Minimalist Poetry Contest

[tailor STATELY]

Enjoying the entries so far... Monday the 13th of April 2015 the final day for submissions.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[tailor STATELY]

Great entries all !... made it difficult at best to select one winner:

YesNo:

Whistle

Alice will be on this train
That’s whistling through the freezing rain.
The whistle’s warning: take it slow.
She’s come from miles where you can’t go.

AABB: 7/8/8/8... Interesting little ditty. Brings to mind: Alice of Alice's restaurant/Alice through the Looking glass/Alice B Toklas/ et al

Pompey Bum:

Whistle or Stolen Tea

whistle wet
a kettle rattling
her little hat
and you prattling

our tongues at last
embrace the thing
we brave the blast
and let her sing

Fun. A kettle's whistle: A/B/A(w/a soft rhyme)/B A/B/A/B... L4: I might have used a'prattling to keep the timing true; but then a little dissonance to thumb one's nose: priceless.

Gilliatt Gurgle:

Sweet Gums

Whistle through the gristle,
that holds those ivory's tight.
Should one fall out, from sweet excess,
the pitch will change as will the bite!

sibilant_x w/2sillybibbles)/A/sibilant_x w/2sillybibbles)/A: A pickle of a poem that made me smile.

DieterM:

jumping through the breezy spring day
she was
almost levitating
lifting her ample amaranth dress
high and higher
white polka dots gleaming like aftersmiles
shaking her auburn hair
she was
and whistling
itsy bitsy spider

“Aftersmiles” and “whistling itsy bitsy spider”: Delightful.

blank|verse:

deathdread - fearbled - prayersaid

whistle

wiretread - gunshred - bloodshed

white

A sound poem! Or perhaps... hmmm, casting out the irrelevancies: L1 - “Eddie Shredder” found within... Eddie Van Halen ?; L3 - “Her Strange Desire” found within... We get: Eddie Van Halen [phweet! Dude!] Her strange desire a white wedding (like, we all know otherwise {wink.wink.} )

cacian:

to a bird a whistle
to hear it
little
grizzle
or sound
prickle
when something
thickle

Playful - “little grizzle or sound prickle... thickle”:... I be duh thickle... Fo' shizzle !

colb2:

Heard through the rain,
It rang my brain,
Was it a cop?
Should i just stop?
No, just a train!!

AABBA. An alarming poem with a hint of humour. Step on the gas and Go!
.
.
.
After all said and whimsical I choose: DieterM... congratulations! And to one and all, well done.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[blank|verse]

Well done, Dieter, and I look forward to the next round.

tailor - that's an, um, interesting reading of my entry. I've given it a title now, so perhaps it will make more sense to you.

[tailor STATELY]

@ blank|verse: Ahhh, that would have really helped (I should have leaned on one of my recent poems). First I stumbled on what I was pronouncing as "furbled"; then my poor little mind started on the song "Day-O" (The Banana Boat Song) by HB, movie: "Beetlejuice" distributed by WB - directed by TB, starring AB & GD & MK.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

tailor STATELY thank you so much for the feedback :)
and Dieter well done :!!

[Pompey Bum]

Yes, congratulations Dieter! It reminded me a little of an old Talking Heads song called And She Was.

[DieterM]

Thanks everybody, and my apologies for not having answered sooner… hey, I haven't been working for a few days, and when I don't work, I simply forget to turn on my computer! tell-tale sign re. my age, lol ;-) Well, I'm happy you liked my entry, and without further ado a new topic. As I'm playing with a theme for a poem in my head right now, let's see what you all make of it.

Here it goes.

BLUES

whatever comes to mind, you don't need to use the word, just let your imagination overflow. the one that overflows me too will be the winner of this round.

Deadline: May 13, 2015. That okay with everyone? Then let's get started!

[Pompey Bum]

Beauty virgin ice
Longing summer sky
Underwater came your limbs
Every blue's a lie

[tailor STATELY]

a spate of blues

afloat in melancholy
: ennui
in a spate of blues
: tsunami

surrender to the moment
: jazz
embrace the unfolding fugue
: razzmatazz

4/24/2015

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

My baby’s eyes are light sky blue.
Her pupils though are black.
And when she’s good the blue shines through,
The white part’s bright and mostly true,
But when she’s bad, what can I do?
That’s why I sent her back.

[cacian]

feel not
the blues
they make
accuse
deny amuse
and the purpose
of life
refuse
instead
cultivate a smile
in abundance it intends
feeling down redundant

[DieterM]

Nice entries so far. For those who haven't entered yet: this is an open contest, you're welcome to post your own poem!
As for this round — one week left!

[Dark Muse]

Sadness & Serenity

Calloused fingers
tenderly caressing
guitar strings.

Reflections of the
sky on the eve
of a storm
in your timeless eyes.

The weightlessness
of water for one
brief moment reminds me
of what it means
to be a bird.

