The 7 Day Contest: Day 2

The first hurdle has (by now, hopefully) been passed, now onto the second day. The challenge for the next 24 hours, love it or hate, for better or worse, is.... formed poetry!

Rules/guidelines:

- 5 poems to be submitted. Total of 20 points per poem, 100 points total this round.

- Minimum number of 3 participants per club. Therefore depending on the number of participants, each member taking part in this round will have to write 1 or 2 poems.

- There will be seven forms to chose from and one option to chose a different one from a list (explained below). You can pick which five to do. Each form carries equal points. The list of forms to chose from is:

1. Sonnet
2. Haiku
3. Etheree
4. Tanka
5. Villanelle
6. Huitain
7. Nonnet
8. Any one form from the list found at the following link EXCEPT Free Verse and Fixed Verse:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Poetic_form

- Option 8 can only be used for 1 poem: If it is used the other four poems must be chosen from numbers 1-7.

- 2 bonus points will be given for VILLANELLE and SONNET poems, due to their comparative complexity/difficulty.

- Find in below post a list of rules and/or guidelines for each form. Make sure you give these a read for the form you are doing: double check your sonnet, tanka or huitian is actually a sonnet, tanka or huitain.

- Can be any subject matter or genre, so long as it conforms to the rules of the form/structure.

- Simplify lifeline: If you chose to use your simplify lifeline, only four poems will be required instead of five, and a minimum of two people can participate.

Tips/hints:

- Judges wont look favourably on mistakes and not adhering to the rules of the form. Don't be afraid to double check that it conforms to the rules of the form with team-mates.

- Don't write a villanelle or sonnet merely for the sake of getting the extra 2 points. Better submit a good haiku, tanka etc than an average/poor vilanelle/sonnet. But it is a little incentive if you feel up to an extra challenge: I can't speak for the judges but they might appreciate a form that little or no other clubs may cover!

- Haiku chains, double etherees etc will be accepted

- Poems due to me via pm in 24hours time, at 16.00pm PnQ time on Wednesday. Any questions or problems contact me.

Good luck!

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR POETIC FORMS:

1. SONNET - 14 lines long, three 4-line stanzas and concluding couplet, 10 syllables each line, rhyme scheme involved (often abab cdcd efef gg)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet

Example:

Sonnet 18

'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.'

2. HAIKU - 3 line poem about nature (it is not a senyru!). 17 syllables or less, in 5/7/5 format.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

3. ETHEREE - 10 line poem. Line 1 = 1 syllable, line 2 = 2syllables, line 3 = 3 syllables etc right up to line 10 = 10 syllables. Can also be reversed.

http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/etheree.html

4. TANKA - 5 line poem, syllable count 5/7/5/7/7. The last two lines often show twist or different angle than the first 3 lines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanka

5. VILLANELLE - 19 line poem, 5 3-line verses (aba rhyme) and closing quatrain. Vitally, there is a refrain repeated through the poem: e.g.

Refrain 1 (A1)
Line 2 (b)
Refrain 2 (A2)
Line 4 (a)
Line 5 (b)
Refrain 1 (A1)
Line 7 (a)
Line 8 (b)
Refrain 2 (A2)
Line 10 (a)
Line 11 (b)
Refrain 1 (A1)
Line 13 (a)
Line 14 (b)
Refrain 2 (A2)
Line 16 (a)
Line 17 (b)
Refrain 1 (A1)
Refrain 2 (A2)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villanelle

Example of Villanelle here: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15212

6. HUITAIN - 8 line stanza with syllable count of either 8 or 10 each line. Rhyme schemes can be ababbcbc or abbaacac.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/275163/huitain

Example:

'Flowers bloom by evening sunset
Red hues emerge in blissful theme,
As tears descend without regret,
Dance on the breeze of twilight dreams.
The spider's silk in still grass gleams,
Birdsong echos in flowing rhyme,
While sunlight wanes, creation seems
To forever triumph over time.'

7. NONNET - 9 lines, first line has 9 syllables, second has 8, etc descending until the last line (9th) has only one syllable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonnet

Question to you!!! :)

Can we write several poems with the same form or should all submissions be different forms?

Good question! All submissions should be different forms, so only one may be submitted haiku, not four or five haikus, for example. Wouldn't want to make it too easy for everybody :)

My cockiness has subsided this round.....dang you Colm, I hate writing forms!

