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Member
(06-15-2011, 01:47 PM)
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The NeoGAF Poetry Corner - Challenge #28: Dying Earth
#1
The NeoGAF Poetry Corner - Challenge #28: Dying Earth
![]() Theme: Dying Earth The Dying Earth subgenre is used to describe works of speculative fiction (or in this case, poetry) that combine elements of science fiction and fantasy and are set towards the end of the earth's natural life. Themes of world-weariness, innocence (wounded or otherwise), idealism, entropy, exhaustion/depletion of many or all resources, and the hope of renewal tend to pre-dominate. The Dying Earth genre differs from the post-apocalyptic genre in that it deals not with catastrophic destruction, but with entropic exhaustion of the Earth. Secondary Objective: Blank Verse Blank Verse is simply unrhymed verse that sticks to the same meter throughout. Although usually measured in iambic pentameter, you can use any meter you like. Here's an example of some blank verse from Shakespear's Macbeth; Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Poetry thread Rules version 1.2: 1. This thread is not merely for winning or losing, but for critiquing and improving your own craft. 2. This poetry thread 'contest' will end on a Friday, and voting will last until Sunday at midnight. You cannot win unless you vote. Although you don't have to submit a piece to vote. 3. The winner must then provide the next challenge theme for the following two week period. Some weeks like during E3, this may not be possible, so we will have an interim one week period until normality is resumed. As a general rule, we like to keep this on the alternate week to the Creative Writing Thread. 4. There are no word count limits, make it as long or as short as you want. 5. Optional secondary objectives are not mandatory, you can include them or not. 6. Further addition to rule five: you can also try the secondary objective as a secondary piece. Just make sure you label it as such. 7. Vote for your favourite poems. Voters should award first, second and third places to their favourite three poems. Don't vote for the same author twice. And watch out for pieces that are labeled ineligible - comments on these pieces labelled as such are welcome but you just can't vote for them. Incidentally, feel free to vote even if you haven't submitted a piece - the more the merrier :) 8. During the count, First place is allocated three points. Second place is allocated two points. And third place is allocated one point. 9. In the event of a tie, the tally will be counted again with first place being allocated three and half points. If it isn't resolved then, it will be up to the OP (most likely the previous winner) to decide to how to go about things. 10. Winner gets a round of applause and will have the records stating it as such. After which Rule 3 is in effect and we start a new thread. Submission Deadline: Friday, June 24th at 11:59 PM (PST) ![]() Voting Deadline: Sunday, June 26th at 11:59 PM (PST) ![]() --- The NeoGAF Poetry Society: Previous Challenges: Poetry Challenge #01: Reflection Poetry Challenge #02: Making the Blind See (+ 5W poems) Poetry Challenge #03: Interior (+ Incorporate a song or album title) Poetry Challenge #04: History (+ Dream Song poems) Poetry Challenge #05: A View From Afar or Within (+ Clerihew poems) Poetry Challenge #06: The Surreal and the Fantastical (+ Haikus) Poetry Challenge #07: Expectations versus Reality (+ Ode) Poetry Challenge #08: Mirror's Edge (+ Rhymes) Poetry Challenge #09: Look on the Bright Side (+ poem must end with _________________ as it's last line) Poetry Challenge #10: Obsolete (+ Ink) Poetry Challenge #11: Pride (+ Kanye West) Poetry Challenge #12: Passing By (+ Allegory) Poetry Challenge #13: Take this Society (+ Ballards) Poetry Challenge #14: The Dark (+ Add Zombies to taste) Poetry Challenge #15: The Great Winter (+ Elegy) Poetry Challenge #16: What Nature Reclaims (+ Lay) Poetry Challenge #17: Storm Clouds Rising (+ First Person) Poetry Challenge #18: The Phoenix (+ Enjambment) Poetry Challenge #19: Psychopomps (+ Assonance) Poetry Challenge #20: Death in the Family (+ Limericks) Poetry Challenge #21: A Night on the Town (+ Didactic Poems) Poetry Challenge #22: A Letter to the World (+ Inside Outside Poetry) Poetry Challenge #23: The Blues Poetry Challenge #24: Space, Above & Beyond (+ Prose Poetry) Poetry Challenge #25: Futurism (+ Avoid Technology) Poetry Challenge #26: Prove You Exist (+Lyrical Poetry) Poetry Challenge #27: Love, Happiness, Peace, Summer & Pixar! (+ Couplets) |
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Member
(06-15-2011, 05:23 PM)
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#4
Congrats on the win bootaaay. I like the theme, and will probably try the secondary. This is what I like about the poetry thread, you learn without realising that it's being taught! meter is something all writers of poems, whether it's performed or not, or even mcs should consider.