[Melanie]

tiny branches
have a voice
on icy windowpanes
twigged fingers tap tales
of ice blue glaciers
a continent away
where shooting stars
and northern lights live
ivory gulls
and caribou too

endangered hopes
melted pasts
once sealed within
frozen formations
man's disregard
offends the creator
pity, not to protect
the color of ice blue
for it holds within it
the entire sky

[DieterM]

Thanks everybody for joining this round. Great entries!

I've already said this elsewhere in this Forum: I'm pretty lousy when it comes to analyzing poetry.

Each poem holds something for me: Pompey Bum's acrostic conciseness; tailor STATELY's line "afloat in melancholy"; YesNo's wry humour – I hope your poem's not autobiographical ;-) ; only cacian can come up with a phrase like this: "cultivating a smile"; the overall bluesy feel of Dark Muse's lines; Melanie and the image of "tiny branches have[ing] a voice on icy windowpanes" (I clearly saw the picture in my head).

But only one can win. As I announced when choosing the topic, I wanted to be "overflown". And the poem that for me evoked the Blues, spoke of Blues, told a bluesy story with bluesy words:

Dark Muse

Congrats!

[Melanie]

Yes, I really liked your poem too Dark Muse!!

[cacian]

DieterM thank you for the feedback and congratulations Dark Muse :)

[Dark Muse]

Thank you everyone. I will have a new subject soon.

[Dark Muse]

Next subject is Retro

Be creative and make of it what you will. Whatever it brings to your mind and means to you.

Deadline: May 25th

[YesNo]

Some say my mind is retro,
Beneath the avant-garde.
I like the way I dot my i’s
With drops of blood. I sympathize
With all the modern modes and lies.
It’s changing I find hard.

[tailor STATELY]

Bygone

Retro
vintage
heirloom
art deco

Classic
revival
renaissance
pick-up sticks

Antique
antedated
rolled back
movies for a nickel

5/19/2015

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Dark Muse]

These were both two great entries and I think they both really captured the feel of retro quite well.

YesNo: I liked the playfulness of your poem and the way you conveyed a Retro state of mind. I particularly loved the lines:
"I like the way I dot my i’s
With drops of blood. I sympathize"

And I thought the ending tied it all together quite well. A clever poem

But I have to give the win to tailor STATELY

A charming poem that gave a great feeling of nostalgia and really took the reader back into times past.

[tailor STATELY]

Thank you Dark Muse !

Next minimalist subject: Music............... deadline June 10.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

Why should waves give us repose
With sound that doesn’t mean much? Those
Notes make a difference, short and long,
Together, turning breath to song.

[North Star]

Music

Harmony, melody and rhythm,
All dissipate into nothingness,
Vibrations of the ear
Are all you hear -
Nothing more, nothing less.

Architecture of the mind
Walls of silence and sound
In which you will find
Yourself forever bound.

[cacian]

music
the sound therapeutic
to hear it
daily
is fabulous
mainly
because a note
is like a
flavour of quote
not seen but wrote
memory for it
is devote

[tailor STATELY]

I am so torn on deciding.

YesNo: Your poem is spartan to the core. Enjoyed the enjambment and aa bb scheme

North Star: Your poem adds still a bit more. The form abccb dede worked for me.
I especially liked:
“Walls of silence and sound
In which you will find
Yourself forever bound.”

cacian: Free and innocent. My favorite lines: “ because a note/is like a/flavour of quote”.

After much agony I choose: North Star

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[North Star]

Thanks, Tailor.

Next theme: photography.
Deadline: July 6

[YesNo]

It’s better than what I can see.
Astigmatism bothers me.
I magnify a photo and
New mysteries I understand.
It’s data, yes, but well-arranged.
Now look again. The world has changed.
That change is finely captured, too,
If I hold to one point of view
And keep the camera steadied on
A change that passes. Ah, it’s gone!
Except I sort of have it still,
Or do I? There’s a kind of thrill
With its brief pleasure or sharp pain
That I might never feel again.
Is that important? Maybe not
Or maybe it is all I’ve got.

[cacian]

a photo
at a click of a button
is solo
memory runs hollow
an image thorough

[Dark Muse]

Camera Obscura

Still life
caught in motion
timeless illusion
it speaks
without words

[cacian]

bump
North Star this overdue :)

[cacian]

another bump this is oderdue
North Star :)

[North Star]

Sorry, I've been busy and absent-minded lately.

Beautiful entries all, but I have to choose YesNo here as it really made me think that it's exactly how I feel about the subject. Dark Muse's sparse meditation is lovely too, and cacian's is good too, and in the always recognizable style. But, YesNo wins this round, as I wrote in the first place.

[cacian]

North Star thank you.
and YesNo congratulations :)

[YesNo]

Thanks, North Star! And thanks, cacian!

The next theme is "breathing".

Deadline: the end of July

[Dark Muse]

Breathless

I asphyxiated myself
squeezing out
every last drop,
feeling euphoric
breathlessness

You filled my lungs
with your air,
desperately I inhaled,
and from that moment
my life became yours.

