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Write me a Canto

The canto is a principal form of division in a long poem, especially the epic. The word comes from the Latin cantus, meaning "song," and has a corollary in the Sanskrit kāṇḍa, or "chapter." Famous examples of epic poetry which employ the canto division are Valmiki's The Ramayana (7 cantos), Dante's The Divine Comedy (100 cantos), and Ezra Pound's The Cantos (120 cantos).

Now I don't expect you to give me the epic length but it must at least contain 3
and I repeat 3 vignettes...that means three separate poems within a poem that continue a story. It doesn't mean it has to go on from the first in sequence, if fact most Canto's are related but have other thoughts or go off on tangents from the first one and they are poems that don't necessarily have to end. Therefore you can add and add and add to them.

Go read some examples if you are not sure or even go take a look at a poet on here named Lute...he writes them and they are very very good.
http://allpoetry.com/Lute

Ok, you can reserve and work on it or not reserve and work on it. Edit it up to the close of the contest. Learn something new about poetry and you can also go read my Bel Canto about Helen of Troy which I have just started and have but a mere 4 poems to it so far but I am going to keep going as I enjoy this style of story telling and poetry. Canto Duo - http://allpoetry.com/poem/4542389 :my second one that follows Bel Canto - http://allpoetry.com/poem/4511941

The subject can be anything but it is better to start it with something true to life or historical then branch it out or back to modern thoughts and happenings.

Anymore info just go google Canto's you'll be amazed

If you have one written then you may enter it but be warned if it doesn't fit the style I will DQ!

Remember don't describe me a Canto...write me your own version of one with your own story in it and internal rhyme is ok too.

Contest is Over

  • Contest was judged on September 8, 2008
  • Rewards: Gold: 2000
  • Final notes:
    Well this was a most interesting exercise to say the least. My top two were and always will be worthy of Gold but as site does not allow it I had to choose. They are so well worth reading even though the length may be a problem for some it will be worth the reads I promise you that. Thank you for giving me some of the most enjoyable reads I have had even if I had to wait until the last minute to get some!

Contest Winners

  1. Sicamous Revisited, July 2007
    by marc creamore 225 lines, 2 comments, on Aug 25 11:09 AM 2008
    Gold trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  2. Fortune has a strange way of
    navigating a path to your door.
    by dp robertson 436 lines, 3 comments, on Sep 8 12:06 AM 2008
    Silver trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  3. by pastiche 161 lines, 16 comments, on Aug 28 1:41 PM 2008. In Contest, Society, Thoughts
    Bronze trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  4. by Justplainwaynethen 30 lines, 2 comments, on Sep 7 6:46 PM 2008
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  5. by Cerulean Sunrise 66 lines, 16 comments, on Aug 25 1:01 AM 2008. In Contest
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]

Entries [6]

1 - 6 of 6
  • epic story of ancient times
    handed by word of mouth
    by Venugopal 82 lines, 8 comments, on May 6 12:06 AM 2008. In Spiritual
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite

Add a comment

    : Comment:

Comments

1 - 30 of 30

  • notorious
    August 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Prewrites on?? Intentional?


    • Cannonsfire gold member
      August 25, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      Seriously? Yes because if anyone apart from Lute has one then I want to read it LOL


      • notorious
        August 25, 2008
        Edit | Reply

        I can't do form poetry
        Except some haiku that Myron looks over...LMAO

        • Cannonsfire gold member
          August 25, 2008
          Edit | Reply
          rubbish!!! The only form to this is the vignettes...smaller poems itemized as I, II, III etc
          They are free verse with no syllable count so what are you worried about


  • Envelope
    August 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    all i could think of right now was dantes inferno, the translation by pinski, its a shame because this gives me some great ideas, but free verse doesnt work too well in this form, atleast to my eyes, ill definately try to cook something up for you though, give you something to read =P

    • Cannonsfire gold member
      August 25, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      it is the famous one along with Pound's I don't mind internal rhyme but you should go read some of Lute's free verse ones they are wonderful and abstract too you'd enjoy them Coop.


