http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?ISBN=9780521874199 ~ Graphic link
cricketjeff's Winklings Contest for us [#81]:
cricketjeff put this scenario to me: "An unexpected disaster has lead to a great loss to the world of poetry. It seems that over the last few days a number of great poets have died,
Shakespeare, Milton, Pope, Petrach, Chaucer, W H Auden, in fact just a bout anyone you care to mention has died in the last week and the Editor of the Sunday Times has written to ask you to write a sonnet for one of them. We do not want archaic language or parody but a sonnet written in any of the standard forms in praise or honour of your chosen great poet who died this week."
Alternatively, simply write a sonnet dedicated to a dead poet of substance. We must understand who the poet is from the poetry you present. Do not name the sonnet after the poet, in this case. The sonnet should be one of the traditional forms.
Make this sonnet special, won't you?
Wordsworth was not shy about doing this very thing!
"London, 1802"
Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.
http://www.sonnets.org/basicforms.htm
Silver, bronze and HMs and finalists may be added depending on quality of entries and number of entries. Quality is the chief criterion.
"
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on May 15
- Rewards: Gold: 2000, Silver: 500, Bronze: 100
- Final notes:
Over the past few days I have judged (with partners) the two most difficult contests I have encountered so far, this was marginally the easier of the two, largely because 14 entries need a lot less re-reading than 70!
I asked a wide variety of others for their opinion, and after discounting those who very generously put one of my own entries top it became clear that there was a concensus for my own choice of Gold and Silver, the tributes to Dylan Thomas and Pope respectively. Bronze was a much more difficult decision. any of the remaining three finallists could have won Bronze, in the end I have plumped for Delight and Wisdom, but on a knife edge from Sufi Spleandour and only ignoring maybe Sara because its author already has the gold. I hope that Lyndon on his return will critique each poem in the contest, because the standard is so uniquely high.
~Jeff
Contest Winners
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [12]
1 - 12 of 12
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by Vera Rich 19 lines, 3 comments, on Apr 30 10:29 AM• Viewed by judge.
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Here's to Ireland's bard and premier son; who disinterred the bones of Celtic story.by Bad Bill 13 lines, 5 comments, on May 1 3:07 PM• Viewed by judge.
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• Viewed by judge.
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He ripped away the patriotic fog
By painting scenes of brutal blood and gore• Commented on by judge. -
It is the finest tool that man has owned
The true embodiment of every thoughtby cricketjeff 15 lines, 8 comments, on May 2 4:36 PM. In tribute• Commented on by judge. -
• Viewed by judge.
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For Ogden Nash we bow our heads to pray,
commending him for witty poems wrote,• Viewed by judge. -
A novelist and poet from the West. American, though born in Germany.• Viewed by judge.
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Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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YAY !
sonnet-time again ...
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I shall fix it so that you may write
multiple entries.
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Following Lyndon's reply to the original of this comment my poem (although it isn't to Sassoon
) is now in the contest and you can read it with the others.
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Dear Jeff
If you do not mind, place this appropriate poem about S. Sassoon into the contest. People should read it. Thank you. [It cannot be awarded a place
but it will be part of a fine collection, I fervently pray.]
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Since I obviously don't write sonnets ...
in "tradional forms", I guess I can't enter. -
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Traditional enough
for this judge. However, I cannot promise it will get gold. It will be judged on its own merits, within its own terms.
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Now when ...
did I ever ask anyone to guarantee me a trophy if I entered their contest?
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I have read every entry in this contest with great pleasure.
I have never written a sonnet, but I fancied trying; luckily for me, I see the contest ended today, so I did not have to embarrass myself amongst these wonderful entrants.
For me, two entries stand out, but I won't name them. It is not my place to try to influence the judges.
May I just say very well done everyone. And thank you cricketjeff for introducing me, in a roundabout way, to so many fine sonnet-writers. -
Because I am an English teacher I always love to take poets and poetry outside the confines of ivy-covered walls. With this in mind I thought the reluctance to reveal the featured poet, and the guessing game that ensued, gave this contest an elitist air. Since we all come from different backgrounds, countries, and educational experiences, an author on this site should not be made to feel ignorant if unable to recognize a particular poet. The sonnets entered in this contest are written by some of the most accomplished writers on AllPoetry, and they should be willing and happy to share their knowledge with everyone. Peace, Liz
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I am very honoured to have won gold here, because I am aware that the standard of entries was very, very high. Thank you, Jeff.
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thank you so much for hosting this wonderful contest ...
"sufi-splendour"
http://allpoetry.com/poem/4187769
blessings to all,
maa
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