Iron Poet XVI

[SaintRidley]

Aww. Good show, Techwarrior.

Guess the Terzanelle just wasn't the right play this time.

[Garwain]

I can't believe I made it to the finals! I read the older contests and enjoyed many poems. Never thought I could measure up, in all modesty. (although I had no resistance until last round)

[Techwarrior]

Whoa, the finals... Didn't expect to make it this far. Theres been some seriously competitive stuff getting written. I'm pretty excited for the next prompt.

[Zeb The Troll]

It's been far too long, I know. My deepest apologies.

From this point forward, Vaynor will resume facilitating this contest.

Good luck to the finalists. I eagerly await your submissions.

[Garwain]

I must admit that with the forum downtime, I lost sight of this thread as well for a bit. But since Vanyor is taking over, no worries, right?

Could you post the final prompts?

[Techwarrior]

So.. Any word on the Final brackets?

[Weezer]

So, getting the last prompt anytime soon?

[Zjoot]

Poke......

[Garwain]

I suggest not to wait for the chairman. A volunteer (not a finalist ) to get this back on the road?

Or the finalists suggest one for another, wouldn't that be something?

[Dimonite]

I suggest not to wait for the chairman. A volunteer (not a finalist ) to get this back on the road?

Or the finalists suggest one for another, wouldn't that be something?

I think the finalists suggesting for one another would actually be pretty cool. Question is, what would we do for the next competition?

[Weezer]

I think the finalists suggesting for one another would actually be pretty cool. Question is, what would we do for the next competition?

I agree that this could be a cool idea, if both are up for it (I assume Garwain already is, seeing he suggested it). Perhaps rather than suggesting one for the other, each picks one prompt, either picture or word, and then they need to write two poems, one for the prompt they picked, one for the one their opponent choice. This would keep them responding to the same prompts, while still maintaining the rather cool idea of competitor generated prompts.

I would be willing to step up and organize at least the next competition, assuming Vaynor doesn't show up of course.

[Techwarrior]

I'm quite open to the finalists suggesting the prompts. I'm just eager to have the next round up. I'll see what I can come up with.

[Weezer]

Okay, if no one objects let's go with the finalists each picking one of the two prompts. How about trying to get those up in the next day or so, be nice to move this along.

[Elvaris]

At the risk of being "that guy", I object.

It's difficult for the judges to compare two poems written for different prompts, and opens up a slew of "this prompt was harder than that prompt" possibilities that really aren't appropriate. Hopefully either Vaynor or Zeb will step back in and finish this off in a timely fashion. If not, I'll volunteer to post a prompt this evening to get this started again. As much as I'm on board with seeing this through to the end, I'd like to make sure it ends in a fair manner as well.

[Weezer]

At the risk of being "that guy", I object.

It's difficult for the judges to compare two poems written for different prompts, and opens up a slew of "this prompt was harder than that prompt" possibilities that really aren't appropriate. Hopefully either Vaynor or Zeb will step back in and finish this off in a timely fashion. If not, I'll volunteer to post a prompt this evening to get this started again. As much as I'm on board with seeing this through to the end, I'd like to make sure it ends in a fair manner as well.

Of course, comparing two different prompts would be very unfair. That's why I suggested that both the finalists contribute one of the two final prompts, then write poems for each. Allows the interesting idea of competitor-generated prompts while still maintaining fairness.

[Alarra]

Of course, comparing two different prompts would be very unfair. That's why I suggested that both the finalists contribute one of the two final prompts, then write poems for each. Allows the interesting idea of competitor-generated prompts while still maintaining fairness.

I like this idea.

[Zjoot]

I second that.

[Halberd]

Emphatically thirded.

[Zeb The Troll]

I like the idea of what you guys are suggesting, however, I feel it's something that should be discussed up front.

I don't know what happened to Vaynor, so here are prompts and guidelines for the finale.

Image prompt
Word prompt - barons

Based on a suggestion last round - poets will write two poems each based on the above prompts. Both poems should include both the word and the image prompts. We won't be doing anonymous submissions this time.

Deadline for submission will be Sunday, November 4th, at 23:59 Eastern Daylight Time.

[Techwarrior]

So, we write two poems, both of which are tied to both prompts? Or two poems, one tied to one prompt, and one to the other?

[Zeb The Troll]

So, we write two poems, both of which are tied to both prompts? Or two poems, one tied to one prompt, and one to the other?

Both poems should include both the word and the image prompts.

Both poems are tied to both prompts.
I realize that this is more challenging that a normal final round. This is why the deadline is ten days away (covering two weekends) instead of the normal seven days.

[Garwain]

Owkey.. prompts from Zeb after all. Here is what I made from them:

Entry 1:

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Towards freedom

Open sea swimmers
battle the currents,
lost but hopeful
that they'll wash ashore.

Simple little critters,
united through the idea
that their ample effort
yields something better.

More agree to differ
and jump the waters,
already disconnected
from the warmth and bore.

"Break down the waves
that are opposing you!
Wreck the powerhouse
that is oppressing you!"

