Give me your best short poems. I want to see just how much emotion you can pack into seven lines or less. Your poems can rhyme or not, it's your choice, but here's a few hints as to what I'm looking for:
What I do want:
Imagery, powerful emotion, careful word choice, original ideas, proper spelling and grammar. I'm also a sucker for the amazing last line.
What I don't want:
Haiku/tanka/waka (if your syllables just happen to follow these patterns, that's fine, but don't do it on purpose), excessive swearing, erotica.
More points will be added when I get them. :-)
A few examples of short poems:
~Ebb, by Edna St. Vincent Millay~
I know what my heart is like
since your love died:
it is like a hollow ledge
holding a little pool
left there by the tide:
a tepid little pool,
drying inward from the edge.
~Spring, by Bitter Irony~
I know now how the robin feels
to wake alone
in a nest of broken eggshells.
~Passion Red, by Bitter Irony~
Unbearable,
the sight of her nailpolish
on another woman's fingers.
Enter up to 3 poems.
What I do want:
Imagery, powerful emotion, careful word choice, original ideas, proper spelling and grammar. I'm also a sucker for the amazing last line.
What I don't want:
Haiku/tanka/waka (if your syllables just happen to follow these patterns, that's fine, but don't do it on purpose), excessive swearing, erotica.
More points will be added when I get them. :-)
A few examples of short poems:
~Ebb, by Edna St. Vincent Millay~
I know what my heart is like
since your love died:
it is like a hollow ledge
holding a little pool
left there by the tide:
a tepid little pool,
drying inward from the edge.
~Spring, by Bitter Irony~
I know now how the robin feels
to wake alone
in a nest of broken eggshells.
~Passion Red, by Bitter Irony~
Unbearable,
the sight of her nailpolish
on another woman's fingers.
Enter up to 3 poems.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 15, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 125, Silver: 25, Bronze: 15
- Final notes: Well, this contest didn't turn out quite as I imagined it would. I think many people who entered this contest had never tried their hand at short poetry as a genre before. The entries were all fresh and original, and if some occassionally missed the goal of short poetry--that is, to describe one moment and one emotion as powerfully, yet subtely, as possible--it was great to see so many people try something new.
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you so much to all entrants! I hope to see you all continue to write in this genre. :-)
Contest Winners
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Digging the depths of life, / my curious mind the shovel, / but the hole proves never ending.• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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You broke our family, / you cheated on her, / & you lied to my face. / You hit her, / When she wasn’t even in your way. / _________________• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [26]
1 - 26 of 26
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Three short contest peices• Commented on by judge.
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He smiles at me, the world becomes brighter / LIfe's heavy burdens seem lighter. / Those giggles when he sleeps / keeps a smile on our faces. / Now he is five, cuddle days are done. / I am• Commented on by judge.
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lalalalalala. ^_________________________________________^by Siby Anan 100 words, 18 comments, on Jun 3 6:19 PM 2007. In• Commented on by judge.
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Out on the streets with a friend. / A shot in the dark makes life end. / A tragic loss the papers say. / It does not change what happened t• Commented on by judge.
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I see through your lies, / they once were family ties, / but now that bridge has burned. / and I have now learned, / to not believe a word you say, / for all the lies i'll make you pay.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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I am in a haze, my feelings for you / Drifting overhead, like a balloon / Escaped from that child’s fingers / Rising upwards, not very fast / But fast enough so I can’t grab onto them / Agaiby miles of smiles <100 words, 15 comments, on Jun 4 4:32 PM 2007. In Contest, First person, Love, Poem• Commented on by judge.
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You stabbed in the heart once, / took out the knife, / wiped the love off the silver blade / and stabbed my heart again.• Commented on by judge.
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My eyes follow your dancing breath, / But your words stay unheard / Let them escape / I need to hear the "I love you" / You wish to say• Commented on by judge.
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After everything its finally come to this. / Ironic, a dreadful departure after such great bliss. / Please turn back at look at me, tell meby Taboo Pixie 100 words, 10 comments, on Jun 4 6:16 PM 2007. In , Dark, Depression, For a contest, Love• Commented on by judge.
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To see him and love him, / For which he will never know, / Because im the girl in the corner, / Just like the lonley crow, / I know he love• Commented on by judge.
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POEM:1 / Her vacant stare / penetrates my eyes, / It is no more abandoned / than her heart, / As she tells me, / She will never / love me.by Lizz Emm 100 words, 8 comments, on Jun 7 8:32 PM 2007. In• Commented on by judge.
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by ArdLiath <100 words, 9 comments, on Apr 2 3:10 PM 2007. In , First person, Inspirational, Poetry, Spiritual• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Words like venom1 / 2 / Sting like poison3 / 4 / Sticking to my heart• Commented on by judge.
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I spread my wings, / But realise I have none, / Nevertheless, I take the daring plunge. / I drifted into darkness, / But before I closed my eyes, / I thought I felt strong arms around me - a• Commented on by judge.
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Way up there / In the sky / A glistening Twinkle / Catches your eye / In amazement / You can't help but stare / At the shimmering dots / Of which you are awareby DemApples <100 words, 3 comments, on May 1 9:25 PM 2007• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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"James" / My heart, my soul, my bliss ~ / Unyielding, unending eternal love ~ / Soul binding, sun shining, splendid bliss! / You're with meby Veritaserum 200 words, 16 comments, on Jun 14 10:04 PM 2007. In , Dark, Depression, First person, Love, Romance• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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Poems are being removed from the contest...
for failure to follow any one of my rules. The foremost two reasons are poor grammar/punctuation or use of more than seven lines. If your poem has been removed and you don't understand why, please message me and I'll gladly explain.
PLEASE, read the example poems! That is the sort of poem I'm looking for--the emotion of a single moment, not your life story. Think haiku, not ballad. -
Heeeheee i love this contest!
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I'm glad you do! I must say, I don't: I feel like no one understands the concept of a short poem. :-) Has nobody read the example poems? I have the feeling this is going to be a very hard contest to judge, for the simple reason that none of the poems are what I'm looking for. They're all very enjoyable, they just don't fit the critera, that's all.
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