BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: GUEST,TANESHIA WILLIAMS
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 07:13 PM

DRUNK FRIENDS
                      AND REACTIONS!
YOUR FRIEND IS IN THE BAR GETTING DRUNK, KNOWING HE HAS A 2 PACK BEER IN HIS TRUNK.YOU SAY COME ON I WANT TO GO!HE SAYS NO!NO! I HAVE ONLY HAVE 2 TEQUILA SHOTS TO GO, YOU SAY "FINE GIVE ME THE KEYS TO THE CAR I'LL GO! HE SAYS "OKAY COME ON,YOU SAID"I'LL DRIVE YOU'RE DRUNK HE SAYS T'M NOT DRUNK I JUST TIRED. YOU SAYS "GIVE ME THE KEYS I'LL DRIVE. HE SAYA NO!NO! GIVE ME THE KEYS IT'S MY CAR I ONLY HAD 5 DRINKS AT THE BAR.YOU'RE BOYH PUTTING ON SEATBELTS. HE CRANKS UP THE CAR AND SPEEDS NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU NEED HELP INDEED THE AMBULANCE SAYS "STAT HUMBLE HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL WITH LOT OF GIFTS THAT'S BASKETS NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU PUTTING FLOWERS ON HIS CASKET EVERYONE CRYING AND GETTING IN THE CAR THAT'S HOW QUICK YOU DIE FROM GETTING DRUNK IN A BAR.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: GUEST,amergin
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 03:41 PM

that second to last poem was the best one you posted, BB...

what ever happened to just enjoying poetry and songs and stories instead of analysing them to death? it takes the enjoyment away ...and more importantly the magic.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 03:35 PM

true... nothing by McGonagle, though...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 03:11 PM

When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be is by the 19th c. British poet, John Keats

The House of Life: The Sonnet is by Dante Gabriel Rossetti .


A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 03:09 PM

It was an odd noise that I heard, this night:
Not quite a scream, but far more than a gasp,
From moonless darkness, with no stars in sight.
What is this coldness, that my insides clasp?
Why do I weaken, hearing sound so far
Only the echo reaches ear, yet mind
Is twisted from intent? How can I bar
Gate of imagination to wyrd bind?
I fall, boneless with fright, and sweat breaks out;
Bowels turn to water with despair. I weep,
To lose all. I moan, but cannot give shout
To more than whimper, nor my reason keep.
She passes, and I live! Yet dare not rise
For fear of seeing Death within her eyes.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 03:07 PM

so what about this one.....




































by Dante Gabriel Rossetti ( 1828-1882)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 03:05 PM

A Sonnet

A Sonnet is a moment's monument,-
Memorial from the Soul's eternity
To one dead, deathless hour. Look that it be,
Whether for lustral rite or dire portent,
Of its own arduous fullness reverent:
Carve it in ivory or in ebony,
As Day or Night may rule; and let Time see
Its flowering crest impearl'd and orient.
A Sonnet is a coin: its face reveals
The soul, - its converse, to what power 't is due: -
Whether for tribute to the august appeals
Of Life, or dower in Love's high retinue,
It serve; or, 'mid the dark wharf's cavernous breath,
In Charon's palm it pay the toll to Death.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:58 PM

a caudated sonnet...



Abou ben Adam



Abou ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Prescence in the room he said:
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?"said Abou, "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben adam's name led all the rest.



- Leigh Hunt

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:55 PM

When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high-piled books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the fairy power
Of unreflecting love;-then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.







not one of mine...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 02:16 PM

I would like to submit this poem for consideration by Blackcatter (who is the owner of this contest, n'est-ce pas?) even though it is not my own but by the famous Scot, McGonagle.

It is in honor of England's most grandiose monarch-type person:

Sound drums and trumpets, far and near!
And Let all Queen Victoria's subjects loudly cheer!
And show by their actions that they revere,
Because she's served them faithfully fifty long year!