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Purple Drazi
(06-16-2011, 08:54 PM)
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#5
Slow, the End
Slowly, slowly. Not earthquake, nor avalanche. Not meteor, nor comet, not Nemesis come to collect on a debt long overdue. Not fire and flood, not nuclear winter. No quick and easy death, no mercy. But long senescence. Inevitable the end, and glacial. Hordes of hollow men look to the sky. And know. And know. Thanatos tiptoes forth. Not loud, but subtle. Hooded, silent. Deliberate. All know he comes. All await his coming. He comes. Slowly.
Last edited by Cyan; 06-18-2011 at 04:17 AM.
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Member
(06-17-2011, 05:36 PM)
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#6
Upon the Town of Red & Blue. Repeat.
Sili had only just put his childhood down, And already, was expected to put down all else. Expected to try and smile upstream the blue river of tears, As his eyes swam towards the grey, Desperately avoiding the scene of red strung along the muddied ground. His blood brother breathing not a sound. The only slums-surviving member of his family, The king of his admiration jungle, Hunted to nothing with the sound of a snap, And premeditated bullet in his crown. It's always worked that way in this town, And Sili knew this all too well. But still, would damn his brother, Damn himself, Then take it all back only a day later, As he laid his only love to the ground. And in a torrent lies, he drowned; The stories of accepted vengeance told by no one but himself. Prompting him to quietly grasp for the guns from his brother’s shelf, As if not to disturb, though no one was around to care. Because, “Eija would want this,” he smiled widely—eyes wide, Stepping from the door they used to share, picturing red upon the town.
Last edited by Miizy F Baby; 06-22-2011 at 06:27 AM.
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Member
(06-17-2011, 05:44 PM)
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#7
Originally Posted by Bootaaay, from the other thread:
I wouldn't think too hard on it though. Your pieces are consistently amazing, and there always seems to be a meaning there. Give it a shot! I'm going to be sending some around myself. ...I don't have any clue as to where though. lol. I don't read any poetry publications. |
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Junior Member
(06-22-2011, 09:46 AM)
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#10
I wrote something.
It's hard to gauge if what I'm writing translates well to others. I have the whole story in my head, but not in the poem. Oh well, we'll see if it goes over okay. Sunne And so Just like that The lights went out As if a patriarch A mother or father Said it was time for rest "You've had your time The dirt the baths could not undo I've work in the morning, and only an hour to watch the news." If only we had known We could've held onto these days like steps up the stairs Closer and closer to bed, to rest, to sleep I had nightmares as a child Ones about times like these Sometimes I feel like I'm still dreaming And then I swear I can hear my father "This is only temporary" And I can feel my fathers hands "The sun will shine tomorrow" And I can smile again "And wake you from your slumber" And turn off the lamp "And I'll be right here" And go to sleep. _____ I wasn't sure if I should use the quotations around the Father's dialogue. I mean it was obvious to me he was talking, but then again I wrote it. Any feedback would be appreciated! |
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Member
(06-24-2011, 05:41 PM)
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#13
Oh crap, I've been doing a story for the creative writing thread and forgot all about the poetry thread this week - I've had my starting line since I put the topic up though, so I should be able to hammer something out before the deadline and it looks like we've already got a number of great entries.
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Member
(06-25-2011, 12:40 AM)
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#16
Did my best, hope nothing got lost in translation.
