Form Poem Contest

[YesNo]

Thank you, Dark Muse. And thank you for the compliment, Melanie. I enjoyed reading all the other entries.


The next form is blank verse.

This has 10 syllables per line with 5 of the syllables accented. The lines are not rhymed. Usually the pattern of the 10 syllables is iambic, that is, one syllable is unstressed and the next is stressed. Any number of lines is fine.


Deadline: Saturday evening, July 27th.

[Melanie]

I'm sorry but I had to delete this because I'm entering it into a cash-prize contest that requires no previous publishing.
I'll try to come up with a replacement in time.

[Pendragon]

Eeek. Iambic Pentameter... Not my cup of tea. Sorry!

[Melanie]

Eeek. Iambic Pentameter... Not my cup of tea. Sorry!

Give it a go, Pendragon. It's easy if you just tell a story using 10 syllables per line and don't worry about the iambic pentameter until you're all finished. Then read it back, out loud, to the rhythm of a heartbeat: daDUH daDUH daDUH daDUH daDUH. Make sure you don't go DUHda DUHda DUHda DUHda DUHda because that won't work. It probably won't be out of rhythm, but if it is in a few spots, it's an easy fix. That worked for me.

[YesNo]

No problem. Melanie. Good luck on the contest! I look at these Lit Net contests as an opportunity to practice with different subjects and styles.

That sounds like a good technique for iambic pentameter that doesn't have end-rhymes. The meter differentiates it from prose.

[Melanie]

Thank you. I like these Lit Net contests because they get me going. They provide the inspirational subject or picture or form, etc, and then I can take off with it. Otherwise, I'm too overwhelmed with all the things I could write about and then never pick just one because I can't decide. It's quite a challenge here sometimes...like when the subject is "broom"

[YesNo]

This is supposed to be due today, but there aren't any entries. So I'll extend it two more weeks to August 10.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

I'll give this a shot.

[prendrelemick]

I started one - it was really bad.

eg

I wish I was the one who caused those tears,
Within my power would then their staunching be,

[Pendragon]

Sooooooooooo...

Do we need a restart, here? YesNo you may choose another form, or I can start us over again. Let me know.

Pen

[YesNo]

I guess the time is up again. You are welcome to provide a new form, Pendragon.

[Pendragon]

Thank you, Yesno

This form is song poetry, with rhyme in the middle of every odd line, with end rhyme on the even lines. The example is from Rudyard Kipling:

Nightsong in the Jungle

Now Chil the Kite brings home the night
That Mang the Bat sets free--
The herds are shut in byre and hut,
For loosed till dawn are we.
This is the hour of pride and power,
Talon and tusk and claw.
Oh, hear the call!--Good hunting all
That keep the Jungle Law!

End of August deadline. Good hunting all!

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

I'll give this a shot.

I guess the time is up again. You are welcome to provide a new form, Pendragon.

Sorry YesNo, I actually had one in the works for your previous challenge with only the first stanza drafted.
I'll continue to chip away at it for future use.
In the meantime, let's carry on with Pendragon's challenge...

[YesNo]

That's OK. I prefer the form Pendragon presented since there's a lot of rhyme in it anyway.

[Dark Muse]

The Cullling Song

Come what may, the fading light ends the day,
now I begin to sing my culling song, take care,
close your eyes beneath gentle night skies
give yourself over to my sweet lullaby, but beware,
no need to weep while I sing you into eternal sleep,
tenderly the culling song will lure you into the grave,
now you have heard the power of my word,
and in return freedom from this life I gave.