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when poetry happens



I was just talking with an Indian online friend I just met the other day. Trying to know me, he asked how poetry "happened" to me. Of course, he meant how I started writing and this was likely a language mistake initially, but I just found it so very inspiring.

I mean, what is poetry? Think of it: we have poetic devices and imagery. We use punctuation and capital or lowercase letters to make a point. We have line breaks that suggest things. We create an atmosphere in which we indulge our readers. But what would that all be but empty words, if we did not live it?

Do not be mistaken. I'm not one for the so-called "poetry from the heart", because to most that seems to mean stream of consciousness which, though honest, often disregards adding any artistic value. No, I am one for art, revising, critiquing, discussing, polishing. But I think the written poem is a reflection, just like a painting. Poetry does happen. Sad poetry, love poetry, mystery poetry, happy poetry... free verse, sonnets, haiku, they're in our lives in concrete forms - events, people we know or don't know, places we go or don't go, you get the idea. What is written can be polished. The poetry that goes on, that happens to us in the form of experience/non-experience - it just is.

So, for this contest I would like poems about the poetry that has happened or is happening to you. No, I don't mean cheesy-miracles-oh-I'm-so-happy, as I explained above. Poetry can be anything.

I would prefer the entries to be short (15 lines or less), free verse, without end-line rhyming, creative, full of personal meaning, poetic devices, and I'd rather you show and not tell what you mean. I am rather lenient with my rules, but blatantly disregard them and you may not win the trophies

Do not feel bound by my metaphor, feel free to create your own, as long as it keeps the main idea.

Oh, and please, don't be way too obvious. Unless you can do it well.

Contest is Over

  • Contest was judged on July 13
  • Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 450, Bronze: 300, Honorable mention: 2 people
  • Final notes:
    I love how this contest turned out, there were a lot of quality poems. The five winners were very close together and I wish I could have given gold to all five. The first three winners were judged based on which poems stuck with me more (in a good way, of course).

Contest Winners

  1. he told her they were fire, diamonds, oceans, tears, and the sky
    by acoustical 15 lines, 6 comments, on Jun 21 9:22 PM
    Gold trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  2. Constellations
    by Olivia33 26 lines, 5 comments, on Jun 21 11:03 AM
    Silver trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  3. writer
    by zillion 47 lines, 4 comments, on Jun 21 9:46 AM. In other
    Bronze trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  4. You see?
    My dog is like a piece of furniture She picks up all the smells around her
    by BermudaHighway 11 lines, 9 comments, on Jul 3 3:48 AM
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]

Entries [17]

1 - 17 of 17

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Comments


  • Keith
    June 22
    Edit | Reply
    You ask what poetry is?
    Sometimes, 'tis better not to ask
    The finest artist who hath shaped the world
    Is not up to the task.

    Outside, the clouds gather,
    It is midsummers, and they have come
    To join the party

    They weep, and their tears bathe
    The earth below

    Is it dust, the rain
    Man they say is dust

    Dust thou art, and
    Unto dust, thou must return

    I burn for the true answer,
    The full stop of time

    And the clock interrupts me

    Count the beats of the clock,
    The swing of the earth

    And walk upon the stars

  • cricketjeff gold member
    June 28
    Edit | Reply
    I like to say, so you could see
    The way I write my poetry
    But all you want is verse that's free
    And that's not me!!!

    I'd put a sonnet on the screen
    Amongst the finest ever seen
    So all the others would turn green
    I'd feel serene

    But I can't win which is a blow
    It seems it is the time to go
    I will not enter, you won't know
    So cheerio