All hail to the Empress of India and Great Britain's Queen!
Long may she live happy and serene!
And as this is now her Jubilee year,
I hope her subjects will show their loyalty without fear.

Therefore let all her subjects rejoice and sing,
Until they make the welkin ring;
And let young and old on this her Jubilee be glad,
And cry, "Long Live our Queen!" and don't be sad.

She has been a good Queen, which no one dare gainsay,
And I hope God will protect her for many a day;
May He enable her a few more years to reign,
And let all her lieges say - Amen!

Let all hatred towards her be thrown aside
All o'er dominions broad and wide;
And let all her subjects bear in mind,
By God kings and queens are put in trust o'er mankind.

Therefore rejoice and be glad on her Jubilee day,
And try and make the heart of our Queen feel gay;
Oh! try and make her happy in country and town,
And not with Shakespeare say, "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."

And as this is her first Jubilee year,
And will be her last, I rather fear:
Therefore, sound drums and trumpets cheerfully,
Until the echoes are heard o'er land and sea.

And let the innocent voices of the children at home or abroad
Ascend with cheerful shouts to the throne of God;
And sing aloud, "God Save our Gracious Queen!"
Because a good and charitable Sovereign she has been.

Therefore, ye sons of great Britain, come join with me,
And welcome in our noble Queen's Jubilee;
Because she has been a faithful Queen, ye must confess,
There hasn't been her equal since the days of Queen Bess.

Therefore let all her lieges shout and cheer,
"God Save our Gracious Queen!" for many a year;
let such be the cry in the peasant's cot, the hall,
With stentorian voices, as loud as they can bawl.

And let bonfires be kindled on every hill
And let her subjects dance around them at their freewill;
And try to drive dull care away
By singing and rejoicing on the Queen's Jubilee day.

May God protect her for many a day,
At home or abroad when she's far away;
Long may she be spared o'er her subjects to reign,
And let each and all with one voice say - Amen!

Victoria is a good Queen, which all her subjects know,
And for that may God protect her from every foe;
May He be as a hedge around her, as He's been all along.
And let her live and die in peace - is the end of my song

---

I especially love that vibrant image of Queen Victoria surrounded by the Hedge of God, don't you??

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: GUEST,William again
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 01:32 PM

Mr. Joe Clone, please remove the first iteration of my poem, I wish to leave my remarks intact as they appear in the second. Thankee very much.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: GUEST,William McGonagall
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 01:29 PM

Wonderful Blessings! I've at last met my poetical equal! Such energy and charm, such quaint grandeur on this thread!


BEAUTIFUL EDINBURGH
by William McGonagall

Beautiful city of Edinburgh, most wonderful to be seen,
With your ancient palace of Holyrood and Queen's Park Green,
And your big, magnificent, elegant New College,
Where people from all nations can be taught knowledge.

The New College of Edinburgh is certainly very grand
Which I consider to be an honour to fair Scotland,
Because it's the biggest in the world, without any doubt,
And is most beautiful in the inside as well as out.

And the Castle is wonderful to look upon,
Which has withstood many angry tempests in years bygone;
And the rock it's built upon is rugged and lovely to be seen
When the shrubberies surrounding it are blown full green.

Morningside is lovely and charming to be seen;
The gardens there are rich with flowers and shrubberies green
And sweet scented perfumes fill the air,
Emanating from the sweet flowers and beautiful plants there.

And as for Braidhill, it's a very romantic spot,
But a fine place to visit when the weather is hot;
There the air is nice and cool, which will help to drive away sorrow
When ye view from its summit the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

And as for the statues, they are very grand-
They cannot be surpassed in any foreign land;
And the scenery is attractive and fascinating to the eye,
And arrests the attention of tourists as they pass by.

Lord Melville's Monument is most elegant to be seen,
Which is situated in St. Andrew's Square, amongst shrubberies green,
Which seems most gorgeous to the eye,
Because it is towering so very high.

