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!
Hmmm.... No way I'm ever going to win... Oh well!!! bored on thursday. ___________________________
Things Remembered
Tiny rings Bells and things Balls and flowers Mini towers Plastic guns That couldn't shoot All my treasures All my loot Lots of things And plastic tutes.
All these things and more Treasure on the floor I love them more than glitter I love them more than gold I love them more than anything That i have ever known An old TV A rubber goat A leaky boat That would not float.
I have shown them to my neighbors I have shown them to my aunt I have shown them to everyone And everyone I have shown They look at me with confusion A smirk on their face They seem to be bored with me But a smile on my face.
Happy with my treasures Others call it trash but i do not agree with them I enjoy my little mash. ___________________________
BTW- I meant that tutes as like, recorders and stuff. I forgot about this contest so I absolutely hate that poem. okay then. bye!
I know I'm screwed. There are so many good ones... Oh well, I think I submitted a pretty good first one. I'd be surprised if anyone even reads. :P Jk. Fiercer competition here than the haiku comp, that's fo' sho'.
And I don't want people to be stupid. However, I must live with stupid people, therefore you'll live with me posting the judging tomorrow.
wolf sure knows how to put up with unsatisfied customers.
Orion, you've been a judge too, and quite an impunctual one, so surely you know that he ( we ) make this benevolently. Surely you can wait a little more right?
And on this note, a big thank you to wolf, because I know we judges don't get enough of these - no implicit message intended.
The time forgotten, I lay my sword, Forged in the closet of the liar's word; Slaying the tongue of the tempest soul, Abandoned, iced by wool.
It took too many years, I've realized, To my surprise, I must have died By the word of God, Surmised by hate, I'm a fraud.
I've finally reach an all time high, Even if, to get here, I must have lied; I understand that some words must be said, If I didn't speak, I would be dead.
Penetrate the enemy of my lord, To die right here for his hoard; I'm a soldier of my heart, The bitter end tastes so tart.
The day has come, forever wait, Incarcerated hate; I'll take them down, 'til I'm dead, With my heart of lead.
They asked me once, straight and blank, Would I die for land To the man, of higher rank, "You must be mad."
Five years on, he came around, We met again; The question struck, as was bound, "I'd never die, for the hound, I'd kill for men."
This is one of the more interesting takes on the theme I saw this time around. The poem was well written, however I found the flow to be lacking. At times it would transition nicely, but suddenly jar on the next line. Your first stanza is a prime example of this. The final line seemed only to be there to make a rhyme. Also, the entire poem was written in four line stanzas except for the last stanza. To me it came across as awkward. A well rounded representation of the theme though.
Second Place: Quirinus1
Autumn, season of despair
As I lay with comfort, on a feather filled matress, sleep grabs me unawares. I slowly greet repose.
Morpheus! Do me a little more! How I like it's sweet-sour savor! Lead to me the son of Nyx, bringer of sweet-tempered memories.
When I was a boy pure of heart, mother asked me with earnest voice: will you later be straight and true? Yes, mother! I will. Six winters I saw.
Morpheus! Do me a little more! How I like it's sweet-sour savor! Lead to me the son of Nyx, bringer of sweet-tempered memories.
I played with brother all day long, sometimes he asked me with cute eyes: will you be my brother for eternity? Yes, brother! I will. Six springs I saw.
Morpheus! Do me a little more! How I like it's sweet-sour savor! Lead to me the son of Nyx, bringer of sweet-tempered memories.
I played with legos from dawn to dusk. Father came to me, and asked with deep voice: What will you become? An engineer? Yes, yes! I will. Six summers I saw.
Morpheus! Do me a little more! How I like it's sweet-sour savor! Lead to me the son of Nyx, bringer of sweet-tempered memories.
When I was an engineer, smart and rich, As I strolled along my buildings, I thought: will there be any more than this? No, no! I presume. Eighty-seven autumns I saw.
Morpheus! Stop it, stop it! How I dislike the bitterness of the now! Keep away the son of Nyx, reminder of pains I now endure!
Childhood, three seasons of life, Winter, spring and summer! Childhood is such a short season, and all the rest is fall.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is a magnificent piece of writing. The theme is definately grasped and grasped well. However, I found the repetition of your references to Nyx and Morpheus to be overly repetitive for the poem. I understand you tried to personify the theme, however it left me with a feeling of overly rapid transition. For the most part your poem centred on the child of six, and suddenly showed an old man. I would have liked a bit more growth for the character.
First Place and Merit Winner: TackyCrazyTNT
I used to live a land of smiles A joyful isolated isle
I stayed in my crystal globe Pressed my face against the glass Decided that my world was Everything worth knowing I built my kingdom Of oceans and mountains Dragons vanquished, And demons conquered I created my own winding paths Or so I thought.
"The sky's the limit" They all told me, Just live your life as long as you're free
My globe had a painted sky And that illusion was enough for me I dreamt my dreams I thought the sky was All but unreachable But under my growing weight The crystal bent And it cracked. I wanted to save my world. I couldn't.
I fell and fell back down to earth, I dropped, stranded, to the cold hard dirt.
The shards of glass rained In them I could see myself All my shallow dreams That blew away in the wind. The shattered pieces Of my imaginary world Even now they fall They cut and rip I can't move from here. I'm stranded from my past.
I often wish for my younger days When all I did was dream and play
I catch myself yearning For my painted blue walls When the world was mine When my paths were crystal clear. All around is a rusty plain. My future is too far away to see, Lost on the horizon, Maybe someday I'll finally stand up And find what lies beyond There's no need for dreaming here.
I'll journey to the edge to find my way Though my glassy scars are forever to stay
Well Tacky is our winner for this round. The poem has a gentle flow to it and represents the theme perfectly. I found that the poem progressed nicely over time and I enjoyed the simplicity of the short lined long stanzas with a longer lined interlude. You represented the fragility of childhood, and that, on a personal level, connected with me deeply. The poem is not overly elegant, and at first glance not very deep. But, it is a fine example of a poem that deceives you at first glance. Well done.
Ice is the bringer of slow, painful death. Fire is faster but leaves only ashes behind. The cold is enough to impede your breath, The smoke is enough to render you blind.
Having one makes you wish for another, Fire to melt the frostbiting ice; Ice to cool the fire that smothers To reach a midpoint that would much suffice.
The two join in a passionate kiss Consuming themselves in the blink of an eye Flames melt ice which will not be missed Ice, melted, extinguishing fire.
As they touch, the crux they find, Is one for the other leaves nothing behind.