[YesNo]

A few more days left for this contest!

[North Star]

Breathe

Hang on to life with nails and teeth,
Keep walking through the field and breathe.
You are now free, even though underneath
You will never be, and you always were free.
Breathe, and hang on to memories that flee.

Breathe in the air,
and let go of despair.

[YesNo]

Thank you for all the entries!

Dark Muse: I liked the idea of inhaling another's air and becoming his or hers as a result.

North Star: Breathing and letting go of despair do seem to go together.

I enjoyed them both.

The winner: Dark Muse

Congratulations!

[Dark Muse]

Thank you, I am going to be leaving today on vaccation so I don't want to keep you waiting for the next topic.

Since I will be traveling your subject is Journey

Deadline August 15th

[YesNo]

Some distant opportunities
Still haunt what I am dreaming of.
One fear I’ve faced: I’d be alone.
One cost: She’d be that early love
Still calling me back home.

[Dark Muse]

Well it is past the deadline now, and only one poem. That makes my job easy at least. It was a lovely poem YesNo with some beautiful lines.

[YesNo]

Thanks, Dark Muse!

The next subject for a minimalist poem is anything about "Food".

Deadline: Hopefully in a couple of weeks.

[North Star]

Food

Toasts pass
the test of taste-
buds best starved.
To sustain,
install stuffing
In your gut, overthrow
the mashed meatball.

[Dark Muse]

Bulimia

Food offers nourishment,
and brings destruction,

whispering indulgence

at moments a comfort,
awakening nostalgia

guilty pleasures

creating regret,
shame, sickness,

to be fulfilled
and empty again.

[DieterM]

For breakfast:
charked freezer buns, weak coffee,
rancid butter, mouldy jam

For lunch:
some take-out Chinese,
so-so

For dinner:
salty pasta with some
sauce out of a jar

Throughout the day, however,
we feast on vitreous stares, pink promises,
stray touches and shy smiles

[cacian]

food
is nutriment
with condiments
perfect
it cleanses
cures and pures
all at the same rate
to quit it
is bate
nourishment is embellishment
of mind and body without punishment found

[YesNo]

The contest will end on September 1st. There is still time to enter!

[YesNo]

Contest is over! Thanks for all the entries!

North Star: Nice phrase: "the test of taste-buds best starved".

Dark Muse: I liked the "fulfilled" in the last stanza which seemed appropriate for the food topic: "full", "filled" and the satisfaction of being "fulfilled". Then the empty again too soon from the binge eating.

DieterM: Nice comparison between daily meals and the real feasting on each other.

cacian: I enjoy your use of words and how they pop up in places I would not have expected to put them in a sentence. For example in this poem your use of "rate" and "punishment". Even "pures", which I don't think of as a verb, seemed right.

And the winner is DieterM!

Congratulations!

[cacian]

someone needs to relaunch this contest
Dieter>>>
or someone else?

[YesNo]

If DieterM doesn't respond by tomorrow, I suggest you set up the next contest, cacian.

[cacian]

If DieterM doesn't respond by tomorrow, I suggest you set up the next contest, cacian.

YesNo good idea I will do
thank you for asking me :)

[cacian]

ok guys here we go
and the topic for this round is

dream

good luck and have fun :)

[YesNo]

The northwest winds push water to the shore.
Inside there’s calm but outside isn’t still.
The chill out there is mocking me for more.
It screams. The emptiness demands its fill.
Is this all real? Dark clouds are rushing by.
Soon darkness transforms day to lonely night
And then come sparkles to the moonless sky
And memories of dreams with stored delight.

[Dark Muse]

Land of Nod

I slip beneath
the inky surface

heavy and light

faces rise
like phantoms
in the dark

Jellyfish
drift among
the stars

illuminating
the night.

[DieterM]

Jeez guys, I was on holidays with an online status comparable to a comatose… so sorry I missed this, and thanks a bunch YesNo! Good choice for a new round, cacian – and better still, I can even participate (must re-boot my brain cells first, though) :-)

[cacian]

ok guys this one is up
YesNo i enjoyed the descriptive boost to the ''dream''
piece
some cool lines
the last three lines are my favourite :)
Dark Muse
short but brilliant to read
i much enjoyed the simplicity of it

and the winner is
Dark Muse :)

[Dark Muse]

Thank you very much! I will get the new subject soon.

[Dark Muse]

In honor of the up coming Autumnal Equinox the next subject is

Autumn Colors

Deadline: Sept. 30

[YesNo]

Change from something passing on.
Winter comes. They will be gone.
Spring brings back what was before:
Loss and sorrow, joy once more.

[free]

Beautiful are colors of autumn season
But I have a very special reason
To cuddle the summer's charms
In my pivate imagination's arms

[North Star]

Autumn Colours

Trees are gold and rust,
Beauty reaches its peak
Before it turns to dust

As Autumn colours
the trees and leafs,
So it colours my thoughts.

There will be another summer
But not for me. As the leaves
decay, so do I - and the tumor

As Autumn covers
the trees and leafs,
So it covers me.

