when asked about his poetry, Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda, said:
“I gave them the sound of that opaque pure substance,
and that is how they should reach your ears;
words that rise only because you gave them life”.
PROMPT:
the two Neruda poems and/or the picture,
PLUS built around the metaphor/theme of earth and/or clay
Potter
by Pablo Neruda
Your whole body has
a fullness or a gentleness destined for me.
When I move my hand up
I find in each place a dove
that was seeking me, as
if they had, love, made you of clay
for my own potter's hands.
Your knees, your breasts,
your waist
are missing parts of me like the hollow
of a thirsty earth
from which they broke off
a form,
and together
we are complete like a single river,
like a single grain of sand.
(83 words)
What am I looking for?
(please read)
- something exceptional
- simplicity and elegance
- around 80 - 150 words
- free verse only
- left align; plain background
- sparse use of adjectives
- apply poetic device
- give your poem a voice, give your words life
- give your poem a Neruda-feel (see prompt)
- please edit, edit before you enter
- no quickie, 10 min poems, please
- reservations ONLY allowed for people on my favourite list
- read & study Pablo Neruda's poetry http://allpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Pablo_Neruda
two of my own attempts at Neruda:
http://allpoetry.com/poem/5260795 & http://allpoetry.com/poem/4567393
Sonnet V
by Pablo Neruda
I did not hold your night, or your air, or the dawn:
only the earth, the truth of the fruit in the clusters,
the apples that swell as they drink the sweet water,
the clay and the resins of your sweet-smelling land.
From Quinchamali where your eyes began
to the Frontera where your feet were made for me,
you are my dark familiar clay:
holding your hips, I hold the wheat in its fields again.
Woman from Arauco, maybe you didn’t know
how before I loved you I forgot your kisses.
but my heart went on, remembering your mouth – and i
went on
and on through the streets like a man wounded,
until I understood, Love: I have found
my place, a land of kisses and volcanoes.
(127 words)
go now, shape something beautiful & brilliant from the clay of words...
n.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on May 11
- Rewards: Gold: 3000, Silver: 2000, Bronze: 1000, Honorable mention: 2 people
- Final notes: Reading the poems in this contest it felt like I was holding one of Pablo Neruda’s own poetry volumes in my hand. I do realize that to write like Neruda was and will always be a tough assignment as there is but one Pablo Neruda! Yet, you all rose to the occasion and presented me with some fabulous writings. It was also wonderful to see some “new faces” in my contest and even people who have never read Neruda’s poetry before – wonderful!
I had 12 poems on my final list and I wish I could award trohphies to all of them. The winning poems are the ones which made me feel and hear and see something of the greatness, style and voice of Neruda the most. I don’t often do critical comments but I so enjoyed reading the entries that I felt they deserve something more than “nice” and “well-done”! I consider Neruda as my personal poetic mentor, lol and I hope that my comments also did justice to his genius.
Congratulations to the winners, but also to everyone who made this contest so very special and so very difficult to judge.
Gold goes to EvilKate for "silent love poem to self"
Silver to paulcreates for "Again She Flows to Me"
Bronze to Rowan for "Cuneiform"
and HM's to Heath Thompson for "Sunken"
& Cannonsfire for "when you are gone"
Allyce May and I might be doing something similar soon – so keep your Neruda pencils sharp!
Nicolette
Contest Winners
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even without a name
I knew you.• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 5272179, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 5269823, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 5273491, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Entries [24]
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We sleep and unfold
as night does into day• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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You were the swell of the tide
that bore me to that sheltered havenby masterblaster 28 lines, 7 comments, on Apr 23 1:11 AM• Commented on by judge. -
That day you bore an emptiness
in the sway and expression of your walkby Son of Jim 19 lines, 13 comments, on Apr 23 11:19 AM• Commented on by judge. -
the rich saturation ofyour mouth• Commented on by judge.
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by amaranthine lover 36 lines, 2 comments, on Apr 29 12:46 PM. In Contest, Abstract, noguest, NaPoMo• Commented on by judge.
