Goodbye People Goodbye

[Pendragon]

The Day the Poetry Died

A long, long time ago
I can still remember how the poetry contests made me want to write
And I knew if I took my chance there were those I could entrance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But apathy made me shiver with every poem that I'd deliver
The contests became unraveled, a lonesome road never traveled
So I remember that I cried when the contests shrank and dried
But something broke down deep inside the day the poetry died

So bye, bye Litnet Forums, guys
It’s been fun but now the competition has dried
And them good old boys quit writing in rhyme
So goodbye people goodbye

Did you write your poems for love, about fate and life and God above
Writing to win you know
Now do you believe in rhythm and rhyme, poems that kept meter and time
And can you tell me why the contests slowed?
Dark Muse wrote her cryptic lines
I always seemed to write in rhyme
Yesno was there and many more
Man we lost something that we can’t ignore

I was a broken down and aging buck
Whose poetry made some star-struck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the poetry died

So bye, bye Litnet Forums, guys
It’s been fun but now the competition has dried
And them good old boys quit writing in rhyme
So goodbye people goodbye

Been a member since 20 aught 5
And the company made me feel alive
But that's how it used to be
When the Dragon sang for the king and queen
In couplets, villanelles, and other schemes
With a voice that came from upbeat to misery

Oh, but sometime when I weren’t around
The people lost their interests in crowns
I said the courtroom was adjourned
A guilty verdict was returned
And while new poets tried to leave their Mark
Entire threads were placed in park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the poetry died

So bye, bye Litnet Forums, guys
It’s been fun but now the competition has dried
And them good old boys quit writing in rhyme
So goodbye people goodbye

Helter skelter competition faltered
I was working without a safety harness
Reaching for the stars and falling fast
Felt like everyone was hooked on grass
Some of us tried tried for a forward pass
But poets were sidelined and forgot their craft

Now people wrote in sweet perfume
Minimalist, Form, Subject, and to this tune
Well It could have been a blast
Oh, but we never got the chance

'Cause the poets forgot their sense of taste
As they watched their mouths fill up with paste
Writing seemed just to be a waste
The day the poetry died

So bye, bye Litnet Forums, guys
It’s been fun but now the competition has dried
And them good old boys quit writing in rhyme
So goodbye people goodbye

Oh, we were all in one place, drawn together by a common fate
Why can’t folks seem to understand?
So come on Dragon write some more
You will only find your rhymes ignored

Oh, and as I watched the contests race
Then fall apart, my spirit ached
Spent all of my days in hell
No contests broke the spell
And as the poetry burned high into the night
The Contests became a sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing at me with delight
The day the poetry died

So bye, bye Litnet Forums, guys
It’s been fun but now the competition has dried
And them good old boys quit writing in rhyme
So goodbye people goodbye

I met a girl who wrote the blues
And guys that penned some happy news
Now they all just turn away
I visit oft the sacred thread
Where our contests first began
But they have went ignored for many days

The lines they wrote to make me scream
The lovely sonnets and blissful dreams
But the thread was broken
The poetry lost its motion
And three poets I admire began
Dark Muse, Yesnno, and Cacian
To barely write at all again
They caught the last train for Ireland
The day the poetry died

So bye, bye Litnet Forums, guys
It’s been fun but now the competition has dried
And them good old boys quit writing in rhyme
So goodbye people goodbye

Pendragon © Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Parody of Don Mclean’s “American Pie”

[Delta40]

Wow that was fantastic. Could not read it without singing it! You're right on every note too. Perhaps a discussion thread about this drought could help.I know I'm not the only one affected by it. You put it down so creatively Pen, don't exit till you've seen the effect your work might have.

[qimissung]

You can't be part of a Renaissance if you leave, Pen. I know its hard, but I hope you'll reconsider.

Your rendition of American Pie is spot on. I declare you the winner of this contest. :)

[Buh4Bee]

It is well done, but I can't blame you. I haven't posted on here in ages because the climate is so difficult. In fact, i just stopped writing when the it was no longer fun.

[Revolte]

It is well done, but I can't blame you. I haven't posted on here in ages because the climate is so difficult. In fact, i just stopped writing when the it was no longer fun.

Well there is rarely any conversing over pieces anymore, it's just post, look, move on and so forth forever. The only posts that ever get any real attention are out in the abyss of dedicated threads for a specific individual.

I still come in here and pop with something every here and there, but I will admit I miss the heat a little.

[Jack of Hearts]

One thing is, yours truly is watching, always watching, waiting for one of you to write something to make him a believer again. Anything compelling will get its deserved response from Jack of Hearts, but the days of tag-teaming crit with old whathisname are definitely over.





J

[YesNo]

Come back, Pendragon! There are poetry contests that could use some of your poems. You won the minimalist contest.

