is the talking statue of Rome to which people still affix satirical poems and lampoons which have become known as "pasquinades."
pasquinade: "A satire or lampoon, especially one that ridicules a specific person, traditionally written and posted in a public place.
tr.v. pas·qui·nad·ed, pas·qui·nad·ing, pas·qui·nades
To ridicule with a pasquinade; satirize or lampoon."
What poem would you post on Old Pasquino?
pasquinade: "A satire or lampoon, especially one that ridicules a specific person, traditionally written and posted in a public place.
tr.v. pas·qui·nad·ed, pas·qui·nad·ing, pas·qui·nades
To ridicule with a pasquinade; satirize or lampoon."
What poem would you post on Old Pasquino?
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on July 1
- Rewards: Gold: 400, Silver: 500, Bronze: 600
- Final notes: Pasquino, you just stand there like a stone,
impassive, as the people come to read
the poems that they deface you with; no need
to open up - your mouth is not your own,
although you are the talking head of Rome!
For those who have no voice, their tongues are freed
against oppressive government and greed;
for those who must express, lash out, atone,
for those who have no choice, you stand, indeed,
though only half a man. You're just a bust,
politically, a pawn, no more, no less.
Your nose may be a Roman's but your creed
along with any armor has been lost.
You do not care what any body says.
- Marcy Jarvis (Italian Sonnet)
The winner took me on a deeper look into the history of this statue, which gets his start in the epic poem of the Iliad, so that is funny to think about - that the poet begot the statue, the warrior begot the poet, the statue begets more poets, becomes the poet, etc. to infinity and beyond! Thank you, Azure85.
The silver assassin's bullet goes to Budart for his darkly satirical ditty that when Old Pasquino adds his dead pan delivery, would surely make us in the west shake in our boots with nervous laughter.
And last, though little but not the least, a half Latin epigram in the booted planet Pluto's honor by Patrick20traveler.
Hope you enjoyed this Trip to Rome. Arrivederci.
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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My name is Achmed Ahmadinejad
I wonder how many people• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Homo sum humani a me nihil alienum puto,
until I saw a fistfight about the planet Pluto.• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [11]
1 - 11 of 11
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So talk to me ye sage of Rome
whisper now from wisdoms tome• Commented on by judge. -
Once there was a little ape;
who, from Texas, did escape.by CoundessaScarlotti 11 lines, 3 comments, on Jun 28 9:39 AM. In Humor• Commented on by judge. -
Will the world ever end?
only inanimate objects will knowby xxelephantechoesxx 17 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 28 12:10 PM• Commented on by judge. -
• Commented on by judge.
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you who stand reading,
thinking• Commented on by judge. -
It’s not obvious the world is going straight to hell.
You may observe the average human is living wellby patrick20traveler 18 lines, 4 comments, on Jun 29 5:10 AM• Commented on by judge. -
Pasquino, you just stand there like a stone
impassive, as the people come to read• Viewed by judge.
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Buon Giorno!
Just for fun, you might find it interesting to know that the original posts which were pinned to Pasquino's Toga were epigrams written in Latin; here is a description of an epigram http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigram and this contest is open to multiple entries, if you wish to post one.
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cool!
I dunno what I can come up with in one day...I wish I'd caught this earlier!
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Maybe someone can write one for Dan Brown and the Illuminati.
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Why are the point values for places inverted?
Dennis
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because winning is not clear cut and never the point of my contests.
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Thank you for the gold and such an interesting contest!
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