Please spare me the bad love poems, lost love poems, religious poems which are really prayers, and if you write a religious poem, it had better be stellar. I hate bad religious poems. If I see anything like this:
God is great.
God is good.
Religion heals.
I love my meals on wheels.
You will be dq'd immediately. No explanation, no warning. You're just out of here. If you choose to write a religious poem, make sure it will stand up against those of Gerald Manley Hopkins or John Milton.
BE WARNED. I WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR WRITING. Many of you have never heard the truth, so it might be a shock. If you cant handle the truth, DO NOT ENTER.
Please watch your grammar, spelling and punctuation. Rhymed poems must be punctuated correctly. No retreads. If you've won a top 3 trophy in one of my contests with a poem, don't enter it here.
Rhyming poems should not have inverted lines to put the rhyme words at the end, but should read like standard English. Keep in mind that using some form of the verb to do before another verb is archaic and not appreciated by ye olde judge.
No epics. Poems must not exceed 30 lines, period.
If you want an example of the type of poetry I like, here's one of my poems:
In Search Of A Chalice And A Pentacle
Proud Venus shines on a knight vainly searching
Through lonely days of rain, snow and hail --
In desolate wilderland, honor besmirching,
Sealed to the trail of a dream, and a Grail.
He knows full well that the end may be dreary,
His hopes unfulfilled, the ending uncertain,
But still he plods on, fatigued and bone-weary –
The future a mystery, a nebulous curtain.
Yet golden light glinting as day draws to close,
Beckons him onward, through trials and grief.
He yearns for a taste of the dew on the rose.
And envies his Lord's final words to the thief.
Still he knows, though the end be in tatters,
That life is, itself, the journey that matters.
Published in Challenger International Quarterly, June, 2004
As you can see, I don't mind references to religion as long as they make sense and as long as they are part of a poem and not a prayer. Save the prayers for Sunday services.
God is great.
God is good.
Religion heals.
I love my meals on wheels.
You will be dq'd immediately. No explanation, no warning. You're just out of here. If you choose to write a religious poem, make sure it will stand up against those of Gerald Manley Hopkins or John Milton.
BE WARNED. I WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR WRITING. Many of you have never heard the truth, so it might be a shock. If you cant handle the truth, DO NOT ENTER.
Please watch your grammar, spelling and punctuation. Rhymed poems must be punctuated correctly. No retreads. If you've won a top 3 trophy in one of my contests with a poem, don't enter it here.
Rhyming poems should not have inverted lines to put the rhyme words at the end, but should read like standard English. Keep in mind that using some form of the verb to do before another verb is archaic and not appreciated by ye olde judge.
No epics. Poems must not exceed 30 lines, period.
If you want an example of the type of poetry I like, here's one of my poems:
In Search Of A Chalice And A Pentacle
Proud Venus shines on a knight vainly searching
Through lonely days of rain, snow and hail --
In desolate wilderland, honor besmirching,
Sealed to the trail of a dream, and a Grail.
He knows full well that the end may be dreary,
His hopes unfulfilled, the ending uncertain,
But still he plods on, fatigued and bone-weary –
The future a mystery, a nebulous curtain.
Yet golden light glinting as day draws to close,
Beckons him onward, through trials and grief.
He yearns for a taste of the dew on the rose.
And envies his Lord's final words to the thief.
Still he knows, though the end be in tatters,
That life is, itself, the journey that matters.
Published in Challenger International Quarterly, June, 2004
As you can see, I don't mind references to religion as long as they make sense and as long as they are part of a poem and not a prayer. Save the prayers for Sunday services.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on July 15, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 300, Silver: 100, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: I had hoped for a few more good entries, but I think the ones I got were fine, in the main. I did have to dq a good number this time, as a lot of people seem to disregard the contest rules and act as though it's no big deal. No wonder our civilization is floundering, or should that be foundering?
Thanks to those who entered and good luck with your writing in the future.
Contest Winners
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What winter winds do tear from tender limbs,
warm Spring replenishes to sunlit knolls• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
From words in ancient tongues that time forgot
the poets spun their lines in measured time.• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Just close your eyes and dream yourself away;
To where your life was surely meant to be,• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [13]
1 - 13 of 13
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Fun celebrations of US Independence Day,
Barbeques, music, fireworks galore;• Viewed by judge. -
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Of all the many things I wish each night,
Not one I wish for more than you, my dear.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
To follow in the footsteps of the Bard
and hear words seeping forth from Avon’s veins,by passim 20 lines, 7 comments, on Jan 18 8:15 AM 2008. In Sonnet, Inspirational, Lost in thought, Thoughts
• Viewed by judge. Prewrite -
The room is cold; I stand at the red door, in the puddle a rat dying at last appear,
as the shutters drew back on the chamber floor.• Viewed by judge. -
Cupid, you tainted angel, are you teasing me?
Piercing my heart with your illusive arrow?• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
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Is a variation on the basic sonnet form all right?
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