[qimissung]

I agree with all of the above, and it's been going on a while. But I have no idea what to do about it, or if anything even can be done. People still come. Or, rather, some people still come. But it all feels fractured, and I know many feel that way. I have noticed that people generally only stay about three years. There is always a group of people who stay longer, but part of the problem seems to be lately that there are fewer new members. If you have any ideas for causes or solutions let me know.

[Revolte]

I agree with all of the above, and it's been going on a while. But I have no idea what to do about it, or if anything even can be done. People still come. Or, rather, some people still come. But it all feels fractured, and I know many feel that way. I have noticed that people generally only stay about three years. There is always a group of people who stay longer, but part of the problem seems to be lately that there are fewer new members. If you have any ideas for causes or solutions let me know.

Sometimes books have trailers, give the lit-net forums a cool trailer? I'm not really one for ads in most cases but, this checks out.

[qimissung]

That's an excellent idea. Thank you, Revolte! I wonder how much it would cost?

[Revolte]

That's an excellent idea. Thank you, Revolte! I wonder how much it would cost?

I suppose that depends on you go about it really, I wouldn't have any idea. The hardest part I suppose would be views, depending on how you make it.

[cacian]

come back Pendragon let's do the contest again and what a piece. enchanting :)

[Iain Sparrow]

You guys just need some new blood in the poetry section... let me introduce myself, I'm Sparrow, the new word-slinger in town, and I'm challenging Pendragon to a poetry duel.

So stop feeling sorry for yourself Mr. Pendragon and let's get to it.

The first round will be unconventional, avant-garde poetry... anything goes.
You can go first, or if you wish I will post the first poem?

[cacian]

You guys just need some new blood in the poetry section... let me introduce myself, I'm Sparrow, the new word-slinger in town, and I'm challenging Pendragon to a poetry duel.

So stop feeling sorry for yourself Mr. Pendragon and let's get to it.

The first round will be unconventional, avant-garde poetry... anything goes.
You can go first, or if you wish I will post the first poem?

avant garde sounds cool.
why not start it in the poetry games and and contest forum?
you can post the first poem there.
we should follow. I will :)

[Pendragon]

You guys just need some new blood in the poetry section... let me introduce myself, I'm Sparrow, the new word-slinger in town, and I'm challenging Pendragon to a poetry duel.

So stop feeling sorry for yourself Mr. Pendragon and let's get to it.

The first round will be unconventional, avant-garde poetry... anything goes.
You can go first, or if you wish I will post the first poem?

Post what you will. For the record, I am not feeling sorry for myself, I mourn the loss of competition which others have as well. As the contests have become my only reason for staying, if they go, I go. That's the bottom line.

God Bless

Pen

[Iain Sparrow]

avant garde sounds cool.
why not start it in the poetry games and and contest forum?
you can post the first poem there.
we should follow. I will :)


Post what you will. For the record, I am not feeling sorry for myself, I mourn the loss of competition which others have as well. As the contests have become my only reason for staying, if they go, I go. That's the bottom line.

God Bless

Pen


Excellent then!

In a day or so I'll start a thread in the Poetry Games & Contests Forum that Cacian mentioned.
Get ready though, the words will flow like cheap wine in a Bangkok whorehouse.:)

[AuntShecky]

I for one hope you reconsider and continue to post your fine work. But allow me to throw something out here, just for the sake of argument: maybe the writing of poems was never meant to be a competitive activity, like poker or football.

[Melanie]

...But allow me to throw something out here, just for the sake of argument: maybe the writing of poems was never meant to be a competitive activity, like poker or football.
I don't think the competitive part was ever taken seriously, other than maybe the personal challenge to improve. It was just an avenue for inspiration. Winning was only a chance to give everyone an opportunity to inspire others by posting the next round. It was only a pivotal point of inspiration as I saw it. It worked for me. It triggered my creative flow. I never saw anyone's feelings hurt when they didn't win, nor did I see anyone get puffed up when they did.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The only reason I backed away was because life got in the way and time became scarce. I drop in for short visits to read everyone's poems but then I'm back to "life's calling". A temporary problem I hope. I'll bet that happens to many. And then there's the writers block issue that comes and goes. I also think attendance is a seasonal thing. Do you find numbers up in the winter and down in he spring and summer? Freezing temps, snow storms, etc keep people hunkered down indoors with time to sit and create. Summertime is a time of vacations, kids home from school, etc. More distractions for sure…and the sunshine beckons.

[YesNo]

I enjoy the competitions as an friendly way to provide prompts for each other much as Melanie mentions. Workshopping poetry is a little more serious. That's probably why I don't do much of it. If one is betting money, I agree that poker could become too serious.

