Versification ~ Bag End Poetry Relay 2007

2007-12-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

Bag End Poet Of The Year 2007 - Kevin James Rowley.

Leading with an incredible 28.5% of the votes the Bag End Poet Of The Year 2007 is Nivek with his March entry "UNEEDA". CONGRATULATIONS NIVEK!!!! A close runner up with 21.4% of the votes was Berenice's October entry.

Well done to everyone and thank you to all of you for making this year's challenge such a success. Both the challenges set and the entries posted were outstanding. I am very appreciative of all your hard work at Bag End.

Here's to the next challenge in January 2008 - to be jointly set by Nivek and the November winner Brainhaven.

A Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!

Berenice

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Winning poem)

*Note: the following ad is based on actual events, tho at times it may not be...

"UNEEDA'

You need a Nivek, that you do-
A Nivek who is tried and true!
A Nivek copy just won't do!
only the original will satisfy you!

You need a poet now and then,
A Nivek can rhyme again and again!
And when you have a heart to mend,
A nivek is a SUPER friend!

Have a wall that needs a nail?
Nivek's hammer NEVER fails!
Need some firewood split in two?
Nivek's axe is there for YOU!

Sometimes parties are a bore..
Nivek brings laughter and more!
And if you have a few too many,
You can ride home in his semi!

have a feild that's full of weeds?
With Nivek spraying it's a breeze!
Computer giving you hard times?
Let nivek at it, you'll be fine!

Nivek"s fully guarranteed,
And if by chance you ever need,
an even better piece of heaven,
just flip your Nivek, you've got a KEVIN!

You need a Nivek, don't you see?
You need a nivek, just like me!
No wallet crunching bills to shrink,
Nivek's cheaper than you think!

© Kevin James Rowley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I Feel"

The grand master of my life has robbed me
of love,laughter,wisdom and my beauty.
He has given me a pot belly,ulcers,and false teeth.
He has taken away dreams of fame and fortune,
and left the nightmares of ugly reality in trade.

Through the snares and gashes in the dark veil
that envelopes my soul I catch glimpses of
half forgotten memories and the faint smell of yesterdays,
as if left on display just slightly farther away
than my mind can reach to grasp,as if left
there to remind me of what could have been, of
what should have been,of what now will never be.
To remind me of the mistakes I have made.

I tear at the veil,mental fingers stretched out,
grabbing desparatly into the vast nothingness
that holds everything,grasping for a single scrap of hope,
a single brush against new love,a small thread of happiness.
My wishes do not bring them closer,and my mind returns
to it's dark cage with cold,empty hands,calloused from years
of prying up unturned rocks and covering up overexposed feelings,
worn thin and aching after years of beating against
the futility of false hope, shattered dreams,and the harshness of reality.

I curse at my god, for he has forsaken me in my time of need.
He has taken all that is good from my soul,and left me with but one scrap of usefull information:that if I were to escape from
these chains that bind my immagination to this dark hole,if
I could finally rip open the cages, tear off the veils, and step
once again into the light of the way things used to be
and could be again,and finally grasp what has been kept
out of reach,then I might finally come to understand that He is not the hate-filled evil torturer that has all these years been
beating me down at every oportunity, but that He is my savior,
with me when i need him the most and when i need him the least.

He is a part of me as much as I am a part of him.

I am the grand master of my life.

© Kevin James Rowley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...Dedicated to all present and past members of the Bagend Poetry Forum...

It's my life revolving softly as I'm standing in one place,
And the years are drifting slowly through my body and my face,
While the memories I remember either drift away or stay,
It's my life revolving softly while I age.

Years before I knew you I was getting to know me,
And the things I was to do would make the person I would be,
And the person I became would show himself in poetry,
It's my life revolving softly while you read.

And you never knew what you would see,
About the person that was me,
As you would read my poetry,
And laugh or cry to rhyme.
And I never knew what I would write,
As I would sit down late at night,
And try and find some words just right,
To say what's on my mind.

Now it seems I've drifted away from you over time,
And it seems I seldom visit and I seldom write a line,
Bills to pay and body pain now occupy my mind,
It's my life revolving softly past my prime.

