January 2005 Poetry Contest

[Teratogen]

question: although all poems are being submitted to linda and then judged by you, joe, will every single submitted poem be displayed on the site? i was thinking maybe posting them anonymously, of course by you and not by us, because then it would be too out of control. if they were posted for everyone else to see i think some of us would enjoy reading them all as well. and you could post them after the 19th when they are all in, so that nobody's poem can be ripped off, so to speak, by someone else who is still writing theirs. unless you think your judgments might be skewed by other people's comments and critiques. but it's just a suggestion.

[tom.d.stiller]

Just to give an example of what I was talking about...

I add as constraints: it should deal with love and death, and it has to be a haiku (5/7/5 syllables).

Epilogue after the final act

Snow caressed his bone
Where warm tongues had meandered.
Spider Love fulfilled.

Would this be considered off topic? ("winter" isn't explicitely mentioned)

Cheers
tom

[lizzytysh]

[Tee-Hee] ~ As I read Tom's postings here, I think, "Ain't it grand not to be the judge or intermediary ~ there's always something!" No idea how Joe will answer, Tom, however, "seedy hotel" was often shown not said. I would hope that with such a brooooooad topic as winter, that people wouldn't still try to find the fringes, for pushing the envelope. However, ya gotta remember the group we're dealing with here .

Snow and the spider ? Now there's a fringey example .

[Joe Way]

T-
I will post the poems anonymously after I have judged them. I won't before as I don't want to be influenced by others comments.

Tom-
If I don't see a connection with "winter," I will probably comment on it and it will probably affect a poems rank. In your example, I don't know. Snow certainly implies winter. In a short poem, it might work, in a longer one, it might not. If the connection is obviously there, and I missed it-well, then everyone will know that the judge is dense.

Joe

[lizzytysh]

Well, now, it could be the spider resided on Mt. Hood, where the snow caps the mountain in summer . Please be certain to include said spider's origin [vacation spot or pilgrimage site], when posting such poems .

Joe ~ I strongly concur with your decision to postpone posting till after your judging is completed. It will be difficult enough to do it absent any influences! Dense, eh ? Somehow that word hadn't popped into my vocabulary with thoughts of you. Guess I should reserve judgement 'til after the contest ?

~ Lizzy

[Achilles]

Thanks Joe, Linda, Lizzytysh, I'm beginning to get the picture.

Back to the drawing board.

[tom.d.stiller]

no spider at all involved. "spider" is a qualifier.

and please note that it's "bone", not "bones".

[lizzytysh]

See what I mean ?

[linda_lakeside]

Yes, and I agree.

[linda_lakeside]

tom,

That was a nice Haiku - I've always liked Haiku as it is short yet difficult.

[Critic2]

short yet difficult.

Hey, stop talking about me that way, LL. I see bias from the Interthingy. Let's hope the Judge is not similarly prejudiced.

[tom.d.stiller]

85 syllables for Linda

Thank you, Linda. You
summed it up in a few words:
"short yet difficult"

I wasted what was
my only inspiration
in an example.

Now I am left here
without a winter poem
near a frozen lake.

But I don't worry.
Being true to my own self
I thank you again.

Maybe tomorrow
another wintry thought comes
and gives a few lines.

[linda_lakeside]

tom: What can a girl say but a blushing, thank you?

I think you're right C2, let's hope the Judgy Wudgy doesn't have a similar prejudice.

[margaret]

It's gone awfully quiet around here. Expecting to see some good poems next week!.

[Cia]

We are thinking and suffering

hugs from Cia