ForumsArt, Music, and WritingPeriodic Poetry Contest - Theme: Touch of Truth (Page 390, due Jan. 28)

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DragonMistress
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DragonMistress
1,058 posts
Blacksmith

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!
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thisisnotanalt
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thisisnotanalt
9,821 posts
Shepherd

Ack, the eye-roll! It burnsssssssssssss!

And yes, I know, thank you very much. I am continuing to prove my point . . . see? Teehee.

/sarcasm

But seriously.

Zaork
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Zaork
439 posts
Nomad

But seriously.

Yes? Surely there is going to be something profound after that?

hopelessly oblique.

Referencing the futility of life/humans?
thisisnotanalt
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thisisnotanalt
9,821 posts
Shepherd

Something profound? Pshaw. Definitely not.

And see? We're getting away with this. Tangents are so yummy.

Graham
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Graham
8,051 posts
Nomad

A bed, a coffin, a chair, a loo,
It's the tissue for all achoo!
But one could stand for all of this,
plastered earthward, wrist by wrist!

Fastest of food, bring slowest of slow,
Jimmy the weak, last week, the woe.
Alas, in angst, the Bench await.
Euphoria! A human late!

To sit for sitting, to play the lee,
To be the witness... doused with pee!
None hear the unuttered plea,
"Oh, please, sir, don't sit on me!"

FallenSky
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FallenSky
1,813 posts
Peasant

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?

wolf1991
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wolf1991
3,437 posts
Farmer

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
Parsat
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Parsat
2,180 posts
Blacksmith

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.

FallenSky
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FallenSky
1,813 posts
Peasant

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.

Parsat
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Parsat
2,180 posts
Blacksmith

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.

FallenSky
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FallenSky
1,813 posts
Peasant

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.

Asherlee
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Asherlee
5,001 posts
Shepherd

I merit'd IcyIndia.

Congratulations!

IcyIndia
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IcyIndia
1,344 posts
Nomad

I finally finished this one.
So here goes.


A metal, motionless snake.
An empty, twisted skeleton.
It lines a park, endless and curving,
A place for everyone to sit.

The edges of the solid iron are cold,
arched around frosted wood,
like arms that
hold everything together.

Maverick4
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Maverick4
6,800 posts
Peasant

Crackiling cold; burning iron,
Wooden slats frosted white.
Cigar embers, burning hot
Ashes floating
to the ground

Overcoats pulled tight
Seat leeching cold
from his body, atache
at his side.

Shuffling over, stamping
heavy boots, the weight
of the world carried.
On his back.

A short exchange; a brief
murmering.
Atache in hand.
Gone.

FallenSky
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FallenSky
1,813 posts
Peasant

Oh my god...Is that...Maverick!?...For real!?
And with quite a nice a poem; talk about a way to make a smashing comeback.

Maverick4
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Maverick4
6,800 posts
Peasant

Oh my god...Is that...Maverick!?...For real!?
And with quite a nice a poem; talk about a way to make a smashing comeback.


People... remember me? *eyes water*

Thanks for the compliment m8.
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