Limeydawg's 2nd Annual Year End Poetry Contest

[LimeyDawg]

The Second Annual Limeydawg’s Year's End Poetry Contest.

I learned a great deal from running last year’s contest, so I hope you will forgive me if these rules seem a little pithy, but there is a reason for it. I want this to be fun for everyone and, at the same time, not something that has me reaching for the scotch.

The Rules:


This year, the contest will be author’s choice with regards to style. The only real rules are that the poem must be shorter than 30 lines, and the subject matter must be Christmas-related or any year end celebration for those who are non-Christian, but beyond that, the rest is up to the author.
Poems must be submitted to Limeydawg via PM no earlier than November 1st and no later than midnight on November 30th, whatever time zone you live in. Absolutely no changes will be allowed after that point, but they will be accepted prior to that. However, in deference to my time, I would appreciate it if you do not submit entries unless you feel they are finished and ready to go…it just makes things easier.
On December 1st, I will post all poems in a single thread, in no particular order, without the names of the authors attached for voting.
If you enter the contest, I will require you to submit a vote, otherwise I will disqualify your poem from consideration.
Voting

All votes must be received by midnight, December 20th, whatever time zone you live in. Any votes received after this will be discarded. Also, please do not ask me to change your vote once it is submitted.

All votes must be submitted to me by PM. You must only vote for your top 3. No other voting method will be considered. DO NOT send me a vote where you have a tie. Pick a favorite, pick a second favorite, pick a third favorite. I will discard any votes that violate this.

Prize List- so far

This is the list of prizes I will put up. The author of the poem voted #1 gets first pick, and so forth. If you wish to contribute a prize, you are welcome to do so. Please note: if you win a prize, you will be required to provide me with a mailing address.


The Norton Anthology of Modern and Contemporary Poetry, Third Edition, Vol. 1

The novel “Phoenix” by our own Neurofizz

The Complete Poems of Anna Ahkmatova

The Poetry of Robert Frost

The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes

Ted Kooser’s “The Poetry Home Repair Manual”

“New Tricks,” a novel autographed by our own Rugcat

“Because We Never Said Goodbye”, a poetry collection containing 6 poems by LD, among others (may be delayed slightly in delivery).

Garrison Keillor's "Good Poems for Hard Times" (Thanks Dicroic)

The Caedmon Poetry Collection: A Century of Poets Reading Their Work(Thanks, Rob)


Additional Information

"Poetry in Motion" (http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Motion-Christopher-Dewdney/dp/B000067IY5/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1227139595&sr=8-2) (a DVD,)--Thanks, Jason.

If you have questions, please PM me. I will answer the questions as best I can in this thread, but I’d like to keep it uncluttered, so please do not post questions here. I will answer the questions without divulging your name.

[P.H.Delarran]

'tis the season.
you ROCK, Dawg!

[ddgryphon]

Cool LD; Rock on!

[TurkeyLurkey]

Ohhh... This looks like fun! Thanks!

[truelyana]

Looks exciting. :)

[LimeyDawg]

New Prize Added:

Dichroic has generously offered a copy of Garrison Keillor's "Good Poems for Hard Times" to the contest. Thanks Paula

[kdnxdr]

Yeah! LimeyDawg!

[poetinahat]

I'm going to add another prize: something to do with poets reading their own works. Details to come, when I decide on the exact item.

Thanks, Mark, for doing this again. Word up.

[Godfather]

fantastic.

i want that akhmatova book

[Appalachian Writer]

I'm in. *thinking, thinking, thinking* I'm not much for "poetry for occasion" but...in this case, I'll make an exception. :D

[Ciera_]

I might give it a try ^.^ Though I've certainly never done anything like this before, lol. *feels like total noob*
Anyway, great idea! Good luck everybody.

[Teena]

Count me in -- Thanks Limey!!!

[Jenny]

You're a hero, LD. Standing up to run this for a second year -- I hope you get an avalanche of good karma and many publishing credits :)

[LimeyDawg]

Okay folks, only two more weeks to get submissions in and only 3 so far. I'm sure you're working on good stuff, so I'm not yet worried, but last year we had 30 plus entries.

That said, a few things.

Only one entry per person please.

Also, Rugcat (aka the famous author John Levitt) has offered a signed copy of his next book. If you haven't read the first, I can tell you it's outstanding work and sure to be on a bestseller list somewhere soon.

Rob (poetinahat) is also working on a prize. With so much to win, why not get busy on that poem?

Remember, the deadline is November 30th and it's firm.

[sissybaby]

I'm working on one - I just found this post yesterday. It will be trash, but at least it will get your numbers up. And when I say trash, I don't mean that it won't have true rhymes or that the meter is nonexistent. I just have a major problem writing serious poetry. But it will definitely have a holiday theme!

Thanks so much LD - you rock!

[LimeyDawg]

Okay folks, keep em coming. You still have two weeks to buff and polish your work. Rob has generously offered another prize, so there's plenty to win.

[dobiwon]

Got mine sent off. How're the entries coming. I'm afraid the only way I'll win one is if the number of prizes match the number of entries. There's just too much damn talent around here. :)

[dclary]

Got mine sent off. How're the entries coming. I'm afraid the only way I'll win one is if the number of prizes match the number of entries. There's just too much damn talent around here. :)
I've counted on that strategy many a time.

[LimeyDawg]

Well, there has been a handful of entries so far. If last year was any indication, there will be a gush towards the end of the month. However, keep in mind that the judging is blind. I post the poems sans the names of the poets. Now some of us have distinct styles, but most will be truly read as anonymous, which levels the playing field, IMHO. I encourage everyone to enter. The deadline is midnight on the last of November. I'm flexible. If you want to change your entry before then, so be it. But I absolutely will not accept a single entry on December 1, so keep this in mind (trust me, it's for the best).