Chelsey has been brought back down to Earth after surviving the Baptism of Fire unscathed! :)

Edit: Rules/guidelines for each form is posted

This is my round!!!!!

I haven't written a form for a while
(at least a week I think!!!)

***chuckles to himself like an idiot, then remembers there is no 'I' in team.............

WHOOOAAAAA I just NAILED an amazing form.....I'm back on cloud 9 ya'll......Rockin and a rollin.....Ego boosted even bigger than before!!

Oh yeah, oh yeah! I aint goin' nowhere! Oh yeah, oh yeah!

* runs in circles!* whoooooo

I just pulled my hair out... Im now bald... lol but I did it.... "droopy"

Good work, Chelsey. Stretch that envelope.

Andrea, aka Ms Form, please. You could do these in your sleep.

Ha ha ha ha... Thank You Larry ;-) it took me a while to get my formed groove on... I had to get my formed fungshway back... get in my zone.. my zen... ha ha

Believe it or not....the queen of forms froze with this one....but it was my fault because I scared her when I told her to step her game up because I want points!! Bahaha

See Andrea, the fear I put in you challenged you.

Damn.
I should be a coach! Hahaha

Ha ha ha ha... You should be!

I picture Chels as a coach:

widow maker, black mesh hose, black spiked high heels, foam handled leather whip and a mask like Hellon's

What the heck??? What am I coaching? Girls how to be hookers and get money by performing S&M? Hahahaha

GIGGLES>>>>> ha ha ha ha ha ha

Oh my ribs hurt!

You claimed to have scared Andrea, . . . .

Not with a wild choice of outfit and a whip....simply with verbal abuse...

Way to get all of PnQ picturing me as a freak hahaha

But such a HOT freak!

Tis true! :)

My apologies Colm....

We have made this thread awkward.

Little did you know our purpose was to distract other members so that they miss the deadline mwahaha

Guys, you're cracking me up.

So formed poetry, Colm, ha? Way to make everyone puzzled!

Not everyone...my teams done. :P

#beastmode

Hahaha I just hashtagged on PnQ

*crack!* the whip comes down

LMAO i sooo need to sleep but the club will try their best and sorry for not being here on the first day of the contest sick as heck and it doesn't help i'm anemic but who cares? i can do this contest with my last strength my fiance can text me this while i'm waiting in the docs office!!! hahahahhaha

The Ravens Haven 2's forms are in.

Good luck everyone.

I really want to see these poems....

Curiosity is killing this cat :/ !!! Gahhhhh

Lol the poems will be made when my members do them for i'm out sorry darlings i have at least 3 people on that want to do it and i gave them the link! :) sorry i'm really tired guys and i haven't gotten my meds yet

Keep them coming, less than 2 hours left :)

Ugh....two hours too long :/

Poof, there goes the deadline! Well done all. Next round will be posted asap, in about an hour

Can't we have a week off?

Or have 7 random days of the month?

............. ; -)

The poems for round two. Thanks everybody for the submissions, enjoy!

CLUB 1

#101
Thorn (Tanka)

Bend your thorns my dear
to become winters blanket
upon a winds whisper.
Floating between rocket reeds
pulling at the stem of you.

-----------------------------------
#102
Why so gloom? (Villanelle)

Settle down sweet child, why so gloom?
Define your tears and release your hurt.
Find shelter in my arms and exit your tomb.

You're beautiful baby, who has led you to doom?
Take my hand if you can no longer exert.
Settle down sweet child, why so gloom?

Darling girl, do you have the strength to resume?
You have yet to reach the peak of your growth spurt.
Find shelter in my arms and exit your tomb.

Are you waiting for the sun so you can bloom?
Even flowers trek the darkness and the dirt.
Settle down sweet child, why so gloom?

You're not worthless, is that what you presume?
Find peace on a new journey, its time to divert.
Find shelter in my arms and exit your tomb.

These arms are wide open, plenty of room.
I'll allow you to rest, while I stay alert.
Settle down sweet child, why so gloom?
Find shelter in my arms and exit your tomb.

--------------------------------
Poem #103
Patchwork Blanket (Etheree)

It is old and worn with scattered patches.
She still cuddles with it in her sleep.
It gives comfort when awoken
in the night from a bad dream.
Secrets are hidden deep
within colorful
stitching's of her
warm, ragged,
tear stained
friend.