[Pendragon]

Autumn Reveal

The Artist paints
With glowing pigments
Each leaf upon
Tree or shrub
Bright red and gold
Orange and brown
Colors show identification
Of the trees now
That one's a Maple
That one a Popular
That one's an Oak
That one Hickory
Yesterday they looked alike
Now you can spot the difference
From a distance
And be correct

Pendragon
9/29/2015

[Dark Muse]

All great poems. This was quite a hard one to choose a winner for.

YesNo: I really liked the way you were able to capture elements of all four seasons and the seasons change in just a few lines. A great use of minimalism in conveying so much with such brevity.

Free: A very charming poem I particularly loved the last line. Also I liked your use of rhyme, I thought it was quite well done.

North Star: A beautiful poem. I really loved the opening lines which caught my attention and drew me into the poem right away. I think you did a lovely job of really capturing the colors of the season and painting a vivid image in the mind. I also liked the way in which you compared the changing of the season with life and the end of life. I was thrown by the line "decay, so do I - and the tumor" The line about the tumor just seemed thrown out there, and didn't feel like it really connected with the rest of the poem or really belonged.

And the winner is:

Pendragon: I loved the idea of an artist painting the colors of the season and I thought you did a good job of invoking that visual image and painting a picture within the mind. I also particularly enjoyed the reference to the all the different trees. I love the idea of how the changing colors of Autumn also give these trees more distinguished identity.

[North Star]

Dark Muse, that was indeed a complete throwaway bit. At that point I wasn't really interested in finishing it off in style, to be honest.

Congrats, Pendragon - although surely you meant poplar, not popular ;)

[Pendragon]

I always forget about that spelling! We call them Tulip Trees sometimes here in the South...

And that is your next assignment: The South (USA)

[YesNo]

Down below where it is warmer,
Not so far you roast in hell,
There’s a land that’s labelled “southern”
Pretty as a feisty belle
Where the ladies when they’re talking
Wiggling hips like French girls walking
Trap you with a Cajun spell,
Make you reason: might as well.

Pecan rolls could not get sweeter.
Just a nibble spins your head.
Chili without beans as filler,
Salsa spiked. Your mouth goes red.
Forests, deserts, gators, peaches,
Beauties in bikinis, beaches,
Men with laughter, sure but well-bred,
Stars so every dream is well-fed.

[cacian]

deep south
reaves about
not one can
see
but the narth
warmth could the reason
for that

[DieterM]

maybe it's about Lil' Blanche
running up the dusty lane
in her white frill dress,
magnolia bopping in her hair;

maybe it's about
the mossy live oaks
stretching gnarly fingers
over the neat lawn;

in my dreams, however,
it's about that month of
humid afternoons
and about the wind

whistling
'I wish…'
'I was…'
'I wish…'

[tailor STATELY]

Where the Magnolia Blooms

bayou cajun gators
creole about - on a
tobacco spit road some
hot mississippi nights
thick as june bugs searchin'
for peaches - 'neath pecan
skies where the magnolia
blooms amidst charnal light

10/10/2015 r.10/13/2015

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[prendrelemick]

A short poem by some Brit who has no idea of what the South is like
apart from what he picked up from The Dukes of Hazard.
(at least they still have Dukes down there, what!)


Daisy Duke,
Reb's an Ol' glory,
Y'all come back
Y'hear !

[Pendragon]

Anyone else? I will post a winner Sunday!

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Anyone else? I will post a winner Sunday!

Hold on...here you go:


Another sultry dawn in Oxford,
Maribelle leans to butter Faulkner’s grits.
A dogwood blossom falls,
from her bouffant do.
White petals glide on his chicory.
“Another a warm up hun?”

[Pendragon]

Let's see here: Chicago, London, Paris, California?, Yorkshire, Texas

Y'all done seen too many movies about Southern people!

Taylor, you win! Congrats to all y'all!

[cacian]

ah haha thanks Pendragon ;)
congratulations Taylor :)

[tailor STATELY]

Thanks!

I tried to channel a Billie Holiday song from a poem chronicling a terrible Southern past event(s), but couldn't quite pull it off in my estimation during the process; so deviated a bit. (lol) In my defense re: being a California-ite, I have been to the South a 'few' times and enjoy Southern fried chicken beyond the norm.

New topic: (In honor of our friends across the pond)... Paris

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

Perhaps the breathing’s better there
Not where I am, but since I’m here
I’ll tell myself that I don’t care
And then enjoy whatever’s near.

[tailor STATELY]

Deadline November 10th midnight PDT.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

paris
the eiffel tower
is laddish
to climb it
is to preach
a view
from any angle is
worth a sample
without it
you are humble
unknown to handle

[Pendragon]

T'is commonly said that gay Paris
Is the only place to be
But when they said that, back in the day
There was a totally different definition for "gay!"