  • kiwigirljacks gold member
    August 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Ooooo Form Poetry!! YEAH!!

    • Cannonsfire gold member
      August 25, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      Easy form too SIL, no syllables just give me a story and metaphor..like I said go read some of Lute's and you have seen mine, they are fun to do. A neverending poem


      • kiwigirljacks gold member
        August 25, 2008
        Edit | Reply
        It is? I must look it up


        • cricketjeff gold member
          August 25, 2008
          Edit | Reply
          Mairi bheag does them superbly, and Lane too. I'll try and find a link to one of theirs done this way.

          I've written them (rhyming of course) in metered verse they often have other poetic links, related meter or repeating idioms but as far as I am aware the only rule is that there should be chapters that are different stages of the same story and they cannot flow seamlessly on to the other. I hope that's what Cheryl means anyway


          • kiwigirljacks gold member
            August 25, 2008
            Edit | Reply
            it's starting to sound hard!!! lol

            • cricketjeff gold member
              August 25, 2008
              Edit | Reply
              How about this ...

              i)
              I rose to see the sun arise
              And sweetly kiss my cheek
              I felt a sense of deep surprise
              When I first heard it speak
              It told me there would be a verse
              Of beauty rich and rare
              But I would only make it worse
              And spread it every where

              ii)
              Breakfast was cold
              and uninviting
              no sign at all
              of the verse the Sun
              had promised.

              iii)
              I gambled and played all the day
              And looked for the verse on the way
              Such beauty I saw
              But not any more
              And the poetry trickled away

              • Cannonsfire gold member
                August 25, 2008
                Edit | Reply
                Yes Yes!!! lol I knew you'd be able to Jacks the heads up even if it does rhyme and mine dont but eh...it's really well done anyway Thanks Jeff

              • kiwigirljacks gold member
                August 25, 2008
                Edit | Reply
                nope.. still don't get it.. is it supposed to be form? they all look different..

                Meh, I'll flag this contest lmao!

                • cricketjeff gold member
                  August 25, 2008
                  Edit | Reply
                  I did them all differently on purpose. If I ennter they will be in related forms and linked like classical poetry is, and Cheryl will hate it
                  I am certain that that is not what she wants though, just write three poems. Just like chapters one three and six of a well written serialisation.
                  Each should work on its own but be so much more as a whole.

                  • Cannonsfire gold member
                    August 25, 2008
                    Edit | Reply
                    lol you can enter it however you want Jeff I'll let you, you can go read mine for what they are worth it is just my preferred style as you know but a little bit of internal rhyme crept in here and there and I am upto no.6 with it now because I am enjoying them.


          • Cannonsfire gold member
            August 25, 2008
            Edit | Reply
            You explain it much better than me lol thanks Jeff I got tongue tied


  • Cerulean Sunrise
    August 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Hrmmm, looking around I don't see much of a definition to this besides a poem made up of different poems. I know Ezra Pound did one...

    • Cannonsfire gold member
      August 25, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      Almost like chapters bro...they follow on story to story that's basically all they are...stories usually related back to the previous but it may only be a brief mention not necessarily about the same thing. Pretty free wheeling actually lol


  • Mairi bheag gold member
    August 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    Your link to Helen of Troy doesn't work, by the way.


  • Nicolette gold member
    August 25, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    I might try this, Chez - great idea.

    ~ Nicolette


  • britheguy
    August 27, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    I had a couple Canto's in a poem I hit a wall on..
    I think I'm going to revisit it.


  • Justplainwaynethen gold member
    September 7, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    I haven't researched the Canto, I've glanced at them, but by your description I think I have a Canto of sorts, it fits your descriptions- each segment a separate vignette (though quite abstract!), a historical backdrop, segments semi-related and story progressing, but going off on tangents... yes, you may have given me a classification for the piece, if not in exact form then in a similar underlying method and madness... I'll have to research the Canto to see if it fits, or comes close, or can at least pass as being in a similar vein...

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