The Prince Albert Consort Statue looks very grand,
Especially the granite blocks whereon it doth stand,
Which is admired by all tourists as they pass by,
Because the big granite blocks seem magnificent to the eye.

Princes Street West End Garden Is fascinating to be seen,
With its beautiful big trees and shrubberies green,
And its magnificent water fountain in the valley below
Helps to drive away from the tourist all care and woe.

The Castle Hotel is elegant and grand,
And students visit it from every foreign land,
And the students of Edinburgh often call there
To rest and have luncheon, at a very cheap fare.

Queen Street Garden seems charming to the eye,
And a great boon it is to the tenantry near by,
As they walk along the grand gravel walks near there,
Amongst the big trees and shrubberies, and inhale pure air.

Then, all ye tourists, be advised by me,
Beautiful Edinburgh ye ought to go and see.
It's the only city I know of where ye can wile away the time
By viewing its lovely scenery and statues fine.

Magnificent city of Edinburgh, I must conclude my muse,
But to write in praise of thee I cannot refuse.
I will tell the world boldly without dismay
You have the biggest college in the world at the present day.

Of all the cities in the world, Edinburgh for me;
For no matter where I look, some lovely spot I see;
And for picturesque scenery unrivalled you do stand.
Therefore I pronounce you to be the Pride of Fair Scotland.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: GUEST,William McGonagall
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 01:29 PM

BEAUTIFUL EDINBURGH
by William McGonagall

Beautiful city of Edinburgh, most wonderful to be seen,
With your ancient palace of Holyrood and Queen's Park Green,
And your big, magnificent, elegant New College,
Where people from all nations can be taught knowledge.

The New College of Edinburgh is certainly very grand
Which I consider to be an honour to fair Scotland,
Because it's the biggest in the world, without any doubt,
And is most beautiful in the inside as well as out.

And the Castle is wonderful to look upon,
Which has withstood many angry tempests in years bygone;
And the rock it's built upon is rugged and lovely to be seen
When the shrubberies surrounding it are blown full green.

Morningside is lovely and charming to be seen;
The gardens there are rich with flowers and shrubberies green
And sweet scented perfumes fill the air,
Emanating from the sweet flowers and beautiful plants there.

And as for Braidhill, it's a very romantic spot,
But a fine place to visit when the weather is hot;
There the air is nice and cool, which will help to drive away sorrow
When ye view from its summit the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

And as for the statues, they are very grand-
They cannot be surpassed in any foreign land;
And the scenery is attractive and fascinating to the eye,
And arrests the attention of tourists as they pass by.

Lord Melville's Monument is most elegant to be seen,
Which is situated in St. Andrew's Square, amongst shrubberies green,
Which seems most gorgeous to the eye,
Because it is towering so very high.

The Prince Albert Consort Statue looks very grand,
Especially the granite blocks whereon it doth stand,
Which is admired by all tourists as they pass by,
Because the big granite blocks seem magnificent to the eye.

Princes Street West End Garden Is fascinating to be seen,
With its beautiful big trees and shrubberies green,
And its magnificent water fountain in the valley below
Helps to drive away from the tourist all care and woe.

The Castle Hotel is elegant and grand,
And students visit it from every foreign land,
And the students of Edinburgh often call there
To rest and have luncheon, at a very cheap fare.

Queen Street Garden seems charming to the eye,
And a great boon it is to the tenantry near by,
As they walk along the grand gravel walks near there,
Amongst the big trees and shrubberies, and inhale pure air.

Then, all ye tourists, be advised by me,
Beautiful Edinburgh ye ought to go and see.
It's the only city I know of where ye can wile away the time
By viewing its lovely scenery and statues fine.

Magnificent city of Edinburgh, I must conclude my muse,
But to write in praise of thee I cannot refuse.
I will tell the world boldly without dismay
You have the biggest college in the world at the present day.

