Salutations fellow All Poets! This contest is geared towards imagery, dichotomy, and sound. Use your words to create a tangible milieu, a tasteable sphere of existence. I don't care if they are sensible or realistic, but they must proceed organically. Pieces that manipulate words with an expert and unexpected hand will be especially appreciated, as will pieces using classical figures of speech emphasizing parallels/contrast such as epanalepsis, anadiplosis, zeugma, chiasmus, antimetabole, or paraprosdokian. Sound will be fundamental to the success of your poem. Cadence, as well as the actual tonal feeling and resonance of your words will be key.
- Rhyme scheme, or lack thereof, is up to you. However, if you do choose rhyme, please be original.
- Prewrites are fine if you believe it fits the criteria.
- Please take time to reflect and write outside your comfort zone. Experiment with turning your words upon themselves and positioning your expressions in unconventional manners. Take note of the power of placement as well as the power of phrasing.
- For turning of the phrase see work by E.E. Cummings.
For manipulation of conventional grammar see Emily Dickinson. For changing of common syntax/imaginative placement see Stephane Mallarmé. For command of sound see poems by Lewis Caroll (Jacberwocky) and Robert Frost ("Out, Out"), and the novelist Tom Robbins provides some exceptional examples as to eccentric wording:
e.g. "They'd be no threat to me. I have a black belt in Haiku. And a black vest in the cleaners." Here Robbins uses innovative phrasing, parallel structure and zeugma.
- Write about whatever you choose. Just feel it in your spit, carry it in your blood, and let it thunder from your hands.
- Length is additionally up to you. Nevertheless, be succinct in your writing. While florid description is encouraged, all of your words should bear significance.
- No emo, cutting, sticky caps, or dirty pretty. Erotica is okay as long as it is tasteful.
- Please watch your spelling.
- In summation, use word shape, inventive phrasing and grammar/syntax, parallelism, contradiction, and sound to forge your poem. You don't have to use all of these by any means! Just focus on a couple if you like.
- Write "with up so floating many bells down" in your author's notes so that I know you've read the rules.
- Good luck! And have a fantastic time!
- Rhyme scheme, or lack thereof, is up to you. However, if you do choose rhyme, please be original.
- Prewrites are fine if you believe it fits the criteria.
- Please take time to reflect and write outside your comfort zone. Experiment with turning your words upon themselves and positioning your expressions in unconventional manners. Take note of the power of placement as well as the power of phrasing.
- For turning of the phrase see work by E.E. Cummings.
For manipulation of conventional grammar see Emily Dickinson. For changing of common syntax/imaginative placement see Stephane Mallarmé. For command of sound see poems by Lewis Caroll (Jacberwocky) and Robert Frost ("Out, Out"), and the novelist Tom Robbins provides some exceptional examples as to eccentric wording:
e.g. "They'd be no threat to me. I have a black belt in Haiku. And a black vest in the cleaners." Here Robbins uses innovative phrasing, parallel structure and zeugma.
- Write about whatever you choose. Just feel it in your spit, carry it in your blood, and let it thunder from your hands.
- Length is additionally up to you. Nevertheless, be succinct in your writing. While florid description is encouraged, all of your words should bear significance.
- No emo, cutting, sticky caps, or dirty pretty. Erotica is okay as long as it is tasteful.
- Please watch your spelling.
- In summation, use word shape, inventive phrasing and grammar/syntax, parallelism, contradiction, and sound to forge your poem. You don't have to use all of these by any means! Just focus on a couple if you like.
- Write "with up so floating many bells down" in your author's notes so that I know you've read the rules.
- Good luck! And have a fantastic time!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on March 10, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 200, Bronze: 100
- Final notes: Thank you everyone who entered. All of the entries were fantastic and judging was very difficult. I really enjoyed reading everyone's work - thank you for making my first contest such a thrill!
Contest Winners
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 3988365, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Out of the array did flow my burden
Out in the audience did comb my noise• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Yesterday both of us were alive
Today I am living but you are dead.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [7]
1 - 7 of 7
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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by jezz 28 lines, 2 comments, on Mar 2 5:01 AM 2008• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Disappearing into untouchable light,
As knives glisten in still beauty,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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