Guten tag.
This time, I want poetry that has a softer sound to it. It can be either happy or sad, romantic or hateful -- but it has to be soft. When I say this, I mean the language, imagery, and descriptions in your poetry. Do not describe skin as rough or chiseled; speech as harsh or forceful. I want words that whisper like a stream, not hiss and spit like an ocean.
Guidelines:
Do not crucify the English language. It's good enough as it is, whatever its faults may be. Things to bear in mind: know where and where not to put an apostrophe, be sure of the difference between "then" and "than" -- that sort of thing. I won't delete any poems, but whether or not it is grammatically correct will highly influence my choice of winners. Even if you think your poem is perfect, consult someone or at least spellcheck on Microsoft Word before you enter it (I don't trust the AP spellcheck).
I prefer free verse, but I am open to form.
Don't enter your poem into another contest after you've written it for mine, until my contest is over. Sneaky person. After I have or haven't given you a trophy, do with it what you will, but until then, it can't cheat on my contest.
Avoid cliches. I said this in my previous contest but no one seemed to listen. Perhaps I didn't make clear what a cliche is. So: look it up, I don't have time for definitions.
Don't force rhymes. I can always tell when you've gone through the alphabet looking for a rhyme. The AP rhyme generator is pretty good, use that if you're stumped. If you still haven't found anything, change the finishing word of your last line. None of this, "As I stood there, still as death, on the cold beach / The wind cut my skin and sucked my blood like a leech." What is that? None of that nonsense. Anyway, the rhythm is all wrong. Make sure you get your rhythm right, for the gods' sakes...
All right, I suppose that's all. I would say good luck, but you won't need luck to win; you'll need talent. Hah!
-Amber Turcaud
This time, I want poetry that has a softer sound to it. It can be either happy or sad, romantic or hateful -- but it has to be soft. When I say this, I mean the language, imagery, and descriptions in your poetry. Do not describe skin as rough or chiseled; speech as harsh or forceful. I want words that whisper like a stream, not hiss and spit like an ocean.
Guidelines:
Do not crucify the English language. It's good enough as it is, whatever its faults may be. Things to bear in mind: know where and where not to put an apostrophe, be sure of the difference between "then" and "than" -- that sort of thing. I won't delete any poems, but whether or not it is grammatically correct will highly influence my choice of winners. Even if you think your poem is perfect, consult someone or at least spellcheck on Microsoft Word before you enter it (I don't trust the AP spellcheck).
I prefer free verse, but I am open to form.
Don't enter your poem into another contest after you've written it for mine, until my contest is over. Sneaky person. After I have or haven't given you a trophy, do with it what you will, but until then, it can't cheat on my contest.
Avoid cliches. I said this in my previous contest but no one seemed to listen. Perhaps I didn't make clear what a cliche is. So: look it up, I don't have time for definitions.
Don't force rhymes. I can always tell when you've gone through the alphabet looking for a rhyme. The AP rhyme generator is pretty good, use that if you're stumped. If you still haven't found anything, change the finishing word of your last line. None of this, "As I stood there, still as death, on the cold beach / The wind cut my skin and sucked my blood like a leech." What is that? None of that nonsense. Anyway, the rhythm is all wrong. Make sure you get your rhythm right, for the gods' sakes...
All right, I suppose that's all. I would say good luck, but you won't need luck to win; you'll need talent. Hah!
-Amber Turcaud
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on April 5
- Rewards: Gold: 400, Silver: 100, Bronze: 80, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: Well. This contest went rather well, in comparison with my last contest (which didn't satisfy me much...it's a long story). I liked nearly every entry I got, though I wouldn't say it was particularly difficult for me to judge.
Thank you all for entering, obviously -- and I plan on having more contests in the future, which you are more than welcome to enter. Everything about "Soft Light" was, indeed, better than "Tea Time at the End of the World" (my last contest). I suppose it was also easier, in a way, as far as the prompts go -- but anyway.
I'm ending the contest early because I am content with it the way it is and I have no desire to prolong it another week. So: well done, people; and ciao!
[Amber Turcaud]
Contest Winners
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 5212623, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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This brumous dawn awaits the saffron sun
to rise in splendor from horizon's bed• Viewed by judge. [remove] -
Moonlight spills gently through my window
and I am awakened to whispering sounds• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Eyes flutter, tenderly;
eluding realm of sleep• Viewed by judge. [remove] -
Monarchs:
tempted by glistening cotton tendrils• Viewed by judge. [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [14]
1 - 14 of 14
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The drops of red
I should have fledby Spock 13 lines, 3 comments, on Mar 31 2:26 PM• Commented on by judge. -
In life, seat in th darkness
wait paitently and unexpecticlyby deeptears 5 lines, 1 comment, on Mar 31 2:22 PM. In understanding• Commented on by judge. -
It’s raining outside
I am sitting here alone• Viewed by judge. -
Serendipity never showed her face
And sublimity’s hand was just a tease• Commented on by judge. -
I walked along a curvy path
Straining my eyes to seeby Beverlynohime 39 lines, 16 comments, on Apr 3 4:51 PM. In Sad, Society, Humor, Life, Hope, Contemporary, moment, Thoughts, Weird• Viewed by judge.
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Comments
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I love your rules. My BIGGEST pet peeve is incorrect usage of punctuation or just laughably bad grammar. I'm so excited for this contest! :-)
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I love your little anti-bad rhyme spiel. "A flower blushed as she kissed the sun/ I love you like a hotdog loves its bun" had to endure lots of stuff like that, unfortunately. Not that it's not entertaining in its own right. I'm sure I've been guilty of it more than once myself. >.<
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Oh, wow, how unexpected! Thanks so much for hosting, and congratulations to everyone.
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Hi, many thanks for the silver, congratulations to the other winners, Di
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