First, I will post the overall rules, and then I will post the specifics about this week.
Original rules, as stated by Ubertuna:
It must fit the week's theme. It must be submitted by the deadline. It cannot have inappropriate language in it. It cannot be stolen (if you plagiarize, we will find you).
Also:
The poem must be created for this contest A user cannot win two weeks in a row (though everyone is welcome to submit every week!) Only one submission per user will be accepted
As we all know, the winner will recieve a merit, and their poem will be featured on the _Poetry_ page.
OK, on to this week's topic...Again, we are having a style instead of a theme. Also, this week we are having TWO WEEKS to do it, instead of the usual one. Why? Because this will be an EPIC poem. Or, rather, a parody of an epic poem. Generally, epic poetry is very long, and tells the serious story of a heroic figure. Well, this week, the epic figure is YOU! Write a long poem (I'll leave the definition of 'long' up to you, but give it a good go) about the heroic story of you! It can be silly, serious, whatever... just have fun with it. You have two weeks, so have a great time!
And somehow, I thought I'd prevail this time around...It seems everyone has improved far beyond my reach these days. Next time, I'm giving it my very all, for the sake of poetry. Of all the places, I thought this one would be the best to ask this. I've been trying to get my hands on some Frost for quite a while now, but it's astounding - in a shameful way - how hard it is to find English literature in Quebec. It's almost as if I live in a country that promotes imbecility...So yes, back to topic; I decided to order from ebay, and I wanted some opinions on what book/compilation I should start with?
It's almost as if I live in a country that promotes imbecility...
Well considering Quebec is still willing to seperate then yeah, I think you do. Mind you I'm from southern Ontario so what do I know eh? I don't read much Frost so I can't really advise you
FallenSky: The best you can do is to read poetry from various time periods: Ancient, Renaissance, Classical (Enlightenment), Romantic, Modernist, and Modern. I have my suggestions (not necessarily American): Dante, Shakespeare, Frost, Keats, Edgar Allen Poe, William Blake, Wordsworth, Lord Byron, T.S. Eliot, and Def Poetry Jam. If you can get your hands on Chinese or Japanese poetry (even translations), those also make for some very fresh perspectives.
Well, I've already read some of the above, only in French :S. That's why I wanted some advice on what end of Frost's work I should start. All I've ever experienced of english poetry are traductions so I really wanted to start exploring in the original language, and I heard Frost is considered to be one of the best english poet. Of course I guess it'd be fruitful to reread Poe, Dante and Shakespear in English.
Frost is my personal favorite. In fact, here's a link to most of his poetry! I recommend After Apple-Picking, The Flood, and Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, for starters. If you'd like, you can read book by book, of which all of his published work is on that site.
My very first sonnet, or at least something tha vaguely looks like one; please be indulgent. Though I feel it is a little maladroit, I'm pretty pleased by hot the theme came out.
Wooden arms
She came into my shop sparkling with graces Aglow despite her pale frugal attire Divine amidst the white and brittle faces Of these women who live to rouse desire I left alone the oak I was carving Into a plain prie-dieu for priests to chant And walked toward her shape silhouetting In the doorway where light was abundant With unrestrained passion, though quite briefly I made her mine on a table sculpted But the Queen she was in reality; Summoned I was, my hands and knees grounded For him, the King to sit on my backbone And mold and mesh my soma ever prone
ANY criticism is welcome; in fact it would be much appreciated since I hardly know where I'm going with that one.