But life revolving will not take away the time we've shared,
The memories may fade but know they always will be there,
I recall so many folks I've known and who have cared,
As life revolves so softly you are there.

So here I come to write again,
That you are all my special friends,
And for you I pick up my pen,
And offer you this toast.
With all I've done and all I've seen,
And all the places that I've been,
When I think of what it all means,
I think you mean the most...

To Bagend,by Kevin James Rowley,
November 15,2007,
written between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm..

© Kevin James Rowley

November 2007.

2007-11-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Berenice. Date: November 1 2007.

THE NOVEMBER UNIVOCALIC PICTURE CHALLENGE.

Based on the picture below write a univocalic poem.

A univocalic poem is a poem where only one vowel is used. For example C.C. Bombaugh wrote a poem which contains only the vowel "o"

"No cool monsoons blow soft on Oxford dons,
Orthodox, jog-trot, book-worm Solomons"

Your poem may be in any style in which you choose to write. There are no length limits. All I request is that you let the picture inspire you and choose just the one vowel. I am going to bravely attempt to write an example poem. Please post your entry (you may post up to two) in a new thread in the Parlour by the end of Wednesday November 14th. I am posting this challenge a few days early and you are more than welcome to enter before November 1st. I look forward to reading your poems.

Any questions - please ask away. Good luck!! B xx

This is the final challenge of 2007. In December we will vote for the Bag End Poet Of The Year 2007 from all the featured poets chosen this year. The Poet Of The Year will team up with the winner from this November Challenge in order to set the first challenge in January 2008. If they happen to be one and the same person they will have to team up with themselves!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ brainhaven.

Alas, that a chaparral mask
Can’t allay dawn’s harsh amaranth rays.
Hang back, stand fast abaft haphazard branch’s warps and snarls:
Dawn’s adamant march always saws and stamps away,
And sparks day’s mad wrack and spasm.

brainhaven.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First of all I feel obliged to apologise for such a difficult challenge. I never meant it to be that way. I am so impressed by the way you rose to the challenge - seven entries none the less!! And Laura was brave enough to attempt it twice.

Thank you to everyone who entered. I truly appreciate such support in our challenges. I would like to extend a particular thank you to the two newer members who entered, brainhaven and backstreetdreamer.

But how to pick a winner?! In my eyes you are all winners! Shame I can’t choose all seven.

A few observations first. The photograph was taken through the hedgerow up the top of my mum’s back field in mid Wales. As far as I can remember it was taken around the middle of October.

The poets/poems in no particular order:

rhymetimeblue - You made the challenge look so easy. I really enjoyed your atmospheric poem. Despite the fact that I knew the picture had been taken at an earlier time of day I could visualise the twilight setting you gave it. Having used “I” myself I have to agree with Alan’s observation that it was the easiest vowel to accommodate. All those extras that can be included!

Laura - Two poems!! I struggled to write one. I like the method you mentioned after your second poem, a technique which I shamelessly pinched and adapted for myself. Your second poem has a wistful visual quality which took me right back to the moment I stood there with my camera. And your first poem changed the mood altogether. A brilliant image of Spring.

Mary - Your poem came closest to my mood when I took the picture. I found it hard to unwind some of the time during that particular visit to my mum and when we were walking around the back field I looked through the hedge and saw that dramatic sky. When I read your poem I realised that you had somehow captured a little of my feelings upon seeing it.

brainhaven - Awesome. What can I say. I almost expected to see the bard himself come and wrap a whole play around your poem. Being bit of a fan of Shakespeare your entry really appeals to me. Univocalic Shakespeare. now there’s an idea….

Alan - Whatever you say I reckon yours is an interpretation of the picture. Short and sweet and very effective. Your poem has you stamped all over it, your brilliant directness and clarity. The setting in the picture could well be that of the lovers meeting place? What do you think?

backstreetdreamer - “the tender sleep where secrets creep where even verses never sleep” This is absolutely beautiful. Your verse really struck a chord with me. It very much summed up the setting in which the photograph was taken. It is a gentle place in the heart of a beautiful country and you managed to capture its essence so well.

