THE TAVERN by Willa Cather
IN the tavern of my heart
Many a one has sat before,
Drunk red wine and sung a stave,
And, departing, come no more.
When the night was cold without,
And the ravens croaked of storm,
They have sat them at my hearth,
Telling me my house was warm.
As the lute and cup went round,
They have rhymed me well in lay;--
When the hunt was on at morn,
Each, departing, went his way.
On the walls, in compliment,
Some would scrawl a verse or two,
Some have hung a willow branch,
Or a wreath of corn-flowers blue.
Ah! my friend, when thou dost go,
Leave no wreath of flowers for me;
Not pale daffodils nor rue,
Violets nor rosemary.
Spill the wine upon the lamps,
Tread the fire, and bar the door;
So despoil the wretched place,
None will come forevermore.
- use poetic device (show me your heart)
- left align
- any form/any length
- plain background
- feel free to edit until judging
- it does not have to
be dark like the above poem,
that is just an example of the developed
metaphor I would like to see in your poem:)
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on December 26, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 300, Bronze: 200, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: Thank you to all who entered and for writing your hearts.
Congratulations to the trophy winners and finalists!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
- aM
Contest Winners
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tossed beneath
an old armchairby poetryality 91 lines, 11 comments, on Dec 15 7:53 PM 2007. In Thoughts, Personal
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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Feel the beat of earthen muscle,
rhythm pumping closet drummer's• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
It will not matter what is written on,
or stored within this cedar box• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
In this quiet room of praise and counting coin, a lady waitsby EvilKate 41 lines, 7 comments, on Nov 29 8:14 PM 2007. In Contemporary, Transgender
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
~~~~ For Michael Thomas~~~~~by NurseChilly 23 lines, 12 comments, on Dec 18 2:50 PM 2007. In Love, Life, For Him Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Within my tent I gave feast to nomads,• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3698294, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3665544, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3661426, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Cardiac house of emotions
made of glass.by Sacrificial Love 40 lines, 6 comments, on Dec 19 4:53 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [36]
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You have broke my heart, to many times.
For it to love ever again.by HeartBr8ker 22 lines, 8 comments, on Dec 12 6:29 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. -
In the DMV of my heart, new faces walk on through.by BonaFidePoet 26 lines, 4 comments, on Nov 29 2:36 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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• Commented on by judge.
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by Shenanigans 32 lines, 7 comments, on Nov 29 10:02 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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Crimson ventricles,
wrapped in shadowed chambers,• Commented on by judge. -
Beyond the storm I did not see, how time stood still for you and me.• Commented on by judge.
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a passageway to heaven..• Commented on by judge.
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With half words that are whispered low, I catch each passing tender kiss.• Commented on by judge.
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My heart is like a rainbow,
Life's technicolour attic.• Commented on by judge. -
I sat on a chair hoping to solve my problem,by Venugopal 22 lines, 4 comments, on Dec 19 7:09 AM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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building life up, word by word• Commented on by judge.
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Begging you to see me, pleading for you to stay how can this be happening, it was suppose to be you wanting meby secrets79 37 lines, 2 comments, on Dec 20 12:44 AM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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What is your heart? I hear you ask. My heart is joy with pleasure from past,by AlexandraG 15 lines, 4 comments, on Dec 19 8:57 PM 2007. In Love• Commented on by judge.
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My heart is a class cage, in which I am trapped.by SereneFelicity 12 lines, 2 comments, on Dec 19 8:11 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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My heart is a place wise women slept
then rising before the sun,by Peteskid 36 lines, 2 comments, on Dec 19 5:38 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. -
My heart is the beating drum The thing that keeps me alive• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
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What a great contest and great inspiriation from the poem,was glad to read it.Bookmarking,good luck with this!
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hi Yvette, thank you, I like this poem too, not really the sadness of it..lol.. but how well written it is, the creativity and metaphor, it's so powerful and strong..her voice...I hope to read an entry from you!
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bookmarking
i like this contest -
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thank you
Hope to read an entry from you!
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ooohhhh....nice
thanks for the link beautiful!
love the inspiration poem...my Muse is all aflutter!
I will bookmark this one...looks like fun!
Hope you get great entries and life and love are smiling at you today!
Blessings! Tammy -
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thanks
hope you will enter!
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ooooh...yes, I do like this contest.
Now lets just see if my creative side will cooperate! (it's been a bit shy lately for some reason)
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I have bookmarked this
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thanks, Zayra I hope you enter!!
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beautiful contest! I will be back tomorrow!
Lynda
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looking forward to a poem from you, Lynda!
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working on mine tonight ..be back soon...
Lynda
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nicely done..
m -
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thanks, Mary, I would love to read an entry from you!!..hope it inspires
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hmmm...i like this one. Bookmark for now
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Hensley, thank you..would love to see you back!!
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Wow
I love that.
Definitly one of the best rhyming poems i've ever read. I might have to check into this poet. Is she recent? It don't seem like old poetry. -
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no, I got it off of this site..I am reading contemporary poets lately..but this one is old though..I think
here is the linkhttp://famouspoetsandpoems.com/ -
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I don't care that much for older famous poets that i've given a chance so far. This sounds like a poet that is timeless... before her time.
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Willa Cather 1873-1947..so quite recent, really
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The message in this poem reminds me of Shakira's song "Don't Bother"... a nice example of developed metaphors... though honestly I still prefer many of yours because the comparisons are just as logical if not more and usually much more subtle~ this is why you remain my heart, crush! lol
Enjoy judging~
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Great Idea for a Contest
Love the inspiriation poem. Ahh to be able to write like that.
Joe -
only got the idea i want for this yesterday, i hope i can come up with something in time.
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I was thinking of keeping this contest open for another week, anyways....lol
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Well, lord knows I cannot write like Willa Cather. And, the devil knows it too...so I am pretty sure that my poetry mostly sucks (check out the green trophies stacking up on my page) and I just hang out at All Poetry to keep myself humble.
So, I am going to pray that a really stellar poem full of wowing descriptions and sharp details shows up before my computer dies. 
Seriously, I love this contest idea and I have come back to it many times but I am not sure I will make it. The competition has me hanging my hat or else I might give up writing altogether.
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Great Idea! Seems simple but...
Yeah, so do enjoy reading and choosing
Bookmarking this too!! -
Thanks so much Ms. March for such an inspiring contest...congrats to the winners and beshes wishes to all in the new year...Rich
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congratulations to all who took part and to all the winners, well done..
a lovely contest
good close
many thanks for the HM too -
A great contest by a great host. Ty for the HM and congratulations all.
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Thank you for the inspiration. Congrats to all winners.
~Namita
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Congratulations to all winners and thank you for nice shiny HM trophy.
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Great contest, Tara, and congrats to all!
Ty for the inspiration
Lynda
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Thank YOU so much!
I am honored to have won the Gold among so many fine works. What a wonderful contest!
Congratulations to all Winners!
Much Love Always ♥
Renee
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