Pendragon
10/1/2015

[Dark Muse]

City of Love

I sit at the midnight cafe,
searching for Van Gogh skies
where lovers walk,
and I inhale Chanel & cigarettes
living vicariously on the dregs
of their sordid lives.

[tailor STATELY]

Deadline tonight midnight Gold Country Standard Time (PST)... less than 10-hours by my Timex Indiglo (which incidentally says it's the 9th for some raison. Google verifies correct date: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Date in California

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Troyia]

Life is easy
When you are cheesy

( I think i should have written something about lies, did I get it right? )

[tailor STATELY]

YesNo: I think you could have woven something around Paris, Illinois (though prolly 150 miles or so south of your haunts) ; I mean Alfalfa, and Kyle Borchers the 60th president of the United States are natives !

Cacian: I admit to looking up 'laddish' and it seems a nice fit. A nice hommage to the ET.

Pendragon: (lol) Perhaps a good entry in the Devil's Dictionary if 'gay' ever comes up.

Dark Muse: Very evocative. “Van Gogh skies” is a nice touch.

Troyia: (lol) I think we're talking Paris, Grant County, Wisconsin, or Paris, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, here. You have the minimalist touch, but I was hoping for more in this case.

Well done all... and the winner is Dark Muse. Congratulations !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Dark Muse]

Thank you, I will have a new subject soon.

[Dark Muse]

I love Autumn so for your next subject I have a fall image for you

http://www.jackeeholder.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Autumn-Bridge.jpg

Deadline: Nov. 20

[North Star]

An Autumn Stanza

Fallen leaves on the steps
Slippery after autumn rain
Yellows, browns and reds
Decomposing in Kodachrome.

[YesNo]

The trees anticipate the cold.
I wonder how they know.
The leaves released their former hold
Like hands when letting go.

Without regret they reach the ground.
The autumn winds blow on.
They meet their ends without a sound.
Another season’s gone.

[Pendragon]

The painted leaves sail past my window
Now that Autumn's settling in
Bright with colors from an artist's palette
Covered in hoarfrost, glowing like diamonds
The breeze sends them tumbling
Like clowns at the circus
They make me laugh
And it makes for a great day

Pendragon
11/13/2015

[prendrelemick]

Autumn leaves

Does it hurt,
To wither?
Will beauty accompany us
When we cross over?

[tailor STATELY]

The Spirit of Autumn

The spirit of Autumn is
thanksgiving and harvest
Its path, laden with browns
and gold, lends to cooler days
and woodsmoke

11/20/2015

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Dark Muse]

All of these are wonderful poems which perfectly capture the colors and spirit of Autumn of which I love. It was hard choosing a winner for this one.

North Star: Your poem paints a very lovely scene which speaks of the essence of the season. I can almost feel the crispness in the air and smell the rain.

YesNo: Beautifully written, I love the melancholy feeling of the poem. There were some truly lovely lines.

Pendragon: I really enjoyed how joyful this poem is. I liked the idea of the leaves sailing by the window and I particularly loved the line "Bright with colors from an artist's palette." A good job of capturing the colors of Autumn.

prendrelemick: I have to say this poem blew me away. The opening two lines were so compelling in their originality and there is such a depth of feeling, in so few lines. It really is truly profound.

tailor STATELY: A lovely poem it paints a wonderful scene and I really like the way in which it invokes the different senses.

And the winner is....

prendrelemick

[tailor STATELY]

Congratulations prendrelemick !

[prendrelemick]

Crikey! Thanks a lot.



The next subject is Hollywood

ps. My concept of minimal = few words, much content. Good luck.

[North Star]

Hollywood

Violence, sex and pain
Are here to entertain

Leave your brain at
the door, your hat
will do.

[tailor STATELY]

Hollywood
Hollywood !

Dreams and
glitz

Like puttin' on the
Ritz

11/24/2015 r.12/1/2015

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

Patch the holes inside my mind.
Sweep what cobwebs you might find.
Redecorate and paint the walls.
I’ve silenced any random calls.

[Pendragon]

Hollywood and Vine
Just at that special time
Discovered, uncovered, recovered
Another fruit on the vine

Pendragon
11/24/2015

[prendrelemick]

Hmm difficult choice here. Anybody else? I'll give it a few more days.

[prendrelemick]

This could've gone anyway to be honest,

tailorSTATELY. "Puttin on the ritz" That's Hollywood!
North star. First two lines nailed it (in a cynical way)
Yesno. Interesting angle - lots to think about.
Pendragon. " Another friut on the vine." - Excellent.

I'm giving it to Yesno, because sweeping out and redecorating minds is ultimately what Hollywood does.

[YesNo]

Thanks, prendrelemick!

The next theme for the minimalist contest is Santa.

Deadline: Hopefully around Christmas.

[North Star]

Santa

Unemployed for three hundred
And sixty four days every year
Santa and his helpers packed
A full year's work on this here
Day - delivering the goods to
All those who have been good,
And underwear for the naughty.