-------------------------
#104
My Love, My Elizabeth (Sonnet)

Pale kisses invited a maiden's fear
Whispers madness, demonic possession,
Elegantly lifeless, devil is near
"Oh my love, my passionate obsession".
Yearning to devour sweet, blushing skin
Eyes of naked innocence laid to rest
Gazing silently in a moonlit sin
Tracing his finger around her soft breast.
Breathlessly carried away in his arms
leaving her spirit in a shallow grave
Stripping life and blood, with romantic charm
Becoming his ghostly prize, chained, love slave.

Hushing darkness, in the dawn of pure death
Waltz with me darling, my Elizabeth.

-----------------------
#105
Rain Purification (Haiku)

Falling rapidly;
drops of rain, cleansing the world
from mankind's abuse.

*****************************************

CLUB 2

#106
Start life's cycle. (A Yadu)

Sun shining strong,
trees shelve song birds,
along comes man,
reason ran wild,
to tan in spring, life's priority?!

Litters and kills,
in blood spills, death,
fulfils self worth,
even Earth cries,
spring birth, a forgotten wonder.

Change? Not likely,
yearn wintry form,
clumsy mankind,
living blind, slow,
entwined with selfishness, our lives pollute home.
-----------------------------------------
#107
the caged bird (tanka)

the bird is in cage
wants to fly in open sky
but a little scared
that desire of being free
may cost it its only home.

-----------------------------------------
#108
Tranquil Morning (A Haiku)

Dripping icicles,
snow crunching 'neath busy feet,
sunshine breaks silence.

----------------------------------------
#109
Leap of Faith (Etheree)

I
heard you
as you called
for me, standing
on the edge of time
hand stretched out to the past
beckoning me to come near
determined to take me with you
into the bright, glorious future
awaiting us, beyond the horizon.

---------------------------------
#110
Barefoot Love [ Nonet ]

Although I wore high heeled shoes and hence
looked taller than him, did we care?
as we are the 'perfect pair'.
Thus, I wore it always,
except when we danced.
So our eyes could
forever
talk of
love.

*****************************************

CLUB 3

#111
[Haiku]
Water Birds [In Slow Motion]

hundreds of dancers
basking in the winter sun-
swans, ducks and migrants

------------------------------
#112
[Villanelle]
Fifth Symphony Finale

I'm a child of light, I need music to grow;
when applause ends I am forced into the wild.
I know I mustn't stop, and that's all I know.

The minor melodic pierces my veins with a glow;
the night becomes bright and the monsters are mild.
I'm a child of light, I need music to grow;

The wind shakes through star-sky and it feels like vibrato;
the sound protects my body from being reviled.
I know I mustn't stop, and that's all I know.

Wild like a whirlwind are the tenutos of the foe;
the auto-tuned tongue never had me beguiled.
I'm a child of light, I need music to grow;

Fireworks of emotions burst through my bow;
the accents burn the skin and revert me to the child.
I know I mustn't stop, and that's all I know.

Robbery, birthday, car crash - build to a fearful crescendo:
cadence falls, minor chord, finale ends. My empty body smiled.
I'm a child of light, I need music to grow;
I know I mustn't stop, and that's all I know.

--------------------------------------------
#113
[Huitain]
Beast of Love

What any man fails to confess mostly;
The hands of misery hold him tonight,
As he hears the voices whisper closely,
Little did he know, he would lose his sight,
Since that moment, he suffers in a plight;
Alas, he had then known nothing much more,
That even if he lost all of his might,
He only needs love to make his soul soar.

-----------------------------------------
#114
[Nonnet]
Perhaps, If In Whirlwinds

At times, I wish, my thoughts could travel
like a twirling coiled rope of wind
inside tornadoes and spouts
perhaps, if in whirlwinds
you, would learn to love
a troubled man
not by looks
nor the
dime.

**Author's note: please read "coiled" as one syllable.

------------------------------------------
#115
[Italian Sonnet]
A walk at midday

There's something ugly about Amsterdam,
I can hear organ grinders from afar -
traveller's hearts and wallets left ajar,
as drunken souls of the jetlagged A.M.
collect mem'ries in tin cans and a tram.
All of this city seems stuck in memoir:
from pigeon heads to gum beneath a car,
all of it stacks like men upon ma'am.
But what am I? Allochtonous, biased -
blinded by black eyes, a stray dog at bay.
Wouldn't bark about the lovelorn artist
whose self-portrait hangs inside my hallway,
eavesdropping with half his ear - he's earnest
in the art of observing at midday.

