One of our users (thanks, Kyouko) suggested we have a poetry competition. I agreed that it would be a fine idea. On that note, some ground rules!
When does the contest start? Now.
When does the contest end? October 1st.
What will be the basis for judging the poetry? The metric will vary by poem, so please include any additional information you think will help guide that; for example, if you are writing a poem in iambic pentameter, say so; if there is a special meaning behind your poem, include it so that it can be determined whether it came across efficiently; if your garish rhyming scheme is intentional, explain how and why.
Will there be a reward? There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place rankings. Your reward will be the associated notoriety.
Please see my response at the end of this thread for a reaction to every poem listed.
As to the poems I liked the most, first, let me state that I expanded the victory spots from three to four, as it was really a tie of the top four, which were fairly different and each very good in their own rite. It didn’t feel fair to exclude any from being given a nod of affirmation. They are all great from a technical standpoint of spelling, pulling all the parts into a cohesive union, and format. So, here the four winning poems are, and why I picked them:
The Finely Woven Rug, by Stairdweller – at first I almost passed this one up, because the initial eight lines felt kind of peculiar to me. Then I read the author’s note, and it provided some very good insight into the poem. The symbolism. The mind of the writer. It allowed me to see the poem in an entirely different light and, beyond acknowledging the technical achievement of the poem – which was never in question – I saw it as a meaningful view on relationships and a person. I was able to connect the dots.
Raw Ale, by Valkyrie – this one was just a joy to read. It reminded me of some of the poems found in Tolkien’s The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jovial, quick, full of fun and action. It has a fanciful ring to it, and excellent flow. Even my awkward brain didn’t get tripped up going from one line to the next. If there were a few flaws, after reading it two times, I didn’t notice any. I was too caught up in levity.
Electricity, by Black-Pentagram – trip. That is the best word to describe this poem. I had to read it three times before I knew what was going on, but it only took the first verse to get me hooked. The pop culture references alone make it a prize, but binding them all up in some sort of bizarre apocalyptic ultra-modern view of … madness. It’s all the things I love about scifi. :)
The House on the Hill, by Sonata – lord knows I didn’t want to include a poem by Sonata, but I tried to tell myself he didn’t write it, and that helped soothe my pain. Just kidding, I don’t care who wrote it – this is a good poem! It is curt, and harsh, but the imagery is incredibly effective at conveying the sense of a girl who is bound to a place that she doesn’t necessarily love. In a way, I can feel for the girl. With the back of my hand telling her to stop being so conformist and live a little. Still, amber needles. Yikes!