Before I announce the winner I would like to remind you all that this is the final challenge of 2007. In December we will vote for the Bag End Poet Of The Year 2007 from all the featured poets chosen this year. The Poet Of The Year will team up with the winner from this November Challenge in order to set the first challenge in January 2008. If they happen to be one and the same person they will have to team up with themselves!

And so, almost to the moment of truth, but first: in joint second place are backstreetdreamer & Laura (with her second entry). Congratulations to both of you!! In first place, as Bag End Featured Poet for November, I am very pleased to announce, is….. brainhaven. Congratulations brainhaven!!! You will need to wait to see who you are teaming up with to set your challenge in January. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with for us.

Thank you to everyone for participating in this and all the other challenges. B xx

October 2007.

2007-10-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Alan. Date: October 1 2007.

Dear Friends,

If I were the ruler of the world ....

OK, that is your first line (or part of), now what ?

Any form or none, any length, style etc etc

I am deliberately leaving the rules wide open cuz I want EVEYONE not only to be able to take part, but actually to DO SO !

Points will be awarded for originality and fun.

Love
Alan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Berenice.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WAR.
(how to grow successful daffodils)

If I were the ruler of the world;
I would request that warring factions
all, before taking up arms, consider this.

Each and every one of you, upon
the very spot where you intend
to break the blood of your brother
and sister, dig (not in any orderly
lines, but where they might fall) for
each human whose life you plan to
still, a hole. Then take these
shriveled, apparently dead bulbs,
place them in, cover and wait.

And wait. And when your heart
aches, your fingers fidget upon
the trigger, your boots grow
mouldy through lack of polish,
and the feet in them pain with
the cold of waiting one winter
to butcher humanity - still wait.

One day, you will see, in whatever
barren graveyard to which you were
sent, a minute green shoot. This is life.
Nurture it. Let it rise. Let it grow up
strong. Watch what it does. Watch
the crown of gold lift up to the sky
and nod a knowing acquaintance with you.

For it recognises you as he or she
who allowed it to live. And when you
see that nod, you may walk. Walk through
Wordsworth's daffodils. Take note of
how many your brothers and sisters
have planted alongside yours. This is
your communal burial ground. Your dying
place. When reaching the other end,
you may now lift up your arms and kill.

If you so choose.

Berenice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friends,

I thank you all for entering my challenge, and I was pleased to find so many rising to it.

I really enjoyed the viewpoints expressed by all, and commend all entrants, but for sheer majesty of idea, and for superb execution, I have to agree with Laura's original sentiment : it's Berenice ! Hail the Queen of Bag End !

Love
Alan

September 2007.

2007-09-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Laura. Date: September 1 2007.

For the September challenge I want to focus on similies and metaphors. Write any form, any length, including at least 3 similies using the following words or phrases and at least 3 metaphors. 'Like' and 'is' can be interchanged as well as singular or plural used.

Similies:
touch, soft as....
monotonous voice like...
children scatter like....
river meandered like....
days pass like....
stars, brilliant as...
discontent is like...
autumn leaves like...
emotions like...

Words to pair with metaphors:
moon
rain
emotions
lips
music
river
songbird
breeze
scarf

Here's to great writing...clink. Any questions?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Alan.

LIFE IS LIKE A BOWL OF PITS

Her touch, soft as butterflies’ wings,
yet hard, like a hammer’s blow,
triggered my champagne emotions,
which had been bursting to be uncorked

Into my life, whose days had passed
with the buoyancy of lead-weighted balloons,
came autumn leaves - invading paratroopers;
and stars, brilliant as any Vegas slot’s spew

My conserved and chronic discontent,
almost like a winter’s permanent rain,
was as children, scattered, like the confetti
pre-dating them, in a light breeze

and the monotonous voice in my head,
so like an early ring-tone
by Shostakovich (music to divorce by),
burst into poly-chromatic Mozartian splendour

My forever pursed lemon lips even smiled :
those smiles like a rain of boomerangs
coming home to roost, no longer
pale under a moon of faded passions

But - beware the swan as songbird :
Fate, a river meandering like the Maeander River
created a deluge of litigation. The light breeze
of wedding formalities became a storm of divorce proceedings

which like locusts, consume me whole;
the sun, enveloped by a scarf of spinning planets
is stubbed out, the moon drops like a stone
into my tranquil pool, becoming a tsunami of happiness

Alan McAlpine Douglas

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was SO hard. All the entries were good ones...so here goes.