Of all the cities in the world, Edinburgh for me;
For no matter where I look, some lovely spot I see;
And for picturesque scenery unrivalled you do stand.
Therefore I pronounce you to be the Pride of Fair Scotland.


(Shrubberies, glorious shrubberies! Just can't get enough of them.)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 12:41 PM

BB:

I think this forum is hardly the site to submit your sonnets for judgement on poetical merit. What you will get here is an acknowledgement of sentiment, and general encouragement or not, but most of the people on this forum do not puruse the details of poetry and how it grows, despite having highly poetical natures -- that's why they are folksingers, man!! :>) Of course, YMMV.

one need not agree with the intent of the poem to be able to judge it.

I dunno about agreeing, but the impact of a poem is very much dependent on its content. Content that is heavyhanded or obvious or overly self-referential will fall short. In poetry as in folksinging, navelgazing sentimentality is a temptation much to be avoided -- even when it is rigorously executed in terms of meter.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 11:41 AM

he's fallen and he can't get up. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 04:41 AM

...as in vey

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 04:40 AM

Oy

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 04:38 AM

" Your statement "I ask only that verse be judged by its quality, not by opinions of content" is revelatory, because it indicates that you believe the quality of a poem can be gauged by its structural compliance with the prescribed form, ignoring its content. I find that unbelievable."

Please note "by opinions of content" . I do not feel the content can be ignored, just that one need not agree with the intent of the poem to be able to judge it.

"Bruce, you continue to assume a lot that is beyond your ken"

is this egotism I sense?

"Pull up your socks, Beardedbruce, and see what the world has to say about your sonnets."

I sort of thought that this thread might do some of that- it seems I must be mistaken.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 06:39 PM

That's a comment!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: 42
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 06:23 PM

no comment
j

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 02:36 PM

Bruce, you continue to assume a lot that is beyond your ken.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 02:25 PM

(Sorry, BB -- I was being funny. )


A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 02:17 PM

So, the editors are ignorant as well as bigoted? This is such a high recommendation...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 02:13 PM

BB:

Now, kids, lets chill summat, huh??

I betcha most editors would not reject a sonnet if you didn't tell them it was a sonnet.

:>))

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 01:59 PM

SRS

Actually, I was only presuming that you were willing to live under the same rules you place on others. It seems I am wrong.

When they are sent back with the note that "we don't accept sonnets"
it is hard to believe that it was the poem itself that was the problem.

And note my copy of the first post to this thread- it is an open invitation to submit poems. I would think you might be open-minded enough to let people post here even when you do not agree with their politics.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: GUEST,Take the hint
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 01:55 PM

It's
Overt, hoarse
It's
Clumsy, coarse.

A quietus
For this thread or
A bullet through
The head.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 01:30 PM

(Sorry -- the baove is an excerpt from TS Eliot which struck me as germane.)

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 01:11 PM

Borrowed from Past Mastery department:

And I then: "Someone frames upon the keys
That exquisite nocturne, with which we explain
The night and moonshine; music which we seize
To body forth our own vacuity."
She then: "Does this refer to me?"
"Oh no, it is I who am inane."

"You, madam, are the eternal humorist,
The eternal enemy of the absolute,
Giving our vagrant moods the slightest twist!
With your air indifferent and imperious
At a stroke our mad poetics to confute--"
And--"Are we then so serious?"

...:>)

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 01:01 PM

Sorry--I seem to have visited the department of redundancy department this morning. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 12:55 PM

Bruce, don't assume that because some were published and some weren't that the climate wasn't right for the non-published ones. Perhaps the poems simply weren't right. Compare these sets of poems and try to see what worked in the former and not in the later. Learn by making this comparison.

You might want to look into the story of how T.S. Eliot wrote "The Waste Land" and what Ezra Pound did when he edited it. Annotated texts are good for this kind of examination. Love Eliot or hate him, there's a lot to learn about poetry from this kind of examination.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 12:10 PM

Oh, BB, don't get silly. By all means write more, and share them with those who can offer you good feedback, and build your voice.

