Poetry competition CLOSED 11th November 2018 3:15pm
WINNER
Astyanax (Ceejay)
Astyanax (Ceejay)
RUNNERS-UP:
PoetsRevenge
and EleazarSwan
Anti-War Poem
To Arlington
Have you been to Arlington?
A dreadful sight to see
To gaze ahead at those long dead
Springs readily to me
Go see them there at Arlington!
The cross of memory
The tombs of lead of those long dead
Who fought for you and me
Don't weep for those at Arlington!
For tears have flowed far more than blood
By those who haven't tasted death
But tasted of its torrent flood
Recall the souls of Arlington!
The men who fought for freedom's cause
And when your mind drifts down to war
Give space to life
And pause.
A dreadful sight to see
To gaze ahead at those long dead
Springs readily to me
Go see them there at Arlington!
The cross of memory
The tombs of lead of those long dead
Who fought for you and me
Don't weep for those at Arlington!
For tears have flowed far more than blood
By those who haven't tasted death
But tasted of its torrent flood
Recall the souls of Arlington!
The men who fought for freedom's cause
And when your mind drifts down to war
Give space to life
And pause.
Written by EleazarSwan
Go To Page
PoetsRevenge said:
If I may ask, how strict is the word count of 150 max? I went a little over and I noticed some of the other entries did too, I had trouble keeping mine any shorter, don't know if I will be able to change it, just wondering if it will disqualify because of it? Thanks, great comp idea..
Hello PoetsRevenge, I see I've not been doing my job! and have now noticed 4 (I think) poems over a 150 word-count. At this point my attitude is to take a relaxed approach to word-count, the essence of the competition not being in strict-form/rules but rather to encourage people to look at their relationship to war, to articulate some insights and emotional engagement calling war "to account" - part of which is also living with its after-effects. My intention behind the "keep it short" was an indication to avoid hugely long poems. I'm hoping no-one who wrote shorter poems is unduly miffed. I suggest leave your poem as it is. Josh.
If I may ask, how strict is the word count of 150 max? I went a little over and I noticed some of the other entries did too, I had trouble keeping mine any shorter, don't know if I will be able to change it, just wondering if it will disqualify because of it? Thanks, great comp idea..
Hello PoetsRevenge, I see I've not been doing my job! and have now noticed 4 (I think) poems over a 150 word-count. At this point my attitude is to take a relaxed approach to word-count, the essence of the competition not being in strict-form/rules but rather to encourage people to look at their relationship to war, to articulate some insights and emotional engagement calling war "to account" - part of which is also living with its after-effects. My intention behind the "keep it short" was an indication to avoid hugely long poems. I'm hoping no-one who wrote shorter poems is unduly miffed. I suggest leave your poem as it is. Josh.
it was a war for peace...
a war for peace ended
leaving the pieces scattered
all across the races...
accepting the result.
with calamities remained
in the depth of the hearts
bottled up tightly...
time to time
they ignite
the faded ember
keeping the spark
burning the hope
for generations...
…and end of it all
the blood will dry
bodies will dissolve
with another war
for another
( p i e c e )
.
Written by dejure
(vick)
Go To Page
Hero Of The Republic
On the large monitor
he located the target's exact position.
Remotely, he guided the drone
precisely 2000 feet straight over it;
the drone
carrying a one thousand megaton bomb.
He stated his readiness.
Τhe go ahead was given.
Firmly the button he pressed.
On the large monitor
the target and everything around it went up in smoke.
He stated the hit.
Thumps up were given in return.
Next morning
the news' report on the mission, he watched.
Five enemy military leaders were killed.
Also mentioned, five hundred civilian casualties
- babies, children, women, old folk -
and more than double injuries.
- Enemy used shield to protect its leaders -
Later that day
at a ceremony attended by his family
he was awarded the highest honor
-the Hero of the Republic Medal -
bestowed on him by the President himself.
Lunch followed
and a merry time was had by all
marred by his sixteen year old daughter's
questioning and disapproving stare.
A mental note, he made, for a father - daughter talk
as soon as his schedule allowed...
he located the target's exact position.
Remotely, he guided the drone
precisely 2000 feet straight over it;
the drone
carrying a one thousand megaton bomb.
He stated his readiness.
Τhe go ahead was given.
Firmly the button he pressed.
On the large monitor
the target and everything around it went up in smoke.