Ellen - I really enjoyed your poem. I thought it was very well written and descriptive. I hope to see you around here more often.

Berenice - I love your entry. You really took me into your anxiety phase that you shared with us. Wonderful writing.

Alan - I'm declaring you the winner. You were the only one who used at least 3 similes and 3 metaphors using the words on the list. (please, someone correct me if I'm wrong). And you REALLY went all out by using them all. So...TAG...you're it.

Sorry I was so late getting this done. Life has been chaotic.

Laura.

August 2007.

2007-08-01T02:41:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Mike. Date: August 1 2007.

Hello all!
I’ve been racking my brain to come up with a challenge for you all
So here it is
Since Kevin (nivek) has a new home and Laura nearly has a new home
and I believe Alan is thinking of a new home (in another country)
The thought came to me

I’d like you to write a poem any type any length:
Money no object,
Where in the world,
you’re ideal home;
with whom and be the person dead
or alive or no born yet
or on your own.
One, some, or all of the above
(Not what you have now
I want you to let your imagination run wild)
Mike.
Ps, for an added challenge! you could try to fit into your poem as many of the words in B’s “word challenge” (in the parlour)

The words so far:

BLAND
Blend
Bleed
Blue
Glue
Glum
Plum
Plume
Plump
Slump
Clump
Clamp
Cramp
Tramp
Tromp
Trump
Crump
Stump
Stamp
Stomp
Stome
stove
stave
stale

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Laura.

Silent breezes
tease a sheer curtain
in this seaside cottage.
The seagull cries
blend with waves
lap...lap...lapping on the shore.

Mingling scents
of seaweed
and cottage garden roses
calm the senses.

At dusk
the sky is brushed
with purple and red,
intensifying with each stroke
as the hues spill into the bay.

Across the island a
snow capped mountain
becomes cotton candy pink
as a full moon rises behind
silhouetted trumpeter swans
on their journey to water.

Sea breezes
whisper secrets
through fir and madrona trees
as retiring waves say goodnight
to the shore.

Laura.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am so sorry about not being able to come to this challenge
and leave any comments; the supplier of my phone line is doing work on the line
and since they have been mucking about my access to you all has been from five minutes to not being able to get on line.

I copy all four poems (ok, ok three poems and one prose)

All four pieces written for this challenge are excellent
I think they all technically brilliant, 8-)I wish I could write as well as you all do :-[.
So the only way I can pick a winner is to pick the one which appeals to me the most.
The winner is: Laura

Congratulations Laura, I hope you have time to set the next challenge
Mike

July 2007.

2007-07-01T02:37:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Alan. Date: July 1 2007.

Hello Friends,

I'm going to go back to something that our late friend Dale Edmands did so well - a Buzz challenge, where you have to use a list of 10 words in a poem.

You are allowed to use derivatives, ie milk could be milks or milky.

Here are your 10 words :

soup
suspicion
contradict
support
quiz

jobsworth
craft
incorporate
dispose
sprite

Enjoy !

Love
Alan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Mkevs.

Words used:
soup suspicion contradict support quiz
jobsworth craft incorporate dispose sprite

My banker

Since crawling out of the primeval soup
This man has been spouting poop.

Suspicion is met by contradiction;
Questions asked, I’ll face crucifixion,

Support removed, replaced by a quiz
This jobsworth weaves this spell of his,

Obsessed with showing the skill of his craft
“Incorporate or dispose?” He just laughed

He has a plan to put it all right,
A loan for daddy’s little sprite.

Mike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Friends,

I have to say I am sorry that so few managed to beat those terrible words I chose ! So fantastic kudos go to Pam, who managed to beat them twice in a very fine way, she is the quantity winner of this challenge, but Mike really hit my funnybone several times with his diatribe about his banker - I could have expressed the same sentiments many times over.

