Held: Mar 12-18, 2009 Participants: Charles Fry, Tom Lokovic, Rob Malkin, Charles Schafer, Dominic Widdows Challenge: Write a poem in 20 lines or less that satisfies AT LEAST THREE of the following four constraints:
Why did they need both the Atlantic and the Pacific? Wasn't one great body of water sufficient? For one body once it was. Gathered together unto one place. When the dry land appeared. And on the land was the tree of life. Neither evergreen nor deciduous. Simply eternal. But too much for them, apparently. For they were driven from it. Cast into mortality. Separated by the flaming sword. And two insurmountable oceans. by Charles Fry Ganges by Tom Lokovic You'll see me tomorrow but it won't be me. In the Ganges, today's water flows through yesterday's channel and carves the river to be. I'll see you tomorrow but it won't be you. The cork tree in spring casts new shadows, reflects without being the tree that you knew. Every moment's a goodbye which the foolish mourn and desperately deny. "Yesterday is here, It will always be," they insist, and close their eyes. But this whole valley is deciduous. To see evergreens you've got to climb. Paper or plastic? Plainly he's angry, arms akimbo, glasses askew, awaiting my decision. Deciduous or evergreen, don't doubt the distinction's vital. Mostly vertical, verdant year-round? Best bags are thus begun. Bagger baiting's a guilty pleasure, giving grocers grief a game, but this guy's face falls on the floor. Tears tell a terrible tale; this man's been mocked too much. The Mon's no match for the surge I see streaming from soggy sockets. Shouldn't have shocked him, a shameful act. Atone! Atone! Assist this broken bagger, bawling, beside himself with anguish, afflicted with agony by my malice. Manager moseys over to berate me. You broke it, you bought it, buster! He hands me both halves of the bifurcated bagger. Bewildered at our break We three walk out weeping, wondering at the karma that created this conclusion. by Rob Malkin ten foot wide by Charles Schafer I was blinded by the beauty of Lake Pymatuming. No. That is jive. Would you upend this life in Hollidaysburg for the right prize? Let's roll in Oil City, Nanty-glo, Scalp Level. Travel broadens the mind. Let's day trip until our heads are ten foot wide. Oak and Pine by Dominic Widdows Day and night, land and sea Hard and soft, now before time From dripping oaken islands In the sea the distant roamed To a peaceful ocean coast of dunes And pine trees growing from the sands. Head in cloud, feet in beach, They sing to me and each to each I am here, and far away Apart and whole © - The works on this site are the copyright of the respective authors, and are reproduced here with permission. |