I never feel a thing is realWhen I'm away from you
Out of your embrace
The world's a temporary parking place
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
A bubble for a minute
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it
Say, it's only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade
It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me
- Harold Arlen
For this contest, I would like you to find a paper moon photo at the paper moon pool at flickr
Paper Moons were very popular back in the day. Taken at arcades, fairs and studios across the country, they feature everything from babies to whole families and every combination of couples and singles, even pets.
Any style of poetry is welcome; I like all kinds.
Have fun finding a good paper moon and be sure to credit it. Of course, the original photographer may be unknown, but these clearly belong to collectors whom you should credit for assembling and posting their incredible finds. This is simply a matter of respect and helps direct those who may be interested to their collections. Thank you.
couple in paper moon photo courtesy of ephemerally yours at flickr
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on February 14
- Rewards: Gold: 400, Silver: 400, Bronze: 100, Honorable mention: 2 people
- Final notes: This was an extremely enjoyable contest for me and I hope you will leave all your paper moons in so that I can read them again in the future. Special congrats to my top five picks and thank you all; I hope you will share some stories about your father over in "Daddy" next: http://allpoetry.com/contest/2436921
Contest Winners
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I swear you carved him
to prove your self-assuranceby DyeBieFyre 53 lines, 1 comment, on Feb 13 11:10 PM. In Life, Individuality, Confidence, Poise, Success
Gold trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
the sky spoke in a language of metal wind chimes
and spoons clattering in a porcelain sink• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
I'm sure I had a mom and dad,
when we left the house this afternoon,by JustADutchie 20 lines, 2 comments, on Feb 5 8:16 PM. In Contest, Humor, Personal
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
I lost my leg, of course,
in that scramble near Verdun• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [21]
1 - 21 of 21
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The merry-go-round sings a tune
As we dream a carnival dream• Commented on by judge. -
Yoddling and swooning with his
dreams of being free out onby misticmoonlite 10 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 4 8:40 AM• Commented on by judge. -
Up above the world so high
a little angel flies up aboveby Jessieprincessi 6 lines, 5 comments, on Feb 4 9:42 AM• Commented on by judge. -
Poised here on a paper moon
praying it won’t collapse soon!• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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Oh we had us a good time on leave alright.
Headed over to 42nd street• Commented on by judge. -
I pray for all our countries men and women
the wounded and the dead that came back homeby misticmoonlite 10 lines, 4 comments, on Feb 5 8:26 AM
• Commented on by judge. -
I was born on the banks of Cut Creek
in the shadow of Papoose Mountain.
• Viewed by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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When I took you to the county fair
in October 1933,by celticwarrior 21 lines, 2 comments, on Feb 6 1:48 PM. In Love• Commented on by judge. -
My name was Amelia
from the Greek α = "none"
• Viewed by judge. -
Their soles united in colour• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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I've always liked the song but I've never heard of these paper moons before. Hope I have a chance to get back to this.
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Yes, I am reading today that they were often called "The Man in the Moon" (though I have found a couple Women, too) when photographers used them in their studios or went traveling to set them up at fairs and carnivals, etc. There were permanent set-ups with these in early photo booths in places like Coney Island and the results, anyone can see if they look through, were quite different from the more expensive formal photographs of the day.
I think I will extend this contest because I am enjoying spending time with them over at flickr. -
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Too back they don't have more of that kind of thing now. These are even more fascinating and fun than those other photo things with the holes for people's heads.
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The Paper Moon is now being extended until Valentine's Day so every entrant has a chance to write a poem about an actual "paper moon" as I have provided the link to at flickr. You are allowed up to three entries. Have fun perusing this fabulous collection of Americana; look deeply into the hearts and minds of these people spending a day at an arcade or a fair and let it inspire something truly amazing.
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I love the song paper moon. my favorite verison is by ella fritzgerald but I have the sinatra verison on my phone [which is dead at the moment because it decided to take a dive in the pool!]
I'll see what I can do for this.
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Yay!
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Gah this contest is so much fun!!!
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well, I am so glad you are enjoying it, too.
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"Paper Moon" is an EXCELLENT movie!
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I don't think I ever saw it but I loved the song...
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Thanks ea. You always dig up the best prompts. I'd never seen a single paper-moon picture before, and now I have quite a few bouncing around my computer (the ones under creative commons) or my favorites.
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