[Pendragon]

I was putting all the kids to bed
When my very littlest said
"Is tonight the night that Santa comes to see me?"
I nodded to him and said goodnight
And he said. "Telling me an old white bearded man is sneaking in might
Not be the best thing to help me fall asleep!"

[tailor STATELY]

santa
reindeer's escapade
a sleigh to convey
empyrean lanes
alight by chimneys
disapparating
santa represents
bringing joy to all

12/11/2015

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[prendrelemick]

Seasonal Salutations.

Saintly Santa
Slyly sliding
Slipping slightly
Sleight of sleigh
Salute`HoHoHo !

[YesNo]

Merry Christmas! The contest is over.

North Star: Nice change from coal to underwear.

Pendragon: Interesting how a child's assumed curiosity could also be fear.

tailor STATELY: I liked the word "disapparating".

prendrelemick: Nice alliterations.

The winner is North Star! Congratulations!

[North Star]

Thanks. I'm keeping it seasonal, the theme is New Year. Deadline January 15th.

[YesNo]

Change allows the new to be.
The old must fade eventually
And when it leaves we kiss those near
And welcome in another year.

[prendrelemick]

Congratulations North Star - well deserved.

[North Star]

Thanks, Prendrelemick.

The number of entries so far is certainly minimalist. Anyone else?

[Pendragon]

Aftermath

A time for reflection
And starting over
Soon as I get myself
Up off this floor
Knew I shouldn't
Have had that last drink
At least I'm on the floor
And not in the clink!

Pendragon
1/10/2016

[tailor STATELY]

Begone the Bygone

let not the auld hoary
year pass blameless as we
toast our reverie -
lest out with the bath's weep
we too throw the baby

1/13/2016 (for your birthday)

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[North Star]

Three entries so far, anyone else before Sunday?

[North Star]

Jolly nice entries all, but I think YesNo's short and sweet entry wins this round.

[tailor STATELY]

Congratulations YesNo !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

Thanks, North Star! And thanks tailor STATELY!

The next topic for the minimalist contest is "Valentine".

The deadline will be Valentine's Day which is Feb 14, so I won't forget.

[tailor STATELY]

Valentine
cupid's arrow takes flight
a smitten heart requites:
flutters with the wings - of
hundreds of butterflies

1/18/2016 r.1/19/2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

This contest is over.

Thanks, tailor STATELY, for the entry. It was a nice mixture of Cupid's arrow with the butterflies one associates with love.

The winner is tailor STATELY!

Congratulations!

[tailor STATELY]

Thank you YesNo. It's a bittersweet win as the only entry, but let us continue...

Next minimalist theme: Feathers

Deadline to be determined later.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

Whether a feather can help a bird fly
I wonder and doubt though that plane in the sky
Goes faster than birds and weighs more than they do
And that mystery’s something that bothers me, too.

[Pendragon]

Drop Me a Feather

Feathers float down
The angles are molting
The eagles don't soar
The sparrow won't fly
I sit atop the mountain
Exhausted with climbing
Head raised to heaven
Feathers in my eyes...

Pendragon 3/10/2016

[M4ngo]

New dawn splintered
a wink of enlightenment—
the Robin is singing

[cacian]

feather
to light
height
is warmth
to form and might

[Danik 2016]

A featherweight
of fluffy life
unburdens
the universe.

[tailor STATELY]

Nice entries so far... deadline: 12:00 am PDT April 5, 2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[dara.cv]

A fluffing of pillows
and ruffling of feathers
we stare as one drifts down
and wonder upon the birth of this spring

[tailor STATELY]

I loved all of these poems about "Feathers" and agonized over making a choice. The winner is cacian ! Congratulations to all.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

tailor STATELY many thanks :)

and the next topic for the minimalist is:

desire

have fun !!;)

[YesNo]

I assumed what I wanted I had,
Then I got it somehow and was glad.
Since I don’t know quite how
That then became now,
I assume it was good and not bad.

[North Star]

Burning Desire

In flames that we fuel
We burn, and kneel
With our every duel
Closer in them to feel.

[Danik 2016]

Short story
Desire
Fire
ashes
mire,
But please don´t tire!

[cacian]

great entries !!

YesNo
much enjoyed the rhythmic flow and the humour
in this lighthearted piece

North Star
a fiery piece to say the least

Daniik
the story is indeed short but not without fort
a fun little piece

and the winner is.,,,,,
Danik.

[tailor STATELY]

"and the winner is.,,,,,
Danik."

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Danik 2016]

Many thanks, cacian, I had quite forgotten about this contest! Thanks for reminding me, Taylor! I suppose, there is a minimalistic and an unminimalistic contest going on at the same time.

In honour of the Brazilian Valentine Day (12th June), the next minimalistic topic is "love story".
Be inspired by fiction, cinema, music...and above all by your own life!
The deadline will be established as soon as there are two entries.
A lot of fun, with this one!

[North Star]

Bond

Our hands met
briefly
after gazing into
each other's eyes
- and never let go.

