We took it in turns to write
each jealously guarding our art
the contest each day
to outshine the other
the previous night
While you wrote in the leather notebook
I sat under the other palm tree
Playing the guitar badly and looking at you
Life passed lazily,
the fruits and the fishing
kept us,
the nights filled with love
and the days with none of this and less of that
I never knew where you went while I wrote
until that day you had counted out as Christmas
and you lead me blindfold to your own little inlet
where the sand-yellow snowman grinned
at the decorated Christmas thorn bush
and a dinner of turkey fish and seasprouts
(or so you assured me)
lay waiting
When they found us you cried for that day
and I cried for the loss of solitude and you
but here we are
together
years later
on this beach
remembering how to make
a snowman out of sand.
Author notes
Stranded: a romantic musing
Ok, in celebration of my 51st birthday, which is the 5th of November, I'm holding a contest, and the premise is; you are somehow stranded on a remote tropical Island with ONE other person. Now, this person can be a spouse, lover, friend, AP poet, whomever…just make it exciting and poetic.
Additionally, to make things more interesting, choose three ‘found’ items from the list below that you think would be of use to the both of you and annotate your choices in the author notes please.
Oh, and one last thing, collaborations are fine as well.
Items found on the beach:
Collected poetic works of ( you choose the poet)
Case of champagne
100 yards of fine red silk
A Polynesian cook book
A fine brass hair brush
A jar of bright red body paint
A snow globe
A box of Christmas tree ornaments
I love Christmas trees!!!
A blank, leather bound diary (with pen and ink of course) : I had to have this, the other poet I have cast myself adrift with and I have each written of poems in a leather notebook.
A bright yellow umbrella
Large trunk with old windup record player and records (you choose music)
A guitar. I picked this because I thought we should have something pointless
All poetic styles welcome, but know that I’m looking for rich visuals, metaphor and sensuality.
Rules: 1. No photos, paint with words, simple backgrounds and borders are ok.
2. Show, don't tell.
3. Don't overuse adjectives.
4. Spell check.
A contest entry
- Stranded: a romantic musing by MJ Donnelly.
3500 points, ended November 20, 2008, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Thanks for the entry, I enjoyed reading it.
All the best,
mj.
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I think this was a very creative piece. I loved how you interplayed Christmas with the beach. Loved the idea of making a snowman out of sand. Interesting thought.
Thank you for sharing.
Soulful Woman
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The impression I got from this poem was all mixed. (I loved by the way!) The first two stanzas I got the impression that you were writing about two poets (two seperate poets, one who was just a regular joe writing on plain paper and the other some distinguised poet on (like you wrote..) a leather notebook. and that they were constantly trying to beat each other in writing and trying to be the better one. Then the 3rd stanza made me think of two secret lovers (during the day they were nothing more than aquantinces and during the night they were full of passion) I may be wrong on all of these thoughts but it certainly built some imagination by the 4th and 5 th stanzas. The last two stanzas were perfect endings, christmas in a beachy area, and snowmen of sand?! and the friendship involved. I truly enjoyed reading this poem. This was very very good! Keep up the great work! -Pammi
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The key is in the contest notes, now attached as Author's Notes
Thank-you for a thoughtful review
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nice
something about it...i don't know, thrills me in a way
it was very well written, great job -
Superb
Ah, 'tis a fine write, and paeon to relationships. Thanks for sharing this one with us. Again, very well done. -
Brilliant imagery and a very romantic poem !
A pleasure to read.
Great write!
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