I was so pleased with the response to my recent contest Index of First Lines that I'm posting another one. The lines come this time from an old school anthology called The Sheldon Book of Verse, published in 1959, and claiming to contain "all the poems you really like.". Well, that would be a matter of opinion, as Long John Silver might have put it (very old joke). Anyway, most of these lines will be well known indeed, and it should be easy to find the original poems.
However, I'd rather you didn't look at the originals before writing your own. Take any one of the first lines as inspiration to begin a poem of your own. You may use more than one line in a single poem, or enter more than once. I'm assuming that prewrites are unlikely to exist in your personal archive.
I'm looking for poems that have some originality to them, as well as some structure. I like rhyme and metre, but there's room in my heart for good blank verse as well. The anthology's aimed at children, but that doesn't mean that you can't write a more adult poem if you wish.
Have fun.
1. All in the town were still asleep
2. Brave iron, brave hammer, from your sound
3. Fair stood the wind for France
4. Give to me the life I love
5. I hear a sudden cry of pain
6. If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet
7. O where have ye been, Lord Randal, my son
8. Pack, clouds, away! and welcome day
9. Riding at dawn, riding alone
10. Sing me a song of a lad that is gone
11. Slowly, silently, now the moon
12. The cat went here and there
13. The moon is up: the stars are bright
14. There were three kings into the east
15. Three gipsies stood at the castle gate
16. When fishes flew, and forests walked
17. When I was but thirteen or so
18. When icicles hang by the wall
19. When the tea is brought in at five o'clock
20. Whenever the moon and stars are set.
However, I'd rather you didn't look at the originals before writing your own. Take any one of the first lines as inspiration to begin a poem of your own. You may use more than one line in a single poem, or enter more than once. I'm assuming that prewrites are unlikely to exist in your personal archive.
I'm looking for poems that have some originality to them, as well as some structure. I like rhyme and metre, but there's room in my heart for good blank verse as well. The anthology's aimed at children, but that doesn't mean that you can't write a more adult poem if you wish.
Have fun.
1. All in the town were still asleep
2. Brave iron, brave hammer, from your sound
3. Fair stood the wind for France
4. Give to me the life I love
5. I hear a sudden cry of pain
6. If you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet
7. O where have ye been, Lord Randal, my son
8. Pack, clouds, away! and welcome day
9. Riding at dawn, riding alone
10. Sing me a song of a lad that is gone
11. Slowly, silently, now the moon
12. The cat went here and there
13. The moon is up: the stars are bright
14. There were three kings into the east
15. Three gipsies stood at the castle gate
16. When fishes flew, and forests walked
17. When I was but thirteen or so
18. When icicles hang by the wall
19. When the tea is brought in at five o'clock
20. Whenever the moon and stars are set.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on April 12, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 150, Bronze: 75, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: I found this contest really difficult to judge because the range of first lines produced a great variety of responses. All of the entries had something valid to say, in a wide range of poetic styles. I hope I've encouraged you to read some of the originals.
When I was but Thirteen or So won me over because it deals with a nostalgic theme in a well-crafted style. It has a progression from beginning to end, and finishes as it began, a little like life itself? Anyway, nostalgia is fine with me.
Moon Dance is a lovely poem, neat personification and very well presented. If it were possible to award a double gold, I'd place Moon Dance first equal.
Nightlights is a sweet wee poem, and I think it has some of the qualties of Stevenson's original.
The honourable mentions are in no special order. I liked them all, from motor bike to moon-sickle.
I've had a lot of positive comments from poets who like the idea of re-working an existing first line, so I'll maybe go through the anthologies and give it another shot.
Thanks again for all your entries. It was a pleasure to read them.
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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“When fishes flew,
and forests walked”• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4080861, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [16]
1 - 16 of 16
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Lest the stars shine so brightly,
And the clouds disappear for the night,• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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Riding at dawn, riding alone No sound save the gentle thud• Commented on by judge.
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Whenever the moon and stars are set
My heart cries out for love and yet,by me alone 19 lines, 4 comments, on Mar 31 8:24 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Its funny because one of these lines is from a poem we did in English today. It is not the one I did of course because I wanted to be original. Best of luck judging, beautiful idea.
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Kudos for a wonderful contest idea. You have give me inspiration to begin one for Oldpoetry - later in the month though. You have 20 very good reasons to enter this contest.
Lovely.
~Von~
Oldpoetry. -
What a great contest idea and what a grand bunch of openers you have selected. Many old favourites and a few new ones that intrigue me enough to seek them out on the companion site to this one (Oldpoetry.com).
I wish you success in your quest for entries and may even dip my own pen in the ink.
Keep up the good work.
Jim
Oldpoetry team -
I found the concept of this contest to be so good I had to enter twice
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Congrats to all the winners!
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Thank you so much for the honor of gold and an HM in this contest but more importantly thank you for inspiring my muse, who has been very uninspired of late, with this great contest. I'm going on vacation for a week here but when I return I plan to revisit this contest and use some of the other lines for inspiration.
Congratulations to all the winners
Ruth
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