But don't pose as an expert just because you can memorize the symbols for an ababcdcdee rhyme scheme or use big words like dactyl. It doesn't wash. Your statement "I ask only that verse be judged by its quality, not by opinions of content" is revelatory, because it indicates that you believe the quality of a poem can be gauged by its structural compliance with the prescribed form, ignoring its content. I find that unbelievable.

However, it is not my business to tell you what to believe, so feel free. My own sense of it is that hubris is a major disease among some poets and those of us who want to become poets, because poetic sparks are so blinding sometimes. Notice I include myself in the "wannabe" (or perhaps the "becoming") half. To me calling oneself a poet isa a glib and easy thing to do, but becoming one is not easy.

Finding humility is not easy for big important folks like us, I know. But I submit that we should perhaps undertake the effort to see what we can learn from it.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 12:05 PM

You do presume a great deal.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:59 AM

SRS,

And some of mine HAS been published. But the present climate in Literary magazines does not favor the sonnet form. And that is what I enjoy writing.

And I have to presume you will never sing nor play an instrument in public unless you have a recording contract.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:54 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce - PM
Date: 25 May 04 - 08:33 AM

dianavan:

ALL poems are acceptable. I will attempt to only make comments on their poetic structure, not comment. A good critic does not have to agree with the content of a poem to like it, and see where it works.

I have posted some sonnets with content that I am sure that people do not agree with. That is fine: I ask only that verse be judged by its quality, not by opinions of content.



As for Tang, if he has heart-felt feelings about fleas, he should write about them. Poetry should reflect the thoughts, desires, and dreams of the poet....

Sonnet 24/01/02                        DCL

A sonnet is a frozen tear, a kiss,
Preserved in fourteen lines. It is a pearl
Of layered thought, a gem too bright to miss
When set on page: One blossom, to unfurl
To perfect flower. As amber, sealed soul
In timeless tomb, it can show time long past,
Or hold this instant in it's grasp. The whole
Of heart upon one single page, to last
Beyond even our dreams, it seems a sip,
Distilled to essence. Refined within mind,
Lines sing sweet song, and rhymes in patterns slip,
To weave image that leaves mere vision blind.
A single chord, to resound in one's heart:
Echo of past that might our future start.


Each form has it's own focus- but poetry is something expressed in the best way that the poet can find within him/herself.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:53 AM

Beardedbruce,

So the modesty remarks really hits home? If you think your poetry is so good, don't wait for future generations to discover it. Send it out for publication and let peer review and editors determine what is good enough for publication. Sending it to a list and telling us how great you are is simply the sound of one hand clapping.

The difference between you and me is that I don't sent out my indifferent poetry. I, frankly, prefer to write to the other side of the page. The prose I have published is carefully crafted and polished, then goes through peer review, goes through a final editing, before it is published. I know it works for others because if it didn't it wouldn't get published. Pull up your socks, Beardedbruce, and see what the world has to say about your sonnets.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:52 AM

Subject: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Blackcatter - PM
Date: 24 May 04 - 12:24 PM

OK, the idea is:

If you're a poet - post your poems here

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:50 AM

Agreed. So you feel no one should try?

And no one should be allowed to play an instrument or sing who is not "star" quality, too?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:47 AM

Studying the sonnet form is well and good and I agree whole heartedly there are a lot of bad sonnets out there!

But let us not confuse the form of a poem with the impact or insight it might have to offer.

The burning question to me about poetry is not how to construct a sonnet form, or some other form. I think that is pretty easy to do.

The burning question is how does any poem get made magical?

Not many make it.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:42 AM

I think that the decision as to success might have to await future generations. As I have stated, the people I write my verse to/about seem to like it.

Should we apply the same standards to song, and performance? I KNOW I cannot sing as well as some others- but perhaps I enjoy the attempt, anyway.