The Stolen Eternity I still remember those colorful days, And I suffer too see how your colors fade, Your smell, your taste, your landscape… I remember those beautiful days, When I could woke up early, And admire your radiant light that has been stolen, Stolen by the abuse of some rotten minds, That thought they had the right to abuse you for all eternity, But the time has come for you too abuse them for the rest of their days… I wander through your corpses filled whit darkness, Hoping to find some bright color, That gives me back the illusion of knowing that I will live eternally at your side, But I know that your eternity never had a future, Because in you lived the most despicable being in history, Now I just hope to be whit you until the end, Listening the useless laments of foolish people, That failed to take advantage of the earthly paradise, For the false promise of a celestial paradise. Feels good to write again, I think the last time I wrote a poem was like 5 years ago, I still need a lot of work, but practice and some pointers will take me back on track. |
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Member
(06-25-2011, 07:40 AM)
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#18
Here's the Spanish version:
La Eternidad Robada Aun recuerdo aquellos días coloridos, Y sufro al ver como se desvanecen tus colores, Tus olores, tus sabores, tus paisajes… Recuerdo aquellos hermosos días, Cuando me podía levantar tempranamente, Y admirar tu luz radiante que te ha sido robada, Robada por el abuso de unas mentes podridas, Que pensaron que tenían el derecho de abusar de ti por toda la eternidad, Pero el momento ha llegado para que tú abuses de ellos por el resto de sus días… Deambulo por tus cadáveres llenos de oscuridad, Esperando hallar algún color radiante, Que me regrese la ilusión de saber que viviré eternamente a tú lado, Pero se que tú eternidad nunca tuvo futuro, Ya que en ti habitó el ser más ruin de toda la historia, Ahora sólo espero poder estar contigo hasta el final, Escuchando los lamentos inútiles de personas insensatas, Que no supieron aprovechar el paraíso terrenal, Por la falsa promesa de un paraíso celestial. |
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Member
(06-25-2011, 07:46 AM)
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#19
at last
I have 18 minutes to finish this poem. In 18 minutes, the earth could end could it? my lungs your mouth music the park bench her tight cunt that I'd like to fuck again wouldn't be but the sun would still shine on the other planets with their smiles wrapped in space's bosom in 16 minutes I wouldn't need to take another shit or worry about this pain that's been in my lungs for a few months now the doctor wouldn't have to check me out and tell me to quit smoking in 14 minutes |
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Member
(06-25-2011, 08:15 AM)
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#20
From the ashes of empires we rose once more,
like ants scurrying from a ruined hill, we spread forth from the hulking iron sentinels that litter the remnants of the landscape, a testament to our failed glory. There, in the fallow fields and gnarled forests civilisation set about rebuilding itself, it's face young and different, but soon pock-marked and scarred by the same self-inflicted mistakes. As the milk white sun shined down listless beams that did little to nourish plant or soil the cities rose once more and the sun continued it's journey, retreating in on itself. And one day, when it has consumed it's all, that feint fiery glow above will expand, outwards, outwards, to embrace us as one, like a mother clutching her dead child tightly to her breast. |
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Member
(06-25-2011, 09:17 AM)
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Fossil
#22
The meteoric rise and fall
Pieces forced into the puzzle We thrived peacefully But it came to a violent end Some feared it and ran Others considered it a godsend The skyline in flames Premonition of the end of days We, the dominant life forms Now to be yesterday’s stale buffet Scorched scales turn to soft tissue As my retinas start to melt The image last burnt in All my friends are dead The death of the planet And we came along for the ride |
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Member
(06-25-2011, 11:34 AM)
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#23
Lonesome Boat
Boat rock away, Lonesome sitting in the lake, I have no words for you, when the English tongue is miles away. Bent like steel married wood, welt to make the mind kneel, kindle so sweet, steal a thought, and run away, parched, drink up, and let the ghost of horses free reign, watch them embark over waterfall. Soft tissue rain fall, over the flower fields in full bloom. No farmer's hand... only their statues made of dust & ashes remain. The domestic animal is all but gone. Boat rock away, Lonesome sitting in the lake, I have no words for you, when the English tongue is miles away.
Last edited by Ashes1396; 06-25-2011 at 12:40 PM.
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Member
(06-25-2011, 12:40 PM)
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#24
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ The entries this week: "Slow, the End" By Cyan "Upon the Town of Red & Blue. Repeat" By Miri "The Waning Earth" By Tim the Wiz "Sunne" By Neutrality "The Stolen Eternity" (Spanish version here) By Reneledarker "at last" By disappeared "From the ashes of empires we rose once more" By Bootaaay "Fossil" By AnkitT "Lonesome Boat" By Ashes1396 _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Voting starts....... now. :) Crits are welcome as always, in whatever shape or form. Vote for your favourite three, order them 1,2,3. Add hms (Honorary mentions) for anybody else.... You can vote even if you have not entered. But ya can't win, if ya don't vote. ;) Voting Deadline: Sunday, June 26th at 11:59 PM (PST) ![]() And that's it. Good luck... looks like a good week; enjoy... :)
Last edited by Ashes1396; 06-25-2011 at 02:04 PM.
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Member
(06-27-2011, 02:38 AM)
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#28
So many good entries this time around. I'll go ahead and add crits after I think them over a little bit more, so for now...
My votes: 1. Neutrality - "Sunne" 2. Bootaaay - From the Ashes of Empires We Rose Once More" 3. Cyan - "Slow, the End" HM: Tim the Wiz, Reneledarker |
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Member
(06-27-2011, 07:31 AM)
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#30
1. Tim the Wiz - Creatively threaded with several concrete ideas.
2. Reneledarker - translation issues aside, you tried at least to make the blind see. 3. disappeared - unapologetic. No airs, nor graces. More work and all three would have been very good. Hm. AnkitT - Some nice ideas, 'yesterday’s stale buffet', 'Scorched scales turn to soft tissue' & 'As my retinas start to melt', but the form and flow of the piece felt rushed. With a little work, could be awesome. The rest: Cyan - Good use of history and setting, if a little obvious. Miri - loved the blend of scenes with colour. Very emotive but perhaps came on too strong. Neutrality - like the use of story-telling to evoke an emotion, but the use of 'and' was unnecessary, specially in a poem. Bootaaay - like the story, and engaged me fully from the second stanza on, however it's not the easiest poem to say aloud. Word choices need work perhaps.
Last edited by Ashes1396; 06-27-2011 at 08:06 AM.
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Member
(06-27-2011, 07:56 AM)
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#35
Originally Posted by Neutrality:
The use of 'and' would indeed make it more child like. |
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Member
(06-27-2011, 08:13 AM)
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#38
Added note to Tim's entry:
Generally speaking, I like spending time in a poem; after re-reading it multiple times, I think you grasped the idea of a dying earth better than anyone else, in my opinion. This line is pretty cool: mothers hold children and lie, the year comes when you'll fly a kite. edit: come to think of it, 'hurled prayers reach the cursed sky,' is a pretty cool opening..
Last edited by Ashes1396; 06-27-2011 at 08:16 AM.
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Member
(06-27-2011, 08:36 AM)
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#40
Results:
1. Neutrality – 12 2. Cyan – 8 2. Bootaaay – 8 3. Tim the Wiz – 7 Full results 1. Neutrality – 12 2. Cyan – 8 2. Bootaaay – 8 3. Tim the Wiz – 7 4. Miri – 5 5. Ashes1396 – 4 6. Reneledarker – 2 7. disappeared – 1 7. AnkitT – 1 The winner this week is...... "Sunne" By Neutrality. Congrats mate. Nearly a full house as well mate. well done... :P
Last edited by Ashes1396; 06-27-2011 at 08:50 AM.
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Member
(06-27-2011, 01:10 PM)
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#43
pm'd you the info mate... either put across the theme etc here, so that somebody else can post it on your behalf, (ps, I'm going to bed now, :() or pm somebody you know, who isn't a jnr...
edit: pretty much everybody here has done a poetry thread before, so you're in good stead my man. Just take your pick really...
Last edited by Ashes1396; 06-27-2011 at 01:13 PM.
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Member
(06-27-2011, 02:05 PM)
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#44
Congratulations Neutrality! Here's the updated templates for the thread and the archive;
http://tinypaste.com/b121e - thread http://tinypaste.com/e8ffb4 - archive Like Ashes said, once you've got the thread ready to post either ask one of us, or you could PM one of the online mods to ask them to post it for you. Don't think we've had a junior win before, congrats again man :) |
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Junior Member
(06-27-2011, 11:04 PM)
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#45
Well Bootaay (or Cyan, both second place!), if you wouldn't mind doing the thread here are my choices for the theme/secondary objective.
[IMG]http://i56.************/23r4aw9.png[/IMG] Theme: War From Wikipedia: War is a state of armed and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, societal disruption, and high mortality. War generally involves two or more organized groups or parties. Such a conflict is always an attempt at altering either the psychological or material hierarchy of domination or equality between such groups. In all cases, at least one participant (group) in the conflict perceives the need to either psychologically or materially dominate the other participant. An absence of war is usually called peace. Secondary Objective: Narrative poetry/epics. An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Whilst this is merely optional, and I highly doubt anyone (including me) would enforce the secondary objective, if you would like some guidelines then here you go: Epics tend to open in medias res. The setting is often vast, covering many nations, the world or the universe. They start with a statement of the theme and includes the use of epithets. Divine intervention on human affairs is quite common and they usually detail "Star" heroes that embody the values of the civilization. _____ Is this okay? |
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Purple Drazi
(06-27-2011, 11:25 PM)
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#46
Originally Posted by Neutrality:
Edit: And here we are: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=435426 Congrats to Neutrality btw, excellent work. And I was chuffed to pick up some votes. Thanks, dudes. :)
Last edited by Cyan; 06-27-2011 at 11:37 PM.
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