** Rhyme scheme: .a.b.b.a...a.b.b.a....c.d.c.d.c.d.

******************************************

CLUB 4

#116
Huitain
Directed

We crossed the desert took all night
well into the following day.
Never seen stars that felt so right
nor felt such sun - made strong men pray.
Somehow our journey showed the way
reality crystallized then
heat nor chill could lead me astray
with sand in my shoes now and Zen.

--------------------------------
#117
Ignore Rant
Villanelle

How many times have you spoken to be ignored?
Have you ever been so compelled to simply rant?
Sometimes do you just listen because you're bored?

Have you ever attempted to use words like a sword,
Or tried to use restraint when it seems you just can't?
How many times have you spoken to be ignored?

Many of us choose to hear on our own accord.
Do your thoughts vary or are they very constant?
Sometimes do you just listen because you're bored?

They say ignorance is bliss with a dull reward.
A sharp tongue insults with words not relevant.
How many times have you spoken to be ignored?

With the finest devises that we can afford
Communication can be humble, or arrogant.
Sometimes do you just listen because you're bored?

To reject the whole Truth is to reject our Lord
To follow destructive paths of the ignorant
How many times have you spoken to be ignored?
Sometimes do you just listen because you're bored?

----------------------------
#118
English Sonnet
Alone

Being alone, it can be a blessing, or curse.
An illusion that often chills the very soul.
Imaging no one in the entire universe
Cares enough to make a lonely person feel whole.
Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood to be satisfied.
A kiss and warm embrace to make us feel complete.
We would bleed willingly while we are crucified.
Consume the bread of life at the alter we eat.
When, holiness, the staff of life dwells in a heart,
Then our sacred idol is not fashioned of stone.
A mind and Spirit can never be far apart.
Those who live in the true light are never alone
Many times when I am alone , I sense I'm free
To rise above the worldly goals, so I can see.

---------------------------
#119
Etheree
Alone

The
stars dance
twinkling in
the calm of night,
a lone crescent shines;
an iridescent light
makes its way into my home
finding my bones, touching my heart,
touching my soul as I play a tune,
heavenly enough for a lonesome moon.

---------------------
#120
Haiku
Backpackers

Autumn's leaves falling,
the seasons say their farewells.
Boots crush refugees.

*****************************************

CLUB 5

#121
Chained haiku

Pitch black clouds cover
red stained sky; while the heavens
will weep blood tonight.

Howling wind echoes
earth shudders distastefully
nature cries alone.

Torrents splashing down
splatters upon turbid ground
weeping; broken earth.

-----------------------------------
#122
Huitain

The dusky snow breathes like starlight
slow and measured, awaiting flame
that will stay on the ground- skintight.
It hopes for a moon with no fame
to put night at rest without shame
and bring dawn's luster in full sight,
reflecting love finally came,
where stars of winter take their flight.

-------------------------------
#123
Tanka
Immortality

Rushed by sunlight's end,
transforming humanity
with mystery's kiss.
A sandy wolf stands alone
fighting her impulse to live.

------------------------------
#124
Etheree

Let's talk cliche for just a second
whilst gazing into your blue eyes
leaning in for a sweet hug
our hearts will always be
joined, my sweetheart
forever
my darling
son

--------------------------------
#125
Nonnet

Eyes
glinting
searching and
gazing for his
next victim to claim
snuffing life easily
unworried about any
ramifcations; you'll never
stand a chance when you're confronted by
Evil himself; tonight the world will bleed

******************************************

CLUB 6

#126
Form: Sonnet
Let's Embrace Paradise

If our world was to collapse in a clash
would you then hold my hand close to your heart?
for one beat can wake the dead in a splash
and I, my love, wish not to be apart.
Though an end must reach an undying path
and let souls elevate to the blue skies
so they may uphold peace instead of wrath
I for once, oh love, still don't want to die.
But if your arms were to embrace my arms
And if your kiss were to be sealed with mine
I would feel freed from any sort of harm
I'd again feel that we are intertwine.
So then my love, let's embrace paradise
for death, if you are with me, would suffice.

-----------------------------------
#127

Form: Haiku

Cry me a river,
and let's sink 'neath its water.
You're mine by nature.

-------------------------------------
#128
Form: Etheree
Title: It's the Little Things

A
Simple
Rose garden
Sheds so much light
Into a dark time
Bringing out the beauty
When your faith has grown weary
That tiny bulb can bring much joy
For watching it blossom is a sign
To appreciate little things in life

------------------------------------------------
#129
Form: Villanelle
Title: You're one of a kind

Let this linger in your mind
As you walk about today
Remember, you're one of a kind.