[tailor STATELY]

:)


Our .Minimalist. Love Story
Bumbleberry pursuit
Hamster ball surprise
We've only just begun
Under Tahoe skies

6/6/2016

Line by line links (recht!):

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/37946713/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfuw9KP0WAU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI
http://www.laketahoenews.net/2015/10/then-and-now-the-corner-of-love/

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Danik 2016]

Loved both entries! Let´s set the deadline then for next Monday, the 13th.

[YesNo]

Lust might give some reason why,
But love makes real what lust can’t see.
Reality before we die
Lets time show off eternity.

[Danik 2016]

Good entries! Difficult choice!

Nord Star- straightforward and intense

Taylor- Interesting collage reproducing the love game

Yes/No-Reflection on the components that make up a love story.

And the winner is: "Bond" by Nord Star

[tailor STATELY]

Congratulations North Star !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

Congrats North Star! I put your poem on my list of nominations for the LitNet poetry book.

[North Star]

Thanks, Danik, Tailor & YesNo.


Next subject: independence
Deadline: July 4th

[YesNo]

In honor of the American Revolution I can’t understand how the British of all people ever got themselves into a position where they need to Brexit

The British finally understand
Why people want their liberty.
That ruling Thumb pressed on their land,
That bureaucratic, fisted Hand
Gives to its dogs a sharp command
To “Stay!” or else be free.

[Danik 2016]

On the Brazilian declaration of independence:

D. Pedro I raised his sword
And said the fatefull words:
"Independence or death".
Since then people wonder
Which one of the two it is going to be.

[tailor STATELY]

My Conflicted Independence

In the battle for these United State's independence
I had, most likely, family on both sides of the fence

One-half Brit and the bloodline of a founding father
Should I enjoy the fireworks or act up ? Oh, the bother !

6/18/2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[DieterM]

Proud like a May flower, my square rigs
bulging with downwind gusts, my figurehead
showing the way, I cleave the pounding
waves of destiny, forever free,
my own and undepending island.

And yet, when all is sailed and done,
I know I’m but the whore of favourable winds,
and if one day the sun dried out
the seven seas, I’d lie like jetsam
on the sandy beach of my own solitude…

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Secession's Embers Still Burn

Long before “Brexit”,
there was a Lone Star “Texit”
When Sam Houston told
Santa Anna to “Mexit”.

[North Star]

Deadline is approaching, if anyone wants to still enter.

[cacian]

independence
is a word redundant
without the meaning it reluctant
and that is freedom always come
to those who do not sum
war which is where it is from

[North Star]

Hm, I liked all of the entries very well. I don't have the time or energy to offer the comments the poems deserve, so I'll just name the winner - YesNo, with the poem titled 'In honor of the American Revolution I can’t understand how the British of all people ever got themselves into a position where they need to Brexit'. I don't recall if the poems have to also be titled minimalistically in this competition, though. :wink5:

[YesNo]

Thank you, North Star!

The next topic is heat or warmth.

Deadline in two weeks.

[tailor STATELY]

Congratulation YesNo ! and thank you North Star !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

How TOS Contributed to Global Warming

Texas summers are hot,
‘75 stands out as a scorcher.
As young Gilliatt got a rise,
from Yeoman Rand’s eyes
and Uhura’s robust thighs.

[tailor STATELY]

yours eternally

the warmth of your heart
illuminates your jade seas
emboldens my love

7/11/2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[tailor STATELY]

Any more entries ?

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

I think I neglected this one. Thanks for the entries, tailor STATELY and Gilliatt Gurgle.

The winner is tailor STATELY. Congratulations!

[tailor STATELY]

Thanks YesNo !

The next minimalist subject: The Blues.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

My baby likes the pinks and blues
And all the brighter happy hues.
That’s why we rarely read the news
Unless we’d rather have those blues.

[Danik 2016]

Pun
The blues
of the blues
are so many hues...
But tears are
transparent.

[tailor STATELY]

Thank you for the entries ! Setting a deadline for two weeks hence: End of day (PDT) October 12th, 2016.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[tailor STATELY]

Any more entries ? Still a bit more time: Deadline end of day (PDT) October 12th, 2016.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

shake the blues
give it
a colour
proof
yellow
so life a little
mellow
is worth every
fellow

[tailor STATELY]

Enjoyed all the entries:

YesNo... Rhyming quatrain (4X8). First alluding to babies by one's spouse/SO (who is also personified as baby) and all things bright and beautiful; contrasted with avoiding the media to stay away from the daily barrage of negativity.

Danik 2016... Interesting quintrain structure - rhyme scheme: AAABC; sillybibbles: 2/3/5/3/3. Personifying the blues of having “blues” of different colors; contrasted with transparent tears gave me pause: Celestial tears begat rainbows.

cacian... The quintessential cacian: A 9-line free form poem with a hint of a rhyme scheme: ABCDEFEGE; sillybibbles: 3/2/3/1/2/5/2/5/2. Tongue in cheek, inspired, I wax poetic:

take your blues
by the scruff
shake them - red-shift
just enough...
life effulgent
under yellow sun
a mellow fellow
(waxing without wane)
now begun

10/13/2016

All three poems are worthy of a nod... the winner: cacian. Congratulations all !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Danik 2016]

Congrats, Cacian, for the sunny poem!
Thanks for your poetic evaluation, Tailor!