One entry per person, but if you write a "better" poem between now and then, send it in as a substitute. Contact me via PM if you have any questions. I'll usually return the mail and a response the same day.

There are some great prizes this year, along with the usual. John Levit's generous offer of a signed copy of the second book in his series makes me regret not being able to enter myself (John is AW's Rugcat, FYI).

If there is a huge number of entrants, I'll split them up into groups to make judging easier. I'd like to point out that if you enter, it is expected that you cast a vote (hey, you can always vote for your own...).

Anyway, I should be in the poetry forum a little more now, so I'll be stiring the pot as usual. Get writing, folks. Only two weeks left.

[LimeyDawg]

Nine entries so far, folks. There are 11 days left for the procrastinators out there, so get those poems to me.

[LimeyDawg]

10 prizes available....great odds of winning at least something for your effort. There are also some regulars missing (I'm sure they're polishing thier work).

[Stew21]

I put this in my sigline. If you want to give me a list of people to call out, I'd be happy to rattle some cages for you.

[dclary]

Limey, you got my entry, right? I didn't get a confirmation from you, but AWPM is SO reliable...

[dahmnait]

Just the thing to get my writing back on track. I better work something out quick though. :)

[AdamRothstein]

Is there a limit to how many we can submit?

[Stew21]

One entry per person, Adam. :)

[Appalachian Writer]

Okay, I thought. I thought, and I thought. I've submitted my piece to the contest. Be gentle LD. :)

[LimeyDawg]

No problem there; I'm not voting (unless there's a tie). You'll be the judges.

[LimeyDawg]

Jason has generously added "Poetry in Motion" to the gift list. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Motion-Christopher-Dewdney/dp/B000067IY5/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1227139595&sr=8-2

[Appalachian Writer]

Someone here mentioned confirmation. LD, did you get my entry? You know how I worry about things. :(

[LimeyDawg]

tick tock tick tock.

Get your poems in. One week left.

[Dichroic]

Someone here mentioned confirmation. LD, did you get my entry? You know how I worry about things. :(

What App said.

[LimeyDawg]

I just sent confirmations to everyone who has entered. The deadline is rapidly approaching and I will be firm with Midnight on November 30 as the cutoff for entries.

[dahmnait]

=( I fell asleep and missed the deadline. Oh well, that's what comes of trying to meet a work deadline, move, deal with a child's birthday, and write a decent poem in the time I had. I am still going to finish the poem. I think it will be a gift to my daughter.

Good luck to all of you who entered. I am looking forward to reading and voting on the entries.

[KTC]

Are the entries posted somewhere and I'm just not finding them?

[poetinahat]

I look forward to reading and voting. It's been a severe annoyance and a source of angst to me that I can't get any words together. As in... none. I haven't written anything beyond notes in months. Ideas, yes; words, no. Feels awful.

Still, I revel in reading, and I know the contest poems will gladden my heart this season. Thanks and a hearty Goodonya! to Limey and all the prize donors.

[KTC]

Yes. What he said too. Thanks to all. Especially the dawg.

[LimeyDawg]

I apologize for not getting this done sooner, but I will be posting the poems today (I had some "minor" technical difficulties with my laptop dying. Unfortunately, just like the Titanic, it took four years of writing with it when it went. Needless to say, I'm gutted.) Anyhoo, poems later today and another post with voting guidelines. Sorry for the delay

[dclary]

I look forward to reading and voting. It's been a severe annoyance and a source of angst to me that I can't get any words together. As in... none. I haven't written anything beyond notes in months. Ideas, yes; words, no. Feels awful.

Still, I revel in reading, and I know the contest poems will gladden my heart this season. Thanks and a hearty Goodonya! to Limey and all the prize donors.

Most of this year was like that for me, Poet. After the prolific output I had last year, I wrote nothing for 9 months. But I think the slump is ending.

I guess just keep trying and---

When I tried my first poem, I had a specific idea of what I wanted to write. But nothing that I wrote matched the sound or feel of what I wanted, and it became very frustrating. Then I looked at what did come out, and realized that I was writing a completely different poem than what I'd set out to write.

It must have been some sort of mental blockage... My brain and my soul weren't in sync, and since I write poetry with my soul, the disconnectedness was resulting in empty words.

I gave up on what I wanted to write, and let what wanted to come out come. Maybe it wasn't any good, but it was poetry, and it was right. It realigned my head and my heart, and the poetry has been flowing again since.

[KTC]

That's horrendous news, Limey...just awful. I hope you were able to save something.

[LimeyDawg]

Most of the poetry is saved, but I lost all my short stories for "Professor Proot's Tales of Avalon". Some, perhaps, are still here, but it's a hell of a lot of work gone...just gone. Back up your stuff, I suppose, is the flavor of the lemonade.

[KTC]

I'm really sorry.

[Stew21]

I unstuck this one and stickied the entries thread.
:)

[KTC]

Is there going to be an entries discussion thread?


ETA: oops. just saw one started by dclary. HEHE.

[dclary]

One step ahead of ya! :D

[dclary]

When will the winners be announced?

[KTC]

all will be revealed.

[dclary]

When?!?!?!?!?

[KTC]

when it will be revealed. that's when. do i look like a magic 8 ball?

[dclary]

I thought maybe they gave you magic powers for your 12,000th post.

4 posts away!!!! :D

[KTC]

lol. Well, in that case...I don't quite know yet. If I post 3 more times, you can turn me upside down, shake me and read the answer on the bottom of my foot. Maybe.