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surrendering with last breath
to the same terrain• Commented on by judge. -
We spent many years
waiting for your dawn,by SurelyWritten 28 lines, 4 comments, on May 5 8:32 PM• Commented on by judge. -
by seraphim shock 56 lines, 3 comments, on May 5 9:28 PM• Commented on by judge.
Add a comment
Comments
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O.K., you have my full attention. This contest gets everything until I am done!!!!
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Now THAT is what I want to hear, Jim!!!
I'll be waiting...!
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bookmarking!
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great! and come back...
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i will definitely
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Oh my! This caught my attention and I had to read the entries as well as the examples. I have never written this form though I would like to give it a go. I hope I can come up with something that is worthy of this contest. seamaiden
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There is only one way to learn and that is to read and get a feel for Neruda's poetry. I like your spirit, seamaiden!
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Oh my life - you know I love Neruda. Now I've got only a few days to write something. I have to enter! Thanks Nicolette
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Oh I know you love Neruda, Heath. I absolutely adore his writings and since I wrote my last poem I'm really in a Neruda mood, lol. Would be wonderful to see an entry from you
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oh, no sweat - I'll be back in 30 seconds...or 30 years!
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lolol...you have 2 weeks, my friend
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It is a far reach but I know I will be the better for having tried. I like Pablo's style. He fits firmly within my own general definition of good poetry,
"Often quite ordinary flowers selected to extraordinary arrangement."
It's frequently not the words in and of themselves but the combination, the juxtaposition that creates beauty. -
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Yes, it's the combination of words, unexpected phrasing and metaphors, that draws me to Neruda's poetry too. He applies simple words but the end result is something magical - there is but one Pablo Neruda. I must admit he had a huge influence on my own style of writing...i can but aspire!
Looking forward to your entry, Paul
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you should be dancing.... those sensual sepia pics of you are very "clay-like"
...and you know Neruda SO well, Vlindertjie - so get writing, woman
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Ohhh, I shall. 
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Once again having major computer probs and having to rely on friends for borrowing a laptop til its fixed, but will bookmark this contest to hopefully enter when I am back online at home! It's great that you're running more - always enjoy entering them Nic!
Stu -
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Thank you...looking forward to seeing you back online and with an entry, Stu!
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Hi Nicolette, the contest is very inspiring.
I'll be back this weekend for this one.
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Would be wonderful, Hensley
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Neruda feel in my own voice okay?
i never could write pretty like he did. -
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Yes, in your own voice....we can only write from the pulse.
anything else that takes us away from that isn't true
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Wonderful prompt, Where did you get the picture prompt you used?
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Thanks Somebody sent me an email about a year ago and this pic was attached. I don't know who the photographer is - but it is a wonderful picture, isn't it?
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Bookmarked. This is a great contest. Soon I'll be back.
~Sonja~ -
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I certainly hope so, Sonja. ...with a lot of "hmmmmms" - you know what I'm refering too, lol
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No way am I entering this!
If I did, Neruda would probably turn in his grave, lol! Love the idea though and I hope you get what you ask for - it would make amazing reading!
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Alleeeeeece!! It would make for more amazing reading if YOU enter something. Go now, go write something; I know you can do this - you can watch Mulan later on
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this is a beautiful contest and I am sorry I never made it.
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Allyce and I might do another Neruda one - hope to see you there, Zayra
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Oh Dear . .
I'm sorry I missed this one . . for me clay and poetry really go together . .
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Thank you for hosting such a beautiful contest, Nic, for leaving such a wonderful comment on my poem...& best of all, for introducing Neruda to a new generation of writers. Yay, you!!! Congratulations, one & all...Be well, Poets & Scribes.
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Thanks so much Nicolette, you always bring out so much talent. And thanks for being such a gracious host.
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I will surely spend more time with Neruda after being in this contest. Thanks!
Congrats to all the WINNERS here!
Much Love ♥
Renee
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Cheers for our hostess!
Thank you so much for hosting this wonderful contest Nicolette. You had so many great poems to choose from and it had to be very hard. My congratulations to the winners and all who entered here. Keep on writing poets. seamaiden
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Congratulations to all winners!
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