[cacian]

thank you tailor STATELY very much and ;loving your new version
very nice :) !!
Danik thank you loving 'sunny poem ' :D

and the next topic is:

the SUN

good luck :)

[YesNo]

Round, hot ball of light
Seldom seen at night,
Seen best during day
When clouds go away.

[tailor STATELY]

Cinquain: The Sun

the sun -
or matchless light
graces a celestial
destiny: an eternal state
of joy

10/27/2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[spikepipsqueak]

Obscure Tarzan image.
The Sun dries Goddess into dust.
Felt like that?

[cacian]

sorry about the delay so
all three pieces are beautifully written

YesNo
enjoyed the direct simile of the sun description here
the contrast between light and dark is clever.


Tailor STATELY
an enchanting and harmonious piece
loved the ending


spikepipsqueak
an interesting piece
Tarzan Goddess and Dust are certainly catchy


and the winner is

YesNo!!!!

[YesNo]

Thanks, cacian!

The next topic is the Moon.

Deadline will be in about two weeks.

[cacian]

the moon
swift
is adrift
to a winter strip
it eclipse
leading harmonious
feeling
to see it is healing

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Super moon
you make me swoon.
Your perigee
is easy to see,
making my tide rise
if you get my drift.

[Silas Thorne]

Moon

A white rock eaten by shadow
glows for the wolves and bats.

[M4ngo]

the moon does not judge
so why should I?
It changes constantly
yet—
always beautiful

[YesNo]

Thank you for all the entries! I checked my calendar. The last day of the contest is Friday. There is still time to enter!

[tailor STATELY]

An anagrammatic representation of the quote:
"Their pooled emotions wouldn’t fill a teaspoon."
- Dorothy Parker


O' Froth Tide Moon/Orion Sleeps (within)




o' froth tide moon
auld silent one
- a poet's pillow

12/1/2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

The contest is over! Thank you for all the poems.

cacian: I liked the idea that seeing the Moon could have a healing effect.

Gilliatt Gurgle: I remember hearing about the super Moon a few weeks ago.

Silas Thorne: I hadn't thought of the Moon being "eaten" before.

M4ngo: The Moon does make beautiful changes.

tailor STATELY: I like the idea of using the Moon as a pillow.

I enjoyed them all. So, you all won. However, there has to be one of you to continue the competition for the next round. That person is Silas Thorne. Congratulations!

[tailor STATELY]

Congratulations Silas Thorne !

[Silas Thorne]

Thank you very much. I wasn't expecting much except spam when I checked this site, but I was pleasantly surprised instead.:)

Now, a topic. Have decided to ignore topics naturally associated with Christmas. So:

Spider


About two weeks, then.

Enjoy!

[YesNo]

Spider, slider, wider, woo.
Why am I afraid when you
Land upon my nose at night
Sensing where it’s soft to bite?

[tailor STATELY]

Anagram: The Original Webmaster; Spider



rapid legs
one writes
"harm !"
... bite

12/7/2016

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[Danik 2016]

Musings

Black spider
Cross spider
Spiderman
World wide web
Social webs
Spider galaxy!
How do we escape
all these traps?

[Silas Thorne]

Great work so far. Keep the contributions rolling in.

[prendrelemick]

Too many legs
Too many eyes.
When found in the bath
Too many cries.

[Silas Thorne]

That's a little more than two weeks, by my calculations. One more day before the end, my friends.

[Silas Thorne]

Many apologies. That day was a little longer than most, due to Christmas and being busy after the new year.
Now, it’s time.
YesNo: Lovely rhyming couplets, and a good description an (ir) rational fear of spiders.
tailor STATELY : Certainly minimalist. Sorry though, I didn’t get it, probably because of my irrational fear of anagrams.
Danik 2016: Wonderful musings about the webs we live in.
…and so…the winner is… predrelemick. His poem identifies the subject clearly in a quick sketch of ideas, containing one repeated phrase ‘too many.’ Congratulations on the win!

[cacian]

prendrelemick congratulations!!

[Danik 2016]

Congrats, prendelemick!

[tailor STATELY]

lol, thanks Silas Thorne ! Congratulations prendrelemick !!

[prendrelemick]

Thanks.

Next subject, A magic trick.

[YesNo]

Tell my future from my eyes.
Link me to our all.
Unconsciousness is a disguise.
Wipe with truth the fancy lies.
Lift me from this fall.

[Cassie Hughes]

Prestidigitation

Hands reach
deceiving the eye
to steal the heart.

[tailor STATELY]

a magic trick too many

marvel and delight the sleight of
hand mind misdirected once more
fascinated by my uncle's repertoire
up to when enjoined to pull his finger

2/10/2017

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY