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!
This was a tough theme, and it's possible I didn't quite grasp it. But I wrote a nice villanelle, and I'm proud of it.
The endless battle ceases to subside Waves roar and crash against the battleship You'll see King Neptune on the other side
Hot lightning strikes the ship on either side Large frigid waves from out of nowhere rip The endless battle ceases to subside
A cabin boy emerges from the tide He struggles very hard to keep his grip You'll see King Neptune on the other side
He barely stays afloat, so petrified He fears his frozen solid hands will slip The endless battle ceases to subside
With one last breath, the young man prayed and cried, "Don't let this voyage be their final trip" You'll see King Neptune on the other side
The storm cleared up, the crew alive inside Not knowing of the man who saved their ship The endless battle ceases to subside You'll see King Neptune on the other side
None can compare to my lover's life! All words to describe fall flat, fall plain. We battled through war, and fought through strife, Emerging sweeter than the purest of cane.*
And none can compare to my lover's eye! Innocent through the shades they have seen. Each night I pray that I may ne'er die, And be parted from their fish-scale gleem.
And we have only been purified, Like a mountain spring rolling down its bed. From her grace my eye cannot be pried, Though I weep for the victorious dead.
And when we failed, those many times, We did not gnash our teeth, nor break our brow. And though adversity be more sour than lime, We pushed e'er foward! A grand ship's prow.
But the greatest? That through all our trials, My lover always brough my lips to smile.
Seamlessly, effortlessly They crush and wallow in the dust Taking no care or slight notice In their non serendipitous campaign
The heart bleeds and dies inside And smoke sieges the lungs and throat Eyes watch behind walls of water Knuckles white, fingers tense, they itch and yearn
The time will come soon enough You will wear his armor and name Blood will rise and bodies will fall How can they even start to stop you now
You have risen from nothing Taken the task set forth from fire Quenched the mind with tackless revenge And stopped swimming in the sea of ashes
The imagery of this poem is very fitting for the theme. It takes a theme I had meant to inspire hope and twists it into a path of vengence and greed. I enjoy the flow of it, though it does break up near the end. Careful about that.
Second Place: Maverick4
Blossoming Love
None can compare to my lover's life! All words to describe fall flat, fall plain. We battled through war, and fought through strife, Emerging sweeter than the purest of cane.*
And none can compare to my lover's eye! Innocent through the shades they have seen. Each night I pray that I may ne'er die, And be parted from their fish-scale gleem.
And we have only been purified, Like a mountain spring rolling down its bed. From her grace my eye cannot be pried, Though I weep for the victorious dead.
And when we failed, those many times, We did not gnash our teeth, nor break our brow. And though adversity be more sour than lime, We pushed e'er foward! A grand ship's prow.
But the greatest? That through all our trials, My lover always brough my lips to smile.
Again Maverick you've come close to first place. Alas I feel somewhat bad for not giving you the merit, for this is a very merit worthy poem. The flow and imagery captured within the poem reflect the theme almost perectly. Once more I found the flow broke up at times, but overall a very good poem.
First Place and Merit Winner: Ernie15
The endless battle ceases to subside Waves roar and crash against the battleship You'll see King Neptune on the other side
Hot lightning strikes the ship on either side Large frigid waves from out of nowhere rip The endless battle ceases to subside
A cabin boy emerges from the tide He struggles very hard to keep his grip You'll see King Neptune on the other side
He barely stays afloat, so petrified He fears his frozen solid hands will slip The endless battle ceases to subside
With one last breath, the young man prayed and cried, "Don't let this voyage be their final trip" You'll see King Neptune on the other side
The storm cleared up, the crew alive inside Not knowing of the man who saved their ship The endless battle ceases to subside You'll see King Neptune on the other side
Beautifully done. The poem captures the theme in a most subtle way. I found that the poem flowed magnificently and the tale it told was very fitting. Overall I have little criticsm, and hope you keep up the excelent work. Well done