Poetry competition CLOSED 3rd July 2013 10:02am
WINNER
marielavoue (Gypsy Red)
marielavoue (Gypsy Red)
RUNNER-UP:
anna_grin
euphemism and double entendre
Stale
All the world be stale
so much yearning for life
children hanging on the fence rails
the adults crying in their budoirs.
The oceans are drying up
When will we realize when enough is enough
The population is increasing
space is greatly decreasing
and the forests are growing weak, instead of tough
Cities are over populated, filled with smog
people are dying slowly, even their dog
The canyons are losing their beauty
I wish we'd preserve them, that'd suit me.
All the world is going up for sale
and we're the ones who live in it, going old and stale.
All the world be stale
so much yearning for life
children hanging on the fence rails
the adults crying in their budoirs.
The oceans are drying up
When will we realize when enough is enough
The population is increasing
space is greatly decreasing
and the forests are growing weak, instead of tough
Cities are over populated, filled with smog
people are dying slowly, even their dog
The canyons are losing their beauty
I wish we'd preserve them, that'd suit me.
All the world is going up for sale
and we're the ones who live in it, going old and stale.
It was a pleasure to read such fine poems and to find such a variety of interesting perspectives on the use of euphemisms (though only Mickimoondancer, I thought, produced a fully developed double entendre in her poem). Judging was difficult- and highly subjective- taking into account the quality of the poetry and effective use of euphemisms (and I really wanted to make Gypsy Red and Anna-Grin joint winners).
One difficulty was the distinction between euphemisms and metaphors.Gypsy Red and Anna_Grin recognised and brilliantly exploited that distinction in admirably concise and controlled poems. Peacebewithyou's beautifully expressive poem was more metaphorical than euphemistic.
Assuming euphemism is an attempt to disguise meanings for the innocent and easily offended while not entirely fooling the worldly wise Gypsy Red's title of a slightly modified well-worn metaphor I read as a differentiation between the figurative (and for many offensive) use of cunt as a term of extreme abuse and the literal sense of a channel of tactile, sensual beauty. The latter sense produced a wonderful poem by Peacebewithyou and lovely poems by Poet Engineer and Garden Lover, though the men found competition from the women on their home ground difficult to overcome.
Anna_Grin used the old euphemism of the pink slip (I assume in the US meaning of notice of dismissal from a job) which is now just a synonym to lead to metaphor (as a verb) implying euphemism before leading to euphemisms "thorn""walk" and "moonlight" which I, in my innocence, could only guess at(the mark of a good euphemism)
John Feddeler powerfully attacked the now prevalent asterisk euphemism in a similar way to Gypsy Red- fuck disguised for its figurative use ignoring the literal meaning of a life enhancing activity. Poet Engineer's second piece focussed on the chilling use of euphemisms by governments to disguise their appalling treatment of their own citizens and those of other countries. DeathPuppy's brief interjection highlighted the connections between hyperbole vis a vis literal meanings and the use of euphemisms. Mikimoondancer showed the connections between euphemisms and the argot of often despised sub-cultures.
And then there were two lovely poems by LobodoSanPedro with perhaps more predictable euphemisms and a good poem by LexiconKingdomHeart which managed to avoid them.
At least I learned that others could show much more subtlety than I could achieve.
One difficulty was the distinction between euphemisms and metaphors.Gypsy Red and Anna_Grin recognised and brilliantly exploited that distinction in admirably concise and controlled poems. Peacebewithyou's beautifully expressive poem was more metaphorical than euphemistic.
Assuming euphemism is an attempt to disguise meanings for the innocent and easily offended while not entirely fooling the worldly wise Gypsy Red's title of a slightly modified well-worn metaphor I read as a differentiation between the figurative (and for many offensive) use of cunt as a term of extreme abuse and the literal sense of a channel of tactile, sensual beauty. The latter sense produced a wonderful poem by Peacebewithyou and lovely poems by Poet Engineer and Garden Lover, though the men found competition from the women on their home ground difficult to overcome.
Anna_Grin used the old euphemism of the pink slip (I assume in the US meaning of notice of dismissal from a job) which is now just a synonym to lead to metaphor (as a verb) implying euphemism before leading to euphemisms "thorn""walk" and "moonlight" which I, in my innocence, could only guess at(the mark of a good euphemism)
John Feddeler powerfully attacked the now prevalent asterisk euphemism in a similar way to Gypsy Red- fuck disguised for its figurative use ignoring the literal meaning of a life enhancing activity. Poet Engineer's second piece focussed on the chilling use of euphemisms by governments to disguise their appalling treatment of their own citizens and those of other countries. DeathPuppy's brief interjection highlighted the connections between hyperbole vis a vis literal meanings and the use of euphemisms. Mikimoondancer showed the connections between euphemisms and the argot of often despised sub-cultures.
And then there were two lovely poems by LobodoSanPedro with perhaps more predictable euphemisms and a good poem by LexiconKingdomHeart which managed to avoid them.
At least I learned that others could show much more subtlety than I could achieve.
Thank you so much Marthard for creating this wonderful challenge! Congratulations to my fellow winners and poets the quality of your keeps the bar high and competitive. I humbly salute you all!
Marthard my favorite thing about this particular comp. Was the detailed and in depth explanation for your choice and meritorious mention of my fellow poets.I applaud you as well,it was a pleasure.
Red
Marthard my favorite thing about this particular comp. Was the detailed and in depth explanation for your choice and meritorious mention of my fellow poets.I applaud you as well,it was a pleasure.
Red