[Pendragon]

You guys just need some new blood in the poetry section... let me introduce myself, I'm Sparrow, the new word-slinger in town, and I'm challenging Pendragon to a poetry duel.

So stop feeling sorry for yourself Mr. Pendragon and let's get to it.

The first round will be unconventional, avant-garde poetry... anything goes.
You can go first, or if you wish I will post the first poem?

OH, and BTW, you don't know Jack about me, "new word-slinger" so I deny you the right to tell me how I feel... Sometimes minding your own business is the only business of the day...

[qimissung]

Nobody likes being told how they feel; on the other hand, you did generate some interest in the poetry contests-and wasn't that your ultimate goal?

I enjoyed them for a while, but actually, I really did hate judging them (even though I liked winning).

[Iain Sparrow]

OH, and BTW, you don't know Jack about me, "new word-slinger" so I deny you the right to tell me how I feel... Sometimes minding your own business is the only business of the day...

My business is poetry, and this evening... business is good.

The time has come, the Gods have willed it, for dueling poets to stand and deliver!



My first pistol shot; Avant-garde Poetry, in this case ending words rhyme from the middle line out.




Far and Away

a bottomless pit
with a gentle slope
a crow's prize
a rusted bottle cap
flicker of light
neither sun or moon
from ever blown
the tempting breath
against my ear
what is death
to a tombstone
casting shadows at noon
not left nor right
caught in the gap
none hear my cries
my kingdom for a rope

and still I slip

[qimissung]

I started a thread for the new contest in the Poetry Games and Contest Forum, Iain. Hope you don't mind. Yours is the first entry. So come on over, everybody, and let's get this party started!

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?78845-Avant-Garde-Poetry-Contest&p=1258489&posted=1#post1258489

[Iain Sparrow]

I don't mind at all, thanks.

We'll see what kind of 'game' Pendragon can bring.:)

But I was still hoping more for a duel, just two dueling poets... and come what may.

[MystyrMystyry]

Pendragon are you grievin'?
The threats of your leavin'
I's heard to often to believe

But if you go can we come too
To wherever it is that you do?
Leave or stay. Stay or leave.

It's entirely up to you?

[Pendragon]

But if you go can we come too


Would that you could, my friend, would that you could... :wave:

[Pendragon]

I have already withdrawn all of my poems from the contests. Any I was supposed to judge may be restarted or judged by someone else.

This is indeed, goodbye.

I'd like to thank a few friends for putting up with me through the years:

Virgil, I'll miss you, mon ami.
Rich, you have been a godsend. God bless, and I hope we stay in touch, as you call from time to time.
Qimi, I still treasure the watercolor you sent for my library/mancave.
DarkMuse, Yesno, Cacian, your poetry is beyond compare,
Sher, you have really made me feel very welcome here.
Katrina, Pussnboots, MorpheusSandman, I am proud to have known you.
And many, many more,

God bless you all, and think of me time to time.

Farewell. To any that wish, my e-mail is [email protected]

To some of you I am Pendragon, to some Pen, and to many Uncle Pen.

Goodbye and I love you all.

Dale Harris

:wave::wave:::wave:

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Dale, it was a pleasure crossing paths with you here recently among the poetry games threads.
If this is indeed the final farewell, then I'll leave you with some Patsy Cline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ1R5isMXxk

[qimissung]

We will think of you from time to time. Probably a little more than that.

[chevalierdelame]

I hope you see this post.
I was reading the form poem contest from the beginning, and now I'm at page 30. Thank you Pendragon for starting the thread, and keeping it alive for seven years. What you say about the contests not being so interesting is true. I regret that I was not a member then. But just reading some of the poems is a great experience, for anyone who loves form in poetry.
Thank you once again, and I'm sorry that you're leaving.

[virtuoso]

Pendragon your riding on a broken wheel already, if your only motivation for writing is contests. I agree that contests are challenging, and provide everybody with some entertainment. Poets that are worth their salt are self-motivated. There is a burning passion that wells up inside them, and they gush forth with enchanting, inspiring words. Sorry to see you go, but ho ho ho!

[miyako73]

this is not unique to litnet. other literary forums have members who quit or take a break or go on a long hiatus. they will come back when they have new voices to share and for us to hear. Excitement because of their new works will make them post again.

miyako

[tailor STATELY]

Missing you Pendragon, et al. Don't know how I missed this in 2014... prolly taking time off. The song is not a favorite of mine - being played to death in its time... that being said it provided the perfect vehicle for Pendragon to vent his frustration and resignation. Thanks to all who have contributed and continue to contribute and God bless :)

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor

[Danik 2016]

Lol!Turned out Pendragon was only taking a holiday because when I joined the forum in 2016 he was back and writing poetry. But now we miss you.