ADDED 30 May.
Owing to circumstances beyond my control, I have been delayed in judging this competition, and am now unlikely to be able to complete my judging until at the earliest 3 June. I have therefore extended the closing date. PLEASE, if you have already entered, be patient!
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Original announcement.
I have just heard that tomorrow(20 May) the BBC will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare's sonnets. To mark this occasion I should like to run a competition for - as you may have guessed - Sonnets in strict Shakespearean form.
I feel that there is no necessity to cite the rules of this classic form here, and that all members who take their poetry-writing seriously either know them by heart or else have access to an appropriate work of reference.
Moreover, in view of the shortness of time, this will be a competition for PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN WORK ONLY...
You may enter as many times as you like - provided that the entries are Sonnets in strict Shakespearean form and are identified by the system as PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN.
Apart from that - the only requirements are that the text should be easily readable - a plain white or pale pastel background and black typing strongly recommended. And PLEASE no flashing or dancing backgrounds (which can trigger migraine).
And, as usual, may I request you NOT to comment on other people's entries until AFTER the competition has been judged.
I am at present putting in only the minimum 400 points prize for Gold. However, the more eligible poems that are entered, the more points I shall put in. And, to celebrate this most important event, EVERY poet submitting one or more eligible entries to this competition will receive 25 points.
Owing to circumstances beyond my control, I have been delayed in judging this competition, and am now unlikely to be able to complete my judging until at the earliest 3 June. I have therefore extended the closing date. PLEASE, if you have already entered, be patient!
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Original announcement.
I have just heard that tomorrow(20 May) the BBC will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare's sonnets. To mark this occasion I should like to run a competition for - as you may have guessed - Sonnets in strict Shakespearean form.
I feel that there is no necessity to cite the rules of this classic form here, and that all members who take their poetry-writing seriously either know them by heart or else have access to an appropriate work of reference.
Moreover, in view of the shortness of time, this will be a competition for PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN WORK ONLY...
You may enter as many times as you like - provided that the entries are Sonnets in strict Shakespearean form and are identified by the system as PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN.
Apart from that - the only requirements are that the text should be easily readable - a plain white or pale pastel background and black typing strongly recommended. And PLEASE no flashing or dancing backgrounds (which can trigger migraine).
And, as usual, may I request you NOT to comment on other people's entries until AFTER the competition has been judged.
I am at present putting in only the minimum 400 points prize for Gold. However, the more eligible poems that are entered, the more points I shall put in. And, to celebrate this most important event, EVERY poet submitting one or more eligible entries to this competition will receive 25 points.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 15
- Rewards: Gold: 400, Silver: 50, Bronze: 40, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: PLEASE READ THIS REPORT TO THE END…
Firstly, may I apologize once again for the delay in judging this competition.
I had planned to do it within 24 hours of its closing. This plan was frustrated, however, by one poet getting argumentative over my comments on her work… and then snatching her poems away, thus wasting the time I had spend in critiquing them. (I am getting increasingly vexed with this kind of impetuosity – and am seriously considering that in the future I shall not put ANY comments on people’s poems until AFTER I have announced the results.)
Unfortunately, after the “slot” in which I had planned to do my judging, I had a very packed and exhausting work schedule. And although I have at last concluded the judging, I am still very tired and overloaded with work. So if this report seems overly tetchy and pernickety, once again I apologize.
The competition was for a sonnet in strict Shakespearean form. My lowest category of poems, which I call
“THANK YOU FOR ENTERING., BUT…”
was therefore for poems that did not meet the requirements of this form (other forms of sonnets - as well as some which were simply not sonnets at all). Nevertheless, since these poets made the effort to enter, there will be a consolation prize of 25 points PER POET for those who have work in this category, but who have nothing else placed higher in the rankings. (This is 25 points PER POET, not PER POEM… i.e. a poet who has several poems in this category but nothing higher will receive only 25 points).
The only concession I made was to deviations from the Shakespearean layout. Strictly speaking, a Shakespearean sonnet should be presented as three separate quatrains, followed by a couplet. Quite a large number of entries failed to comply with this rule – either presenting all 14 lines as a single block, or else having only one gap – between octave and sestet. However, from my own experience I know that sometimes the Allpoetry “system” runs all of a poem together without stanza breaks. Therefore, providing that the poem could, logically, be written as three self-standing quatrains plus a couplet (which in effect means a full stop or at least a semi-colon or colon at the ends of lines 4, 8 and 12) I was prepared to attribute the unbroken layout to the vagaries of the “system”.
Poems graded in this: “Thank you for entering, but…” category were (in alphabetical order, ignoring definite and indefinite articles):
Beneath an acacia tree
Boundless measures
Demon’s Voices (Withdrawn prematurely
Elizabethan Sonnet
Face Facts
The Fear (Withdrawn prematurely)
Gratitude Lost
For a lifetime
Immortal I become
In the arms of an angel (Withdrawn prematurely)
Like water-colours in the rain (Withdrawn prematurely)
The Merry-go-round
Mistress Kate
Mother
My love letter
Pirouette (Withdrawn prematurely).
Realizing at Night
The Secrets of Beginning
Treason (Withdrawn prematurely)
Where Columbine and Ivy Grow
My second lowest category – “Commended – cum laude” was, essentially, for poems that although “previously written” still required some work. This included, of course, poems with a message appended that the author planned to revise them, and also a number which had small faults which should have been fixed before the poems were submitted (grammar, typos, versification and in one or two cases, matters of fact). Some authors took the opportunity of the delay in judging to rectify these errors, However, I feel it only fair to other competitors to rate these poems according to their original uncorrected form. And some entries simply seemed to me to need more work to eliminate infelicities of phrasing and/or rhyming..
Poets with work in this category, but nothing in any higher category, will receive 50 points per poet.
In alphabetical order (ignoring articles), these are the poems rated
COMMENDED “CUM LAUDE”
Aegis Star
Age
By the Garden Gate
Confessions
The Empty Bed
False Embraces
Fields of Gold [withdrawn prematurely]
How can a heart….
How can a voice move me so
The imperfect speakers
In memory of a perfect love
I wandered down an old and well worn road
Know it already
Lady Macbeth
Last Lament 2
Love Letters
Moonlight metaphor
Night stalker
One small reprieve
A quiet Saturday
Reason for loving
Ripples
Shackle-shaking Betty Freidan
Song of the night
Sonnet to Smilodon fatalis
Till we meet again
Watch me leave
With you
Writer’s Block
My next category “Commended magna cum laude” was for poems that struck me as well-thought-out, and well-developed… free from all “obvious” faults and showing genuine poetic insight – but somehow,, after many rereading, not quite front-runners.. (Though in many Allpoetry competitions I should have been glad to have something this good to put among my “placed” poem – but by the stage, the standard of the poems still in contention was high, and, it was a matter of trying to sort the excellent from the good.) Also, it seemed appropriate to take into account how far the themes and treatment reflected that specific mixture of the personal and philosophical so characteristic
Poets with work in this category – but nothing in any higher category – will receive 100 points each. The following poems (in alphabetical order, ignoring articles) were ranked
“COMMENDED “MAGNA CUM LAUDE”
Lament of the Old Oak Tree
Make love to me in dreams
My aching heart
The Playful wind
Song of summer
When Passion dies.
Winter’s searching talons
I was now left with only 13 poems from which to select a top 10. After long consideration, I eliminated three poems which will earn their authors 150 points PER POEM. These poems, graded,
COMMENDED “SUMMA CUM LAUDE” are
Bluebells
Lyce keep the door firmly shut.
The way it must be
And finally, to the top 10.
10th War poet (200 points)
9th Summer Sonnet, Princes St Gardens (250 points_
8th I find the string of lights.. (300 points)
7th: Edinburgh Sonnet. July. (350 points)
6th Twin towers of Babel (400 points)
5th: A white rose for York (450 points)
4th Rose bush (500 points)
3rd Hot air (600 points)
2nd: The silent goodbye (750 points)
1st If Shakespeare be the food of love.(1000 points).
DISTRIBUTION OF POINTS AND “COMMENTING PERIOD”
In order that the poets concerned can receive their “virtual trophies” I am assigning a small number of points to 2nd and 3rd place, and also the maximum number of “honourable mentions”. But these points will be “topped up” to the amounts I have indicated, and all other points distributed ONLY when the “Commenting period” is over. This will run until midday, London time, next Monday (22 June).
Entrants who, during that period, make meaningful comments of at least 50 words (excluding quotations) on at least three entries by other poets will earn a bonus of 50 points for the first three comments plus 20 points for each successive comment – provided that they have not already commented on these poems.
In fairness to other entrants, poets are asked to leave their own work available for comment – and are warned that removing poems during the commenting period will mean forfeiting the points it would have earned.
But because, quite often, some people ignore this request (which is unfair to the other entrants who may have commented on it), and also because there are more than 60 poems available, it would be very helpful if, when you have made your comments, you could send me an IM message listing the titles of the poems concerned.
Once again, thank you for entering this competition.
Contest Winners
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by Mairi bheag 15 lines, 37 comments, on Apr 1 10:31 AM 2008. In Shakespearean Sonnet, Humor, Humour
Gold trophy winner
• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
There is a reason I must say goodbye,
My search for peace for years has been my quest,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Sometimes my life is like a Sunday ride
Beneath a blue and white hot air balloon• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
She kissed me with her eyes just yesterday
And wrote a promise with her fingertips,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
It's about life as a student who does American Studies.by C.I.M.A Punk 17 lines, 13 comments, on Dec 4 12:43 PM 2007. In school, study, English
Honorable mention
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
He ripped away the patriotic fog
By painting scenes of brutal blood and gore• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
A path that wanders through the woodland shade,
Where banks of bluebells sing a sleepy tune,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Now cast aside by Pyrrah’s glowing fire,
Bereft and waste, his wild heart never tamed,by Room without doors 14 lines, 10 comments, on Feb 15 12:51 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
The laws govern all there is are few
Yet couched in space so hard to comprehend• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
How many autumns will I see again?
For michief moves beneath the forest loam,by masterblaster 14 lines, 8 comments, on Aug 24 3:30 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Make love to me in dreams of sweet caresses
Where I may bask in gentle tenderness• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
The wind that sighs among the heads of wheat
is playing games, with neither thought nor soul;• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
This brumous dawn awaits the saffron sun
to rise in splendor from horizon's bedby masterblaster 19 lines, 7 comments, on Mar 31 11:01 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
The winter's talons scar across the land, / And fallow fields bleed white with crystal rime, / The bitter wind will crack the farmer's handby masterblaster 14 lines, 54 comments, on Jun 30 6:46 AM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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The garden gate presents a choice to make,
to rush on in the business of the day,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Let me confess that we two must be twain,
Although our undivided loves are one:• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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How can a voice, not even voice in full,
uttered in life with breath and measure pure.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
by Mairi bheag 16 lines, 31 comments, on Apr 18 8:55 AM 2008. In Sonnet, Weird, Weird Sisters, Scottish• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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It seems the world can laugh and wear a smile
While all I see is veiled in monochrome• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
A sonnet about a guy who repeats a class for the zillionth time.• Viewed by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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Ambition waxes opulent and dread,
I hear the angry pounding of the tide,
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Cloistered memories weep for Resurrection,
as I walk through the catacombs of thought,by masterblaster 13 lines, 41 comments, on Feb 2 1:57 AM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
............................................. ............................................. .................................................by masterblaster 20 lines, 24 comments, on Mar 20 2:19 AM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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by masterblaster 17 lines, 9 comments, on Mar 22 3:39 AM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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Last Saturday was such a frightful bore,
Yet touched my heart, this cannot be denied.by masterblaster 13 lines, 7 comments, on Feb 22 3:24 AM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
by masterblaster 13 lines, 13 comments, on Mar 7 2:52 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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My pocket-watch tells me it's ten to three,
The moon peers though a silver tinted shroud.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
by masterblaster 13 lines, 17 comments, on Apr 4 11:28 AM 2008
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Sweet love! Intoxicating like a flame
That burns with passion in the faded night,
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Was there a writer in medieval times,
His mind still young, whose poetry went unsung?• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [51]
1 - 51 of 51
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One’s family must often be
Encouraged to behave or rue• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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The night is singing a beautiful tune
The cold air is sucking up your body heatby albinoblacksheep720 17 lines, 4 comments, on Nov 16 12:00 PM 2008. In Life, Personal, Nature, Thoughts• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
You came into my mind again to-day / While watching golden horses spinning round, / With open mouths but nothing left to say, / a fairgroun• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Some people always want to take the blame
While others can't admit a single fault• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
But the words never left my lips for the ground had opened wide,
A courous screamed a feather fell, and all the angles died.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Fear not for I am with thee saith the Lord; / Adorn yourself with courage for each day. / In times of stress and bitterness and sword, / Thby duana 14 lines, 17 comments, on Jun 23 6:11 PM 2007• Viewed by judge. Prewrite
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Oh, airy whispers in the trees-
Forever sighing to the night,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
With flutter of her fan she spoke to me,
She drew it gently right across her cheek;by masterblaster 13 lines, 6 comments, on Sep 21 11:17 AM 2008• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
She waved her fan with graceful nonchalance,
But laughing eyes belied her true intent,by masterblaster 13 lines, 5 comments, on Sep 22 2:11 PM 2008• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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It is very diffficult to change the presentation of a poem to satisfy one judge and then change it back for another, however AP provides a link on the right hand side, "hide background" that presents the poem in black on a pale blue background. Also quick comment does the same, presenting all the poems together.
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If someone had told me about the "hide background" facility earlier, I would have been saved more than three years of eyestrain and agony!
"Quick comment", though is, I understand, for "Gold" members only - and the gold membership which someone gave me as a present has now at last run out... which I find overall is a blessed relief!
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aw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe I missed your contest! I am so very dissappointed! Not that I think I am a great poet, but of all contests this would be the one I would enter and especially from such a trustworthy judge. I am so upset I missed this!
Good luck in judging. I hope I will catch another one of your contests. -
It is like having heaven's gate close on you after God gave you a second chance! Oh well- I am sure you will have plenty of future contests and I hope one will inspire me to pick up my pen again. Duana
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Well ...
I write sonnets every once in a while, but never in what you'd call a strict form, since I never write in iambic pentameter.
I like the idea of the contest though. Good luck with it. -
Dear Vera, thank you for your fine comments and suggestions for my sonnets, and for the honorable mention to Rosebush. I regret that I have personal complications and I will not be participating in the after-contest. Thanks to those who read and appreciate my work, and congratulations to the poets whose poems gained the highest prizes. Blessings to all. M
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