I have been studying the sonnet form for over a quarter century. I have not claimed that mine are the best: But some are better than about 80% of those I have found over the years: There are a lot of really bad sonnets out there.

If you don't like them, feel free not to read them. I never read them out loud ( though I have handed copies to people- they can choose to not read them) How many singers or performers are so considerate? I have to listen to them, if I am in the room.

So, SRS, stop bitching about my efforts and show us what you are capable of.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:30 AM

Well, never mind, never mind. They are yours, part of your life, yours forever, for better or for verse.   

Having a poetic spark of any kind is not an easy cross; you keep thinking you could come up with Blake, with a little luck. Or, worse, convince yourself you already have! The only choiceis to deaden the whole thing down and get all sober (which to my mind is the wrong solution, by far!) or to keep messing with it, the way a blacksmith's hammer messes with iron and fire, in the hopes of acquiring genuine poetic voice.

The difference between the "forms of poetry well executed by high-school students" and real Blake is the genuineness of the poetic voice. Frost, Warren (pere and fille), Shakespeare, the mad Songbird of Amherst, somber Eliot, wild-eyed Dylan Thomas, they all have or had it in irrefutable and irresistible degree -- but after how much prior trial? How did it form and evolve?

I have seen, here, only glimmers of a really well-formed poetic voice, and occasional twinklings of the kind of craft that carries the poetic voice truthfully and seamlessly. I haven't seen any sign of uniform success in either craft or voice. But that doesn't mean anything. I am not a qualified judge, merely a citizen. As a citizen, my advice is "Keep pluggin'".

That's my two bits for the day.


A
A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 11:01 AM

egotism perhaps, hardly narcissism.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 10:49 AM

Ummm....BB...I am pretty sure that is not the case with SRS and it is most adventuroius of you to hazard such a far fetched explanation. It is more likely that she was some off put by some other characteristic less appealing than simple competence, such as, oh, egoism, maybe, or narcissism, or exagerrated assertions of a literary nature. I don't know. But I am pretty sure it is not the usually fresh odor of competence!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 10:40 AM

Now now...go to a political thread if you want to mud sling, please.

Got something nasty to say here? At least make it rhyme..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 10:17 AM

Stilly River Sage :

"I notice the guest above didn't accuse you of being too modest about your poetry."

Nope.


I am sorry if competence scares you so much you feel the need to attack it.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 10:11 AM

find sonnet 915 yet?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 10:08 AM

Far verse than some...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 10:05 AM

I notice the guest above didn't accuse you of being too modest about your poetry.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 09:56 AM

And here I thought BB was just another pretty verse..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: beardedbruce
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 05:53 AM

Amos:

Once again, we are in agreement. I am not sure what this means- one of the Universal Truths that need to be in my "Armed Nudest" thread?

GUEST,Just Curious -

"Bearded Bruce, knowing how to write in various poetic forms and knowing how to write poetry are two different things."

I certainly agree, and presume the quality of my work will be judged as well. I do feel that it is important to know the structured forms, just as I think that someone who performs using an instrument ought to know how to play it. I was merely demonstrating that I had a basic competance in the mechanics of poetry-

A mastery of the tools of one's creative efforts is required.



Guest:

Lesson in basic poetry.

There are two classical "types" of poetry: Lyrical, and Epic. Lyrical was originally accompanied by the lyre, and Epic was chanted, or recited unaccompanied.

I write Lyrical poetry. The quality of it is for the reader to determine. But please try to learn what I am attempting before you judge whether I have succeeded.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat's Best Poet Contest
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 04:16 AM

From another thread by another person...but should it be applied here as well??


"Anybody who WANTS to be a politician should automatically be barred from doing so, as it shows they're just in it for the power - we should have to haul somebody into the job, kicking and screaming."


..xx..e

(PS- Still voting for BB. And I think a Cowpat is a fine reward.)