Don't know much about history...

[qimissung]

Vote for the poem you like the best.

[Lokasenna]

I'm really pleased that the LitNetters have come up with such a variety of historical figures! I'm going to take a few days to mull my decision over, as at the minute I'm torn between three of them - yet again, the competition is very close.

[prendrelemick]

Now you see I find I'm judging them on what I think of the historical figure. Must stop doing that!

[prendrelemick]

I voted for the Keats-like Victoria, they all have something good in them though.

[Lokasenna]

Right, decision made - albeit after much rumination. All of these have something to recommend them - but in the end the vivid imagery of 'Mother of War' appealed to my inter antiquarian.

[Lykren]

No one seems to have voted for a while. Are we just waiting for someone to break the tie to close the voting?

[qimissung]

I'm giving it another week, cause I have things I do to wrap it up to my satisfaction, and I'm too busy to do that this week. :D

[Snowqueen]

Enjoyed and voted!

[qimissung]

The last day of voting will be at 10:00 Thursday, May 9, 2013.

[tonywalt]

voted.

[Grit]

I voted too, really enjoyed the poem I voted for. It's exceptional.

[bIGwIRE]

Hi Qimi. It was a hard choice for me between "Mother of War" and "I never Knew You". I enjoyed them all, and I will return when I have little more time to meditate on them. (I've been working 80+ hrs a week lately)

Thanks for sharing these with me.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

All incredible!
Thanks for grabbing my ear and pulling me over here qimissung.
I was struggling with three submissions, but the lighter mood of a Friday night coupled with vodka aided my decision process.
Well done to all and thanks for the efforts!

[qimissung]

Thanks for voting, guys. :)

[AuntShecky]

Don't know much about history, but who didn't love Sam Cooke?

Didn't know anything about this contest, till Qimissung asked me about voting.

Had it narrowed down to three and went with the stand-out!

Thanks,

Auntie

[qimissung]

I'll be sure to let you know about the next one, Aunty. :)

[yuka]

voted.

[qimissung]

Thank you, Yuka. :) Today's the last day to vote!

[qimissung]

Just two more hours to vote...

[qimissung]

Voting is now over. I'll announce the winner shortly.

[qimissung]

And the winner is Lykren with "I Never Knew You."


I never knew you.

Reduced to ashes
in the first fire
of their confusion,
your strength survived
in the face of its own absurdity.

The peasant's tender hands,
once bent to war,
hardened irretrievably, no doubt.
Did you ever kiss?

But it is your stony
visions, cold and real
in the twilight fog,
I think of most.
I have had such visions.

Three saints, they say?
I am sure
there were dozens.
Coming in simple shifts,
gathering as a storm gathers,

were they silent
or did they speak?

And when you mounted
the final mount
and viewed Rouen
the waste of sky
the stillness
could there have been fear?
Or was there, as ever, love?

I never knew you.
But love
never yet
knew knowledge.

[Lokasenna]

Congratulations Lykren - it's a great poem, and your victory is entirely deserved!

Thank you to Buh4Bee, mona amon and YesNo for voting for my Victoria by Starlight, and a particular thank you to Prendrelemick and Grit for not only voting for it but describing it as 'Keats-like' and 'exceptional' - it is neither of these things, but the compliments are very flattering and cheered me up no end!

A great contest overall, and it was very pleasing how close it all was. Can't wait for the next one!

[Snowqueen]

Congratulations Lykren! I really enjoyed your poem.

[YesNo]

Congratulations, Lykren!

[qimissung]

Yes, congratulations, Lykren. Everyone did a lovely job, as usual.

Now that the contest is officially over, all those who were entered in the contest are free to post their poems elsewhere on the forum.

[AuntShecky]

Not a bad array of verse on historical topics, an eclectic bunch at that. How many poems have you read about Niels Bohr or Marcus Aurelius lately? I voted for "A King's Lament," the one which managed to blend an archaic figure with contemporary sensibilities, i.e. the discovery of Richard III's bones under a parking lot. Not only were the rhyme and meter pitch-perfect, the work provided some good (and I certainly assume intentional) laughs.

The one about Victoria was good, but adopting a bit more contemporary tone language would have served the poem well, emphasizing the difference between the Victorian Age and our own. Even so, kudos for choosing to write in meter rather than free verse, which increases the "degree of difficulty" and thus enhances not only the process but the finished poem.

Congratulations to the winning entry, which launched from the premise of the contest, "don't know much about. . ." But the author of this one had knowledge about Joan of Arc to produce a winning verse about her.

Thanks to all.

[Buh4Bee]

Cheers!

[Lykren]

I'm late to my own party, it seems like!

Wow! Thanks to everyone who voted for me, as well as all the other wonderful poets who submitted. I feel bad about not voting, though - I meant to vote for A King's Lament (it was hilarious) but I got distracted and forgot. Sorry about that.

Anyways... till next time!

[qimissung]

Glad you made it, Lykren!

[prendrelemick]

Well done Lykren.


I must say having AuntSheky vote for my "A King's Lament" feels like winning.

[mona amon]

Congrats, Lykren! :hurray:

Lokasenna, it was you! I visit the poetry threads very rarely, so had no guesses as to who had written what.

Prendrelemick, your poem was so hilarious I almost voted for it, but was too charmed by Loka's evocative phrases like 'dim and thoughtful hall' and 'softly glowing Afric gold'!

[prendrelemick]

Exactly why I voted for it. Phrases like that could've come straight out of A Pot of Basil via The Eve of St Agnes!

[miyako73]

AuntShecky, are you published? Can you tell me where to access your published works or if you have books I can buy from Amazon? I might learn good writing and literature from you. It seems you are the literary genius here. Please direct me to your published books or works. Thank you.

[Lokasenna]

Lokasenna, it was you! I visit the poetry threads very rarely, so had no guesses as to who had written what.

Prendrelemick, your poem was so hilarious I almost voted for it, but was too charmed by Loka's evocative phrases like 'dim and thoughtful hall' and 'softly glowing Afric gold'!


Exactly why I voted for it. Phrases like that could've come straight out of A Pot of Basil via The Eve of St Agnes!

Now you're just making me blush! Thank you, both of you.