So sorry Pam, I am chosing Mike as the quality winner, but only because of the message he so ably put forward !

Well done to both of you, and thanks to B's brain for the gentle nudge.

Love
Alan

June 2007.

2007-06-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Pam. Date: June 1 2007.

I can’t believe I missed the post date for this challenge! I’ve had it sitting on my computer since my two were posted.

friend,
open,
romantic,
versatile,
visual,
contact,
practical,
medium,
guiding,
statuesque
quiet
serene
artistic

Use this list of words, pick a name of one of the other members of Bag End Poetry and build a poem around that name, no longer than 28 lines, any style and using at least 6 of the words from the word list. It can be your true impressions of that person or it can be total fantasy; your choice. Please mark the list words used so that they can be easily seen:

(eg mkev is a friend** of mine
open** to romantic** line)

Please remember the deadline for submission will be Thursday, June 16, 2007, since I posted it two days late.

I’m expecting some wonderful poetry from you folks and can’t wait to get reading it.

Pam

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Alan.

Dear Friends, and especially Pritha,

Pritha's statement that NONE of the challenge words applied to her seemed like a red rag to me - so Pritha, I hope you don't mind, I have dedicated this acrostic to you, and made ALL those words apply. It is, of course, entirely a work of fiction, except for the last line !

Will you ever speak to me again ?

Love
Alan

MY SERENE FRIEND (acrostic monorhyme)

Practical, not
Romantic, a lot
Indian, I spot
That versatile dot
Her statuesque spot
Artistic, like blot

From Rorschach - what rot !
Re guiding trot
Of visual knot
Medium clot

Bollywood plot
Open, and shot
Mumbai, I think not
But quiet as grave plot
A contact to jot
You, my serene friend, I have got ....

Alan McAlpine Douglas

Challenge words : practical romantic versatile statuesque
artistic guiding visual medium open serene contact quiet friend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All entries were as delightful as I suspected they would be. It was a hard decision but I finally have to announce that I have chosen Alan McAlpine Douglas for his poem “My Serene Friend” a fabulous acrostic poem and a monorhyme. Please join me in congratulating Alan, although my congratulations go out to the other participants for a great job, well done!

Fair is fair, this would have been my submission:

friend,
open,
romantic,
versatile,
visual,
contact,
practical,
medium,
guiding,
statuesque
quiet
serene
artistic

Challenged

I laughed so hard I couldn’t sit
When my friend,** Alan showed his wit;
An open** invitation to
Join the fun with all of you.

Then Mike wrote in romantic** style
Of Bag End Poets, versatile**
And so supportive, practical**
In their own way, quite magical.

Then Mary, too, climbed right on board;
With artistic** humour, laughter soared,
A visual** look at girl and guy;
When moving had them on the fly.

© 2007 Pam H. Murray

May 2007.

2007-05-01T00:16:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Mary. Date: May 1 2007.

MAY CHALLENGE

I took this idea from “The Poet’s Companion” A guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry.

Brainstorm a list of words you identify with the city, such as:

skyscraper
crosswalk
asphalt
balcony
dumpster
ghetto
bus

Then make another list of words that are often used to describe the natural world, such as:

clouds
riverbed
granite
waterfall
ravine
mountain
rainforest

Now write a descriptive poem about the city, using words from your natural world list.

OR

Write a descriptive poem about the country, using your city word list.

You can use some or all of these words that I provided or you can use your own. Try to use at least five to seven words or even more if you are feeling creative. The more the better. Please post your list of words with your poem.

Hopefully, mixing things up like this will spark fresh ideas and interesting language

Entry deadline is May 14th. Have fun.

Mary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Pam.

Song of the Sitka

A towering skyscraper above the riverbed,
Moonlit asphalt colour winding slowly
Past a hidden path of doe and faun
A crosswalk through the brush;
It’s mighty branches form a balcony
For watching squirrels
Chittering at campers making dumpsters
Of their world
And the campsite ghetto left behind.
Like little old folk waiting at a bus stop
They gossip the morning away
As the shadow of the monolith
Slowly surrounds their perch
And the sitka shakes his needles
In the evening breeze.

© 2007 Pam H. Murray

Gang Fight

Great thunderclouds of emotion rise
Over the back streets
Which become a riverbed of blood
Against the granite cliffs of a derelict warehouse.
Tears become the waterfall
That flows down the ravine between it and its neighbour
As the mountain of maimed youth
Attempts to scramble
From the distance sound of approaching sirens
Making the song of the jungle complete.
The rainforest sound of traffic one street over
Carries the tune.

© 2007 Pam H. Murray

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WINNER of the May Challenge.

Hi everyone, I know you have been patiently waiting for the results of the May Challenge. This has been the most difficult challenge that I have had to judge. I copied and pasted all the entries into one document. I read them over and over, but I still couldn’t decide. Let me say that each and every entry was so good. They were all so descriptive and creative. I loved the language in them. Then I decided to print each one out. I tried to decide that way. I would pick one, then put them aside. Then when I came back to them, I would change my mind. I did this 3 or 4 times. I was going crazy, because they were all so good.

I want to say that each one of these entries are winners and I thank you all for participation. You can all be very proud of your work. My job is to make a decision so that is what I must do. Pam, congratulations on both of your poems. A very creative pair.

Mary.

April 2007.

2007-04-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

Challenger: Nivek. Date: April 1 2007.

Bubba's April Challenge

"Life is like a box of..."

I am sure everyone by now has seen the movie "Forrest Gump".

One of the key sayings from that movie is the famous "Life is like a box of chocolates-you never know what you are going to get" line...

But life could be like other grocery items as well, couldn't it? I think so! Thus the challenge...

I want you to pick any five of the following items,and tell me why life is like those items.

the rules are simple... four lines per item,making a poem length of twenty-four lines...

24 lines??? Oh, I forgot to mention-the last four lines are for the conclusion of the poem, to sum it all up, and must begin with "Life is like a grocery store..."or something simmilar!

Other than that, anything goes! Entries must be in by April 14th...

and now, the list ... where applicable, and if it makes it easier,you can specify a certain flavor/variety,but it is not nessesarry. Also, i will leave it up to you to decide how to buy the items, be it in a box, pail, can,bag,jar, ect. , so it might be a bag of candy, a jar of candy,a box of candy,a pack of candy,excetra.

have fun!

cornflakes ... jello ... potatoes

cookies ... pickles ... milk

onions ... sardines ... soup

peanut butter ... mustard ... candy

ground beef ... pork chops ... sausage

pizza ... ice cream ... jelly

cat food ... band-aid ... asprin

cola ... vinigar ... sugar

eggs ... pie ... pasta

Nivek.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winner ~ Mary.

Life is like a sack of potatoes,
a rotten one will always surprise you.
You won’t notice from the outside,
but eventually you will smell the stink.

Or it could be like a dozen eggs,
we have the hard core,
those who fry their brains
and the fragile, who break easily.

And it can even be like cat food,
you have to be very careful
of what you ingest,
lest you get poisoned.

Life can be like cookies too,
sometimes fresh,
like a new born baby
or crumbly like a lil old lady.

Worst of all, it’s like sugar,
sweet words to your face,
but then you find out
it has dumped fat on your thighs.

Life is like a grocery store,
don’t be fooled by brightly colored packaging.
Be choosy and inspect everything carefully;
look deep into the heart for authenticity.

Mary,
2007

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE JUDGEMENT DAY COMETH...

first of all, i want to thank everyone who entered a challenge poem, who posted replies to them, and who waited to hear what the verdict will be. personally, i think each and every member of bagend is remakable and a winner in their own way, and i am hounured to be able to share some small bit of my life with you, and get a peek at the other side of the fence as well!

I realised, after posting this challenge, just how difficult it was...i could hardly even start a poem for it! But life is full of challenges, and that is what makes it so "fun" at times, while at other times it is fun. I gave you the rules to follow, but ,as in life, rules get pretty bent or broken at times,and that i understand. It is the basic description of life i am looking for as much as following the rules. And, if by chance you can do both, even better!

as for the entries, all are exceptional! Way to go everyone! As others have stated at times, it can be hard to choose a winner!