"Use everything the Baron gave
and whip your tails towards the gate!
Only one will end the journey
and impregnate!"

Entry 2:

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Baron Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~Imagine that a mighty vessel wears your name
~~~~~~constructed in secrecy, against all treaty, with an armored frame, called Bismarck.
~~~Can you be proud knowing it sailed the seas, the sight of its silhouette struck terror in the hearts of the aggressor?
~~~Would you consider the burn and hurt that struck the core of those ashore with the roaring bores and holes it tore?
~~~~~~Imagine that the lost lifes now linger lowly, down in the dark, scarred and marked.
~~~~~~~~~~~Remnants of moments with meaning and fame.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Vaynor]

I'm so sorry, everyone. Without going into details, I've been having issues with internet that severely reduced my ability to get online. I should be fine now and ready to start the thread for the next contest and get things going. I'd also like to thank Zeb for the fantastic job he's been doing keeping this going for me in my absence.

[Kalrany]

I'm so sorry, everyone. Without going into details, I've been having issues with internet that severely reduced my ability to get online. I should be fine now and ready to start the thread for the next contest and get things going. I'd also like to thank Zeb for the fantastic job he's been doing keeping this going for me in my absence.

Very cool! Will you be running it right away then?

[Alarra]

It's traditional to wait until this contest finishes and then start the next one.

[Vaynor]

Yeah, once this one is over I'll be starting up the next thread.

[Techwarrior]

Tried to get these up earlier, but I had a play to organize and run this week. I'll use my extension on this round. Having serious trouble with my second poem.

Poem 1

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Revolt From Below

The bell tolls along with broken heartbeats
They've lost sight of your once tangible dream
Count the coins that we didn't gamble away
And prepare yourself for our next move
In a chess game you never thought we'd win

Ready yourselves for the moment
When we begin the revolt
Against their bureaucracy
That tells you we're inferior
While hiding their own mistakes

Terror tactics keep you in check
While mercenary politicians
Make cookie cutter deals
And play third-party games
With trust they didn't deserve

They try to feed you their lies
And tie us up in red tape
To prevent us from speaking out
Against the ancient machine
That holds us in captivity

They plan to remove us
With surgeons' knives
And killers in the dark
Ignoring their own rules
To curtail your freedoms

But we speak the word of the streets
Carrying your banners in our minds
Sewer-written letters from home
Or a fable in your lap
To help you pass the time

Emotionless violence
Has its own kind of silence
As blows scroll across your screen
In their 'depiction' of the rebels

Will you join the revolution
Against an aristocracy
Thats held power far too long
Or will you watch your life
Be led on a disaster course
Dictated by those around you

Poem 2

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To Light the Darkness

A light upon a distant shore
Pierces the fog around us
We've lost our way in the waters
That once we know so well

'Tis strange to think
Once we roamed these seas
Naught but each other
To hold by our sides

Yet now
I haven't spoken to you
In months
Haven't heard from you
In weeks
Haven't thought of you
In seconds...

These seas might take me
To a place no man
No matter how noble
Goes to willingly

But at least I know
That it might be
The place you went
All those months ago

Forth! Through the darkness
Where the seas are not so rough
Pierce the veil about my eyes
So that I might see again...

[Zeb The Troll]

Judges, you have your work cut out for you.

[Dimonite]

Judges, you have your work cut out for you.

We know; that's why there aren't any judgements up yet. I'll get mine done when I have some spare hours... maybe later tonight, but likely not until late Sunday.

[Kalrany]

That was HARD. Here are my comments:

baron –

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Garwain : very unique, can take it in a couple of ways, but the final line made me blink and reread it in the other context (very tongue-in-cheek), cleaver
Techwarrior : chilling, I could see the revolutionary on the street corner, calling to his fellow citizens to war, lovely storytelling that flowed with cadence – oh, and for the record, “emotionless violence, has its own kind of silence” caused a shiver to run up my spine
Comment – both very good in very different ways, both technically solid, so it falls to personal appeal of artistry and emotive context
Winner – Techwarrior

image prompt –

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Garwain: very interesting, I vacillated between seeing it as a lament from the Baron, or as condemnation of him; excellent imagery
Techwarrior : melancholy, truly felt for the protagonist for both his sorrow and acceptance of his fate, well done
Comment – again, very technically solid, though the storytelling was the clear decider
Winner – Garwain

OVERALL –

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Garwain : could see connection to both prompts for both poems, though they differed in tone, character, subject, and style – very well done
Techwarrior : both called to powerful emotions, but the first was much clearer while the second could have used a bit more story – WHY was the ship wrecked? What caused the protagonists’ death? (seriously, this was my only real criticism)
Comment – Very very very close to a straight out tie, and in fact it was in terms of technical merit and clarity of image/subject, but the integration of both the prompts to both poems was very cleaver and I felt that one was just a bit more consistent in terms of storytelling ability and those points swayed it for me
Winner – Garwain

Congratulations to all the poets who participated -- there were some really fantastic poems over this competition. The finalists disserve an extra round of applause -- they were phenomenal and were well matched.