Live your life blind,
as hate causes decay.
Let this linger in your mind.

Life's misfortunes grind
spirits down causing dismay.
Remember, you're one of a kind.

Seek peace and you shall find
that everything will be okay.
Let this linger in your mind.

Sadly, there's no rewind,
share your love and care today.
Remember, you're one of a kind.

I believe we're all defined
by the things we do and say.
Let this linger in your mind.
Remember, you're one of a kind

--------------------------------------------------
#130
Nonnet

The moon wakes each night without concern;
gloating about peaceful slumbers,
like she never dreamt before.
I wonder how the stars feel,
in the presence of
a glorious,
beautiful,
brilliant
moon.

******************************************

CLUB 7

#131
Haiku
Vesuvius

Flakes flutter adrift
rivals side with survival
ashen wonderland

---------------------------
#132
Tanka
Lovers' Statue

You, that salted sea
I've longed too long to sink in
with your pillars carved
of soft, alabaster stone -
two halves of a paling moon.

-----------------------------------
#133
Nonnet

Brimstone and...

There is never fire that does not burn;
nor flame that does not flicker on;
nor shadow that fails to whisk;
nor heat that is not shared;
nor sun without rays
that do not shine
between your
mouth and
mine.

--------------------------------------
#134
Sonnet
An Ode to Poetry

Before you, the brook did not dared to croon,
you poured its voice in my ears, pure and loud.
You let the stars dwell in eyes, spinning the moon,
allowed morning birds to perch on a cloud.
You made the palm trees desert their woodlands
and follow the melody of a breeze.
You embalmed the world in my beloved's hands,
sketched tales and miracles upon his knees.
You taught me how to freeze time with a kiss,
and how to bundle love within a rhyme.
You made the lights gallop, the mornings hiss,
the stars wade through twigs, bright and sublime.
With you, mud could have the sweet scent of wine
and my laughter could share the sun its shine.

--------------------------------
#135
Etheree
Language

You
are a
language that
is queer and ablaze,
that replaces its
letters everyday, that
unfurls its sail and travels
through time, that strips death off its black
mask, that dips its wings in the sundown
and slowly fades into a love sentence.

I have to say, I am most impressed with the villanelles. Well done to those who attempted that form!

Mercy! these are pretty formed pieces.. Be still my heart!

Results of round 2 are in!

I'll pm the participants (well, one club member from each club) with the individual scores when I get the chance

Club 1 - 54.4
Club 2 - 36.5
Club 3 - 64
Club 4 - 45.5
Club 5 - 44
Club 6 - 45.5
Club 7 - 63 (73 - 10 for late submission)

Totals after first two challenges:

Club 3: 118.5
Club 7: 110.5
Club 1: 105
Club 5: 92
Club 6: 86.5
Club 4: 82
Club 2: 76

Still early days! General judges feedback this time is that poems not sticking to the form or with basic mistakes didn't score highly, although judges were impressed by many individual poems in this round too :)

These are out of of a possible 200?!

who the hell is judging this

Atilla the hun?

I love the harshness

: - )

Rumour has it, one judge is a distant, long lost (but not far removed) relative of Genghis Khan.

Another is suspected to be the mysterious 'Beast' as seen described so eloquently below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP0NkL-QfvE

;)

I agree...I think the judges hate everyone.

*giggles* I love the harshness too!

Wow...All I know is my group is going to finish this because we aren't quitters, but I'm not going to have them wasting their time, pouring their heart and soul into this shit to get those low scores....

I'm embarassed for judge #1....not embarrassed for my team...to score the way they are doing ...ha...I better be receiving some comments that explain this because you don't just down vote peoples HARD working effort, and not explain, as if you could do better or you know what the hell a 100% perfect poem is.....

Did Shakespeare arise from the dead and come to crack his whip on us? Please....Some of Shakespeares stuff is even crap....

The fun has been taken out of this Challenge....theres no need to even insult us with these pansy ass 1's and 3's ...give us a 0 and tell us how you really feel.

Kiss my poetic bum!

Hows that for harsh?

Total agree with you Chels , I think sometime people get caught up in what THEY believe is poetry and no one can say
Otherwise I think it's really disheartening, poets give there soul to there work cirtisisum is always advice to help ,

But this is over the top and disrespectful.

On a good note , all you guys smashed this

Well done :)