Congratulations, Mary!

Nivek.

March 2007.

2007-03-01T01:23:00.000-08:00

Challenger: Berenice. Date: March 1 2007.

Can you sell ice to the Eskimos?

We live in a world of advertising. It flashes and screams at us from shop windows, hoardings, computer screens, newspapers, flyers, our television sets and much much more. I am a hard to please punter and it takes a lot to convince me to buy. Can you do it?

Okay, this is the deal - I am the buyer, you are the seller. I would like you to choose any product or service, either real or imaginary, and try to convince me that this is the ONE and ONLY thing which I need (note NEED not WANT). AND I would like you to do this in verse.

Your mission is to, within the space of thirty two lines of verse or less, make me say "WOW!! HOW ON EARTH HAVE I EXISTED THIS LONG WITHOUT THIS THING?!"

Please post your "poetic advertisement" in a new thread within the Parlour. Entries need to be in by Wednesday March 14th. The winner will be the one who makes me want to buy!!

B xx

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Winner ~ Nivek.

*Note: the following ad is based on actual events, tho at times it may not be...

"UNEEDA'

You need a Nivek, that you do-
A Nivek who is tried and true!
A Nivek copy just won't do!
only the original will satisfy you!

You need a poet now and then,
A Nivek can rhyme again and again!
And when you have a heart to mend,
A nivek is a SUPER friend!

Have a wall that needs a nail?
Nivek's hammer NEVER fails!
Need some firewood split in two?
Nivek's axe is there for YOU!

Sometimes parties are a bore..
Nivek brings laughter and more!
And if you have a few too many,
You can ride home in his semi!

have a feild that's full of weeds?
With Nivek spraying it's a breeze!
Computer giving you hard times?
Let nivek at it, you'll be fine!

Nivek"s fully guarranteed,
And if by chance you ever need,
an even better piece of heaven,
just flip your Nivek, you've got a KEVIN!

You need a Nivek, don't you see?
You need a nivek, just like me!
No wallet crunching bills to shrink,
Nivek's cheaper than you think!

Kevin Rowley,
2007

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I quite like my body as a whole, even got some extra pounds of it that I could sell, but a new body part or two would be good. A Nivek, now that’s an interesting and versatile purchase. A screwdriver and a pen of any sort fall into the category of “have got dozens but can never find when needed”. Maybe I should take a box of both. A BOGOFF!! I love a bargain!! Means I could mix a smile with poetic muse. Or do they have to be two of the same? I suppose I could nip back in a time machine and buy again.

But what to buy! I have my pennies jangling in my pocket and want all these goodies!! But, I’m going to have to be ruthless and choose just one. So - a body I already have and it came inclusive with a smile and poetic muse, screwdrivers and pens (even smart) I’ve had too many of and mislaid, BOGOFFs are great but offer too much choice for my already confused brain. Now what does that leave me with? A Nivek, a time machine. A time machine, a Nivek. Nivek, time machine. Time machine, Nivek. Difficult. How do I choose. I’ve never ever had either and each has purchase appeal. But I did state that I wanted to buy ONE thing. So, it has to be, a, I would like to buy a Nivek please.

All the poems and products are great and I enjoyed reading them very much. Thank you everyone for your entries. I am staggered and delighted by the response!! Dawn, Mary, Pam, Pritha, Mike, Alan and Kevin - in my eyes you are all winners. Sadly I could only choose one to top the pile. (Who set the flipping rules anyway!!) So congratulations Kevin!!!

B xx

February 2007.

2007-02-01T03:21:00.000-08:00

Challenger: Mkevs. Date: February 1 2007.

Hello people
My turn again (Thank you Mary)
I’m in nosy mode and want to know it all

Post a photo/picture that best represents you and or the world around you
Along with any poem any length this one is up to you; (show me the picture in words).

If you have a picture, but can’t post; sent it to me and I’ll post it for you
(My e-mail addy is in my profile; click on mkevs to find it)
Or if you don’t have a picture no worries, paint me a picture with words
(word pictures are the best)

(I pinched this idea for the Christmas card thingy we never did)
Mike.

