell
- 25 lines maximum
- rhyme only if you're really good at it
While the long grain is softening
in the water, gurgling
over a low stove flame, before
the salted Winter Vegetable is sliced
for breakfast, before the birds,
my mother glides an ivory comb
through her hair, heavy
and black as calligrapher's ink.
She sits at the foot of the bed.
My father watches, listens for
the music of comb
against hair.
My mother combs,
pulls her hair back
tight, rolls it
around two fingers, pins it
in a bun to the back of her head.
For half a hundred years she has done this.
My father likes to see it like this.
He says it is kempt.
But I know
it is because of the way
my mother's hair falls
when he pulls the pins out.
Easily, like the curtains
when they untie them in the evening.
-- Li-Young Lee
- left justified
- monochromatic background
- no pictures please
- use poetic devices
- show don't tell
- 25 lines maximum
- rhyme only if you're really good at it
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on November 16, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 100, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: Thank you everyone for entering. I had so much pleasure reading your entries. There are quite a number of well written poems here but I chose those that stir me most.
Gold - A Child's Moment
Silver - Bitter Almonds
Bronze - Unspoken Offerings
Honorable Mentions:
early hour - grey white
difficult
qui nhon aubade
Contest Winners
-
And you compare my hair to almonds as it runs through• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
the swish of broom on cement -
golden autumn curls,by Mirthryl 29 lines, 5 comments, on Nov 3 8:54 PM 2007. In Life, Lasting Love, Personal
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 3606306, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
When the fog seeped out ot the mountains into villages and paddy fields,• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [13]
1 - 13 of 13
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sunlight
warmly greeted meby penciledlives 21 lines, 17 comments, on Nov 6 2:45 AM 2007• Commented on by judge. -
You are the reason
I get up in the morning...• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
-
My mind's breath is thickened, foggy ghost,
a frosty apparition of half-life shadows,by kaibab 51 lines, 6 comments, on Nov 11 8:51 AM 2007
• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Someone else I know recently did a contest with a different poem by this same poet. Absolutely beautiful work. I hope to come up with something for this.
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Wow...and here I thought no one else read Li-Young Lee lol. *bookmarks*
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I cannot wait to see what you write for this.
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Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! I did not log in for 2 days. I am about to join and apparently its too late for me. Sorry Kabayan. I am looking forward in joining your other contests soon.
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I love the poem up there, wow, I have to check out more of this poet's work..
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i hope to be back.
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Thank you dear Rhona for the trophy and for inspiring with the theme of your contest
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