http://www.jack-of-all-trades.ca/meandmine/advance6.html - Credit.
This contest is for Winklings and friends.
Anne Boleyn [1507 to 1536] was beheaded at Henry's command. His case was fragile. So was her neck! Yet, she had the courage to write a poem the night before her execution.
O DEATH, ROCK ME ASLEEP
by: Anne Boleyn (1507-1536)
- O DEATH, rock me asleep,
- Bring me to quiet rest,
- Let pass my weary guiltless ghost
- Out of my careful breast.
- Toll on, thou passing bell;
- Ring out my doleful knell;
- Let thy sound my death tell.
- Death doth draw nigh;
- There is no remedy.
- .
- My pains who can express?
- Alas, they are so strong;
- My dolour will not suffer strength
- My life for to prolong.
- Toll on, thou passing bell;
- Ring out my doleful knell;
- Let thy sound my death tell.
- Death doth draw nigh;
- There is no remedy.
- .
- Alone in prison strong
- I wait my destiny.
- Woe worth this cruel hap that I
- Should taste this misery!
- Toll on, thou passing bell;
- Ring out my doleful knell;
- Let thy sound my death tell.
- Death doth draw nigh;
- There is no remedy.
- .
- Farewell, my pleasures past,
- Welcome, my present pain!
- I feel my torments so increase
- That life cannot remain.
- Cease now, thou passing bell;
- Rung is my doleful knell;
- For the sound my death doth tell.
- Death doth draw nigh;
- There is no remedy.
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- Your task is to write in this Anne Boleyn style about yourself in similar circumstances or a woman's thoughts before her imminent death, preferably an historical woman as your persona. Do not use archaic language of Anne's day. (Anne wrote other poems, too, as was the courtly habit.)
- By Anne's style I mean either her rhyming form with concomitant tone OR writing in a style whose mood, theme and personal voice are very similar. The subject should be very relevant to the original but could apply to any country or era.
- Write three or four stanzas (27 or 36 lines).
- This contest tests your ability to speak on behalf of a conjectured event or in place of another, that is ... to use a persona.
- Silver, bronze and HMs will depend on quality and quantity of resposes.
- Jeff Green and Lyndon are the two judges. This is an anonymous contest. At least, it is, unless you place your copyright name close to the text!
- Two or more entries acceptable.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on September 15, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 1500
- Final notes: Congratulations to the author of "So Death Come You Apace". Gold worthily deserved.
Congratulations to the author of "The Dormition of Mary". Silver trophy and deservedly so.
Congratulations to the author of "My Diary, My Gift". Congratulations!
Finally, an Honorable Mention to the author of the poem, "Death on the Guillotine".
As you can see, we had a variety of women in our four finalists.
Our host, cricketjeff (Jeff Green), is the host of this contest with Lyndon. Jeff had this to say, sagely:
" Thank-you all for some wonderful poetry, I cannot say I completely enjoyed reading it all, as it was intended to be a very sad theme and that was achieved, enjoyment is somehow not the right term.
In judging we paid close attention to the prompt and request for a particular style and feel in the poetry. So our judging reflects that closely, the content is always of supreme importance and all our winners were worthy on this ground too.
Ron and I agreed on the gold, the form is excellent, a development of the original, the theme, contrasting the deaths of Mother and Daughter is poignant, a wonderful poem. The next three poems were very close in standard, I am sure we could have argued for a long time so I shall consider them as a group.
The voices adopted seem to match well the historical figures (in two cases the characters we have are reported rather than self generated of course), the forms were all good and the overall feel excellent. It is hard to make poetry feel natural and modern with quite so much repetition but all three achieved a haunting, lyrical feeling.
Overall I feel this was an excellent Winklings contest, as always we would ask the winners, if they are not already Winklings to consider joining us."
Contest Winners
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by crystaldust 41 lines, 13 comments, on Aug 31 10:11 AM 2008. In Contest, Spiritual, Thoughts
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4572559, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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On Sunday came my trial
with no time for defence;• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Entries [10]
1 - 10 of 10
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Passing does taps bring
the flag folded so neatly• Commented on by judge. -
And so my date with death is near
I will not weep or beg to stay,• Commented on by judge. -
Death I cannot escape
this time.by carole21 38 lines, 5 comments, on Aug 29 9:06 AM 2008. In Big points, Dark, Death imminent, Thoughts• Commented on by judge. -
Here I lie in this place,
on my knees in your grace.by Lady Altheia 22 lines, 10 comments, on Sep 3 8:11 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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ya'll gonna do one 'bout men in death?
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Do not be impatient,
woman!
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oh, but I can't help it!
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In "this Anne Boleyn style" do mean to duplicate meter, rhyme scheme and refrain?
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Oh, just saw the second note. Oops.
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Only one entry! If you open it up for more, please tell me and I'll put the first one back.
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This was a very good contest, congratulations to the winners!
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1 - 7 of 7
