Write It to the Tune of ... Poetry Contest

[YesNo]

That cabin out past Farmington
Is haunted, so they said.
It's buried deep in lush, dark woods,
A crypt for those long dead.

We used to live there, cleared the land
And had some crops for sale.
We did things we should not have done
And things began to fail.

The things we did don't matter much
Though others might think so.
Forgive them? Why? It's all their fault.
Of that we won't let go.

The cabin's weak, but standing there.
It rests on rubble still,
But no one lives inside it now
And no one ever will.

In time it will sink to the earth
The way that matter must
And free my folks who haunt the place
And free me, too, I trust.

[Melanie]

Congrats YesNo! You delivered a very touching and poignant poem, not only inspired by the tune but also inspired by the lyrics to write a personal true story of past places, mothers, fathers, children, etc. Your poem was very moving as you shared the plight of your family's farm…so many are unfairly endangered. It breaks my heart but makes for very effective poetry. Very powerful last stanza too….and well written.

Face the Rising Sun...

Ocracoke is a lovely island
Blackbeard's last retreat...

Thank you for your courage to post the first poem. It was a near winner. I liked the relaxing feeling it evoked which went well with the slow tune. It conjured up images I've only seen on postcards since I've never been to the Outer Banks, even though I've been a Carolina girl for 13 years! I really hate admitting that

...And the only time he’s satisfied
is spook’n folks along Boggy Creek…

Loved the poem but you did a pretty good job of doing some spookin' yourself! That video link you posted was SCARY!! But I'll forgive you long enough to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed your poem. It told a tale of mystery and intrigue…and you told it well. Another close contender.

[YesNo]

Thanks, Melanie! I did grow up on a farm in Indiana. That farmhouse has long been removed.

The next song is Jingle Bells.

Deadline: December 7th, two weeks from now.

[YesNo]

Bump.

I may have to extend this or get a new song.

[YesNo]

It looks like today is the deadline. I'll extend it to December 25th. Any Christmas song may be used.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

It looks like today is the deadline. I'll extend it to December 25th. Any Christmas song may be used.

December 25th seems appropriate, good idea.

[AuntShecky]

Any Christmas song? How about a medley? Here are updates on two holiday classics, the J. Fred Coots/Haven Gillespie ditty framed by another well-known Yuletide character in a tune by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson:

A Medley of Two Christmas Faves

Snowden the Techie,
the corporate-hired geek,
went online to do his job
and seldom stopped to speak.

Snowden the Techie
in a cube across the sea
clicked upon a scary trend
that should worry you and me.

There must have been a virus
in that old device I used,
‘cause when I tried to boot it up
I think I blew a fuse.

But Snowden the Techie–
he knew just what was wrong.
He sprung a leak and began to squeak
like a mouse with this sad song:

You’d better not text;
you’d better not tweet.
Don’t blog when you’re vexed–-
I’ll tell ya, my sweet–
the NSA is snoopin’ around.

It’s gathering bytes,
puts data on ice,
setting its sights
on your fetish and vice.
The NSA is snoopin’ around.

It reads your private emails;
it hears your personal calls;
it tracks all of your Facebook friends
and what they post upon your walls.

So unplug your PC;
sell your phone on eBay,
‘cause down in DC
they watch what you say–
the NSA is snoopin’ around.

Snowden the Techie
had to hide himself away
in Moscow or in Cyberspace,
so he won’t be back some day–
No, he won’t be back some day!

[YesNo]

That's right, ANY Christmas song. Santa came early this year. Nice medley, by the way! They sound like winners.

Anybody else?

[Pendragon]

Jolly Old Spy

You better watch out, better open your eyes
Better watch your step I'm telling you why
Santa Claus works for the NSA

He's making a list, keeping a file
Every call you make, and your whole life style
Santa Claus works for the NSA

He sees you when you're sleeping
Through the camera in your TV
He records everything you say
Hidden microphones, you see

You better ditch your cell phone, change address
Disguise yourself to avoid the mess
Santa Claus works for the NSA

The only way to avoid this
Is to live off of the grid
So buy some remote property
And keep your family hid

Oh you better wake up, avoid this dude
Before your private life is on the news
Santa Claus works for the NSA

Yeah that fat old guy works for the NSA

Pendragon (C) December 14, 2013

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Like This is Called "Like"

To the tune of "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas"
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=49LAPkV9xJg

Like I want the word "like" for Christmas.
Like "erudite" & "didactic" like, won't do.
Like I don't want no book or like a rotary dial phone.
Like I want to Tweet my "likes" in a most annoying tone.

Like I want the word "like" for Christmas.
Like I bet baby manger Santa will like give it to me.
Like I can live without "whatever" and "LOL"
Like just give me "like" cuz it's easier to spell.

Like "OMG" I'm so surprised,
like its there before my eyes.
Like sitting under the like Christmas tree.

Like I want the word "like" for Christmas...

[prendrelemick]

Here's one we used to sing in 2nd year juniors (not for competition)

Jingle bells Batman smells
Robin flew away
The Batmobile lost its wheel
Halfway down the lane.

[Calidore]

Here's one we used to sing in 2nd year juniors (not for competition)

Jingle bells Batman smells
Robin flew away
The Batmobile lost its wheel
Halfway down the lane.

Wow, memories. Here's the version I knew when I was a kid (regional variances?):

Jingle bells Batman smells
Robin laid an egg
The Batmobile has lost its wheel
And Joker got away

[YesNo]

The one I remember started with "Jingle bells, shotgun shells" I can't remember the rest of it unfortunately.

Three days left for this contest!

[prendrelemick]

Does any one remember this one?

While shepherds stewed their carrot tops,
All seated round the pot ,
The Angel of the Lord came down
And scoffed the bl**dy lot.

Or this?

While shepherds washed their socks by night
All seated round the tub
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And gave them all a scrub.



Right I'll stop now.

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

The Chicago variant on jingle bells is the same as one I recall here in the south.
The shepherds washing socks variant sounds vaguely familiar.