This is my first contest of 2008 and I have loads of points to give away.
Use this poem written by my dear friend and former creative writing tutor Adrian Fox and run with it. Adrian is an incredibly talented poet and despite having a severe stroke several years ago he still writes and continues to inspire so many and although a Catholic he works closely with many community poets of all religions.
The poem :
A breath of peace
This verse is for all the violent dead
who know eternal peace.
United forever for all the families
who grieve the slaughtered fleece.
Ulsterman rise from your knees
and feel this peaceful breeze.
Hope uniting hearts and minds
with forgiving Irish ease.
Weep no more the violent dead,
lay flowered prayer on eternal beds.
Inhale this peace into your lungs.
No more bullets, no more guns.
And your breath will fall upon
Ireland and you will know that
breath of peace is yours.
Death comes to us all
like a bullet through the head.
Life comes to us all
with the aftertaste of lead.
So take that hatred from your heart
and recognise your brother.
Take that bitterness from your throat
and spit it to the gutter.
Knowing that you have cut down
innocent sons and daughters.
Then your filth will filter through
Polluted Irish waters
And your breath will fall upon
Ireland and you will know
that breath of peace is yours.
Ok Now for the rules :
Absolutely no bashing of the Irish theme here (we are quite capable of that ourselves)
No and I mean no dirty pretty. It is not a style I can relate to.
Swear if you must but only if it fits the context of the poem.
Any questions feel free to message me xxx
Use this poem written by my dear friend and former creative writing tutor Adrian Fox and run with it. Adrian is an incredibly talented poet and despite having a severe stroke several years ago he still writes and continues to inspire so many and although a Catholic he works closely with many community poets of all religions.
The poem :
A breath of peace
This verse is for all the violent dead
who know eternal peace.
United forever for all the families
who grieve the slaughtered fleece.
Ulsterman rise from your knees
and feel this peaceful breeze.
Hope uniting hearts and minds
with forgiving Irish ease.
Weep no more the violent dead,
lay flowered prayer on eternal beds.
Inhale this peace into your lungs.
No more bullets, no more guns.
And your breath will fall upon
Ireland and you will know that
breath of peace is yours.
Death comes to us all
like a bullet through the head.
Life comes to us all
with the aftertaste of lead.
So take that hatred from your heart
and recognise your brother.
Take that bitterness from your throat
and spit it to the gutter.
Knowing that you have cut down
innocent sons and daughters.
Then your filth will filter through
Polluted Irish waters
And your breath will fall upon
Ireland and you will know
that breath of peace is yours.
Ok Now for the rules :
Absolutely no bashing of the Irish theme here (we are quite capable of that ourselves)
No and I mean no dirty pretty. It is not a style I can relate to.
Swear if you must but only if it fits the context of the poem.
Any questions feel free to message me xxx
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on February 2, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 350, Bronze: 150
- Final notes: Firstly a big thank you to everyone who took the time to enter what was a contest very close to my heart. The level of those few pieces submitted was of the highest standards, not that I would expect anything less from all the fantastic poets here at AP. The 3 poems that I have chosen as winners are the 3 that truelly made me stop and think, brought a tear to my eye, a lumo to my throat and in some cases left me astounded. I cannot wait to see who has written each of these poems. Everyone entry was fantastic but these 3 really shone. Well done and my blessings to each and every one of you xxx
Contest Winners
-
by Yvette Champ 66 lines, 16 comments, on Jan 19 9:05 AM 2008. In peace, ireland, unity, Spoken Word, noguest
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Grandad was an Orangeman, He marched every year fierce with pride,• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [7]
1 - 7 of 7
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What good a hardened heart,
a spit and sputter of anger,by CarolDesjarlais 39 lines, 6 comments, on Jan 7 8:30 AM 2008. In Society• Commented on by judge. -
They said we would never last but The troubles are in the past• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
-
If only
war was obsolete• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
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Claire,
Adrians poem is inspirational, as indeed you are yourself, I admire that you write for peace.
Am bookmarking. All the best with the contest, to Adrian and yourself and the continued building of bridges ,
love and light,
Yvette
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very powerful words written for peace. We need more poets to use powerful words for peace in the world.
great work. -
Good Job , Keep writing
-
Oh,thankyou for the shiny for the 'shelf,it's shining on the mantle shelf of my heart, the trophy for us all will be peace. Congratulations to Daisybee and Jinsays and well done to everyone who lifted a pen for peace.Thankyou for the contest inspiration and allowing us to breathe the same breath. Let's all have a Guinness, the drinks are on me! Peace through Poetry, Yvette
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