Please note:
This forum is open to the public.
Any questions don’t hesitate to ask

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Winner ~ Berenice.

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Thank you Mary, Pam ,dawn and Berenice for all of these wonderful poems and pictures. I hate this part; having pick just one above the others, so here we go with the nits on your poem, as much as they are (see below)

Mary,
A wonderful haiga
The picture is marvellous and the ku is good and would’ve been better with
(as you say) “an autumn breeze” but this is only a minor nit
and as I don’t know much about ku and the like so it doesn’t matter
I still like it.

Pam,
A breathtaking poem
Also with this poem I have one minor nit it has no picture but,
who needs a picture when you can paint with words.

Dawn
Another wonderful haiga
I like the ku; this can be taken two ways as I see it,
The young bird in amongst the rocks or the narrator.
And if I’m being really picky
I’d say the picture is a little to abstract for me

Berenice.
An overwhelming poem; makes me both happy and sad in one go
That you have so much love and sad that he is no longer there to receive it.
I have a small nit though I think you could crop the picture a little from the right hand side

I still can not separate them.
I flipped a coin, but lost it when it dropped and rolled out of sight.
I asked the wife but she’s not interested.
I read and showed them to my dogs; they just looked at me as if I’d just arrived from the moon. I know I said “who hasn’t had a poem featured before” you all have.
This is so painful to do.
So here it is! I choose Berenice’s poem for its slightly stronger emotion
This for me was the only thing that separated the poems.
Again thank you all for posting.
Mike.

January 2007.

2007-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Challenger: Mary. Date: January 1 2007.

Every New Year, everyone gets all psyched up and has great intentions for making and keeping a New Year’s Resolution, myself included. These are the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions, taken from this link

http://pittsburgh.about.com/cs/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm

1) Spend More Time with Family & Friends
Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year.

2) Fit in Fitness
The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.

3) Tame the Bulge
Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese ]by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions.
Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New
Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.

4) Quit Smoking
If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-
smoking aids. Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, don't let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life!

5) Enjoy Life More
Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a popular resolution in recent years. It's an important step to a happier and
healthier you!

6) Quit Drinking
While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold
turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available.

7) Get Out of Debt
Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It's a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead.

8) Learn Something New
Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep. Challenge your mind in the coming year, and your horizons will
expand.

9) Help Others
A popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house,
there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help.

10) Get Organized
On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or
your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life.

O.K., for the January Challenge, I would like you to either write about your own New Year’s resolution, pick one of these resolutions and write about it, or if you would like, just write in general about resolutions, kept or broken, how stupid they are or you can go in any direction that your lil ole heart desires :)

Any style or format, but please, no longer than 30 lines

But most of all, have fun :) Happy New year :)

Mary

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Winner ~ Mkevs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I have to say that this is the most difficult challenge that I have had to judge thus far. The entries are all so great and it is very hard to pick one. Thank you Dawn, Mike, SuZ and Pam for your entries.

Dawn, your is a big WOW. When I look at it, it is so striking and beautiful. It immediately lifts the spirit. The colors so vibrant and your poem is absolutely lovely. You made it very easy to visualize your new year wishes floating to the moon.

Mike, you captured such a wonderful image revealing a broken down world with the reflection on the globe. And to further this feeling, it sits on a cracked stand. You cropped the image to put the focus where it needs to be. When you add your thoughtful ku, it brings the haiga to perfection.

SuZ, your poem is so delightful. I love how you bring out the different aspects of nature. Your resolve gives me more resolve to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Your right,
nature is a miracle.

Pam, your poem really brings to light how resolutions never get very far. You had some so many great lines in your very well written poem. You brought the reader in with fantastic metaphors. I loved it and enjoyed it immensely, especially

Broken before we breathe
A shrug
A sense of failure

Flying around in January snow
Freezing to eyelashes
And tear stained faces

Fading into February
Put away like dreams of Santa Claus
In dusty boxes

So now I have to pick one. You can see why this is such a difficult decision. I copied them all into one document and re-read them again and again. And then again. And then decided that Mike, you are the winner of the challenge for the reasons stated above.

Congratulations Mike :)

Mary