I remember when I didn’t have anyone.
I remember when I got lost for five years.
I remember when I liked blue pills.
I remember because I don’t want to forget.
I read Charles Bukowski, and I am drawn to the
sometimes ugly honesty of beautiful truth. We
are who we are.
His poetry is not flowery by any means. It is
a fall on jagged cement, a dry heave after sex,
a life not perfect but certainly profound.
Your Challenge:
1. To read the following Bukowski poem
2. To be inspired by his words enough to write
a poem from your soul
3. I don’t want pretty. I want plain English
poetry with a shot of rum
The Icecream People by Charles Bukowski
the lady has me temporarily off the bottle
and now the pecker stands up
better.
however, things change overnight--
instead of listening to Shostakovich and
Mozart through a smeared haze of smoke
the nights change, new
complexities:
we drive to Baskin-Robbins,
31 flavors:
Rocky Road, Bubble Gum, Apricot Ice, Strawberry
Cheesecake, Chocolate Mint...
we park outside and look at icecream
people
a very healthy and satisfied people,
nary a potential suicide in sight
(they probably even vote)
and I tell her
"what if the boys saw me go in there? suppose they
find out I'm going in for a walnut peach sundae?"
"come on, chicken," she laughs and we go in
and stand with the icecream people.
none of them are cursing or threatening
the clerks.
there seem to be no hangovers or
grievances.
I am alarmed at the placid and calm wave
that flows about. I feel like a leper in a
beauty contest. we finally get our sundaes and
sit in the car and eat them.
I must admit they are quite good. a curious new
world. (all my friends tell me I am looking
better. "you're looking good, man, we thought you
were going to die there for a while...")
--those 4,500 dark nights, the jails, the
hospitals...
and later that night
there is use for the pecker, use for
love, and it is glorious,
long and true,
and afterwards we speak of easy things;
our heads by the open window with the moonlight
looking through, we sleep in each other's
arms.
the icecream people make me feel good,
inside and out.
Your Rules:
1. This will be free verse only
2. No line limit but no epics either
3. Say what you have to say and say it WELL
4. Plain background/no images
5. I do not DQ but as I’ve said before -
Dull poetry will be read and forgotten.
6. NO reservations
all entries will be read seriously
and judged fairly.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on November 30, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 275, Bronze: 125, Honorable mention: 12 people
- Final notes: By far, this contest has impressed me the most...I absolutely could not leave one of you without a trophy...You gave me more than I expected, and honestly, this is some of the best poetry I have read collectively...ever. Thank you so much and congrats to you all.
Love, Lane
Contest Winners
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3653254, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
-
She's saved, I’m not. Still we live together,• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3653140, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Preconceptions
are the batterby alexandrathegreat 87 lines, 2 comments, on Nov 25 8:23 PM 2007. In Contemporary, Thoughts, Personal
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
He slams the door. Again.
Every morning my next-door neighbour• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
she said she would save me but for what?by myriad-dark 17 lines, 1 comment, on Nov 25 10:49 PM 2007. In Life, Pain, Thoughts Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3645888, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Cold and unyeilding rain soaked my hair and tickled as it trickled down my face• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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square in the solar plexus did she strike me with her eyesby JohnnyD 109 lines, 6 comments, on Nov 25 4:16 PM 2007. In My own style, Lost in thought, My life, Friendship, Humor Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [10]
1 - 10 of 10
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Comments
1 - 7 of 7
-
I love ice cream people.
They are all healthy people...lol.
This looks cool, I shall bookmark.
Becky
-
Very cool...
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Hi Lane
I usally like your contest
The sample verse you give is ackward and borderline rude-crude
I did like the theam of it.
I may try this for the sake of change
A Radical Lobotmy may be necessary, before I proceed
Tell me this is a faze you are going through, Please...
Rick -
interesting contest. I like the poem. It's real and gritty. I will be curious to see how this goes.
-
Bukowski wears a ski mask...
one scoop, or seven? -
Hi Lane
I thank you for the Silver
I read many of the other entries
all very moving
Thank you for caring for my words
Rick -
Congratulations to the winners and thanks ever so much for the HM
Thanks once again for hosting a great contest!
Gaylene
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