He stated the hit.
Thumps up were given in return.
Next morning
the news' report on the mission, he watched.
Five enemy military leaders were killed.
Also mentioned, five hundred civilian casualties
- babies, children, women, old folk -
and more than double injuries.
- Enemy used shield to protect its leaders -
Later that day
at a ceremony attended by his family
he was awarded the highest honor
-the Hero of the Republic Medal -
bestowed on him by the President himself.
Lunch followed
and a merry time was had by all
marred by his sixteen year old daughter's
questioning and disapproving stare.
A mental note, he made, for a father - daughter talk
as soon as his schedule allowed...
Written by takis1917
Go To Page
To Our Glorious Dead the monument said
Bollox!
What’s so glorious about being dead?
A bayonet up the arse or a bullet in the head
Would you change places then?
If so, when?
Political prick you make me sick
Forward you men have no fear
Whilst I stay safely over here
Far, far away from the pointless war
I lied and deceived for.
Oh great, can’t wait!
Don’t count the wounded or dead,
Our cause is just
Forward, soldiers, in God we trust
It’s the way to win, just forge ahead
Aftermath:
And the injuries? The amputees?
What of these?
‘Oh dear, well, it’s like this you see
We can’t afford so very much
And so we’ll kick you in the crotch
With weasel words, broken promises and such
But the nation is very grateful
And, yes, we agree, war is hateful
Bollox!
What’s so glorious about being dead?
A bayonet up the arse or a bullet in the head
Would you change places then?
If so, when?
Political prick you make me sick
Forward you men have no fear
Whilst I stay safely over here
Far, far away from the pointless war
I lied and deceived for.
Oh great, can’t wait!
Don’t count the wounded or dead,
Our cause is just
Forward, soldiers, in God we trust
It’s the way to win, just forge ahead
Aftermath:
And the injuries? The amputees?
What of these?
‘Oh dear, well, it’s like this you see
We can’t afford so very much
And so we’ll kick you in the crotch
With weasel words, broken promises and such
But the nation is very grateful
And, yes, we agree, war is hateful
blocat said:To Our Glorious Dead the monument said
Bollox!
What’s so glorious about being dead?
A bayonet up the arse or a bullet in the head
Would you change places then?
If so, when?
Political prick you make me sick
Forward you men have no fear
Whilst I stay safely over here
Far, far away from the pointless war
I lied and deceived for.
Oh great, can’t wait!
Don’t count the wounded or dead,
Our cause is just
Forward, soldiers, in God we trust
It’s the way to win, just forge ahead
Aftermath:
And the injuries? The amputees?
What of these?
‘Oh dear, well, it’s like this you see
We can’t afford so very much
And so we’ll kick you in the crotch
With weasel words, broken promises and such
But the nation is very grateful
And, yes, we agree, war is hateful
Hi Blocat, thanks for the "bonus track" but just to note the comp has ended and there's one entry per person so your previous one is in the line-up for consideration. Josh
Bollox!
What’s so glorious about being dead?
A bayonet up the arse or a bullet in the head
Would you change places then?
If so, when?
Political prick you make me sick
Forward you men have no fear
Whilst I stay safely over here
Far, far away from the pointless war
I lied and deceived for.
Oh great, can’t wait!
Don’t count the wounded or dead,
Our cause is just
Forward, soldiers, in God we trust
It’s the way to win, just forge ahead
Aftermath:
And the injuries? The amputees?
What of these?
‘Oh dear, well, it’s like this you see
We can’t afford so very much
And so we’ll kick you in the crotch
With weasel words, broken promises and such
But the nation is very grateful
And, yes, we agree, war is hateful
Hi Blocat, thanks for the "bonus track" but just to note the comp has ended and there's one entry per person so your previous one is in the line-up for consideration. Josh
Ahavati said:Astyanax (Ceejay), EleazorSwan, and PoetsRevenge! All well-deserved wins!
Thank you, Josh, for such a challenging comp down memory land.
Thank you for such understanding support. It was one of the hardest choices I've made in a long time. I'm in recovery. I'll think twice before hosting another comp - although of course there's always the choice to leave it to a popular vote.
Thank you, Josh, for such a challenging comp down memory land.
Thank you for such understanding support. It was one of the hardest choices I've made in a long time. I'm in recovery. I'll think twice before hosting another comp - although of course there's always the choice to leave it to a popular vote.
