Understanding Required - Blackened Billy

[Maureen K Clifford]

Zondrae spellcheck is your friend if you take out the americanisms - replace the z with s in most cases - it is an automatic function on most computers

[Heather]

Cute Neville. Thanks for that.

Heather

[Dave Smith]

G’Day All
I must say I agree with Vic, I am not highly educated in English and my poetry is far from technically correct, But we must have and keep to a standard for our poetry, a yard stick if you like. If like myself you write poems you can recite our just for your own pleasure then write what ever suits your mood. If you write for comp work then there has to be a standard also though the judges must be trained and understand the standard.
You set standards in every endeavour of your life, bringing up kids you have a yardstick.


I agree Neville have lots of fun.

TTFN

[Bob Pacey]

Hooly dooley fellas what did i miss out on by working late ? I read the poem and for what it's worth liked it. Now I can understand someone else not thinking along the same lines but this is what the judges on the day decided was the best of what they recieved.

I have also sat at performance comps and was sometimes amazed at who won as others had a more profound effect on me personally.

I had one competitor say he recieved 95 out of 100 for memorization for one of his own poems and his comment was. I wrote it and it has not been published anywhere and this is the first time I have performed it so go figure.

Remember " Winning is not everything, but looseing really sucks "

Cheers Bob

[manfredvijars]

Hear Hear Marty ...

[manfredvijars]

Marty, you're also a Dag ...

[David J Delaney]

If Mr. Burns can do it, then it must be ok eh!

A Sonnet upon Sonnets

Fourteen, a sonneteer thy praises sings;
What magic myst'ries in that number lie!
Your hen hath fourteen eggs beneath her wings
That fourteen chickens to the roost may fly.
Fourteen full pounds the jockey's stone must be;
His age fourteen--a horse's prime is past.
Fourteen long hours too oft the Bard must fast;
Fourteen bright bumpers--bliss he ne'er must see!
Before fourteen, a dozen yields the strife;
Before fourteen--e'en thirteen's strength is vain.
Fourteen good years--a woman gives us life;
Fourteen good men--we lose that life again.
What lucubrations can be more upon it?
Fourteen good measur'd verses make a sonnet.

Robert Burns (1759-1796)

[Zondrae]

aye,

Bu tha's ney hoow ya maek porrage!


(told you I couldn't spell)

[Frank Daniel]

Who judges the judges?

Which Judge judges what?

In August 1998 when Maureen Stonham (then Garner) was editor of our magazine the question was posed by the late Bobby Miller 'Who judges the judges?
This lengthy subject drew much attention and, as per the scribes in today's forum, never came up with an answer. It was just dropped by the wayside or went into the 'too hard' basket, or something else changed our minds and/or someone changed the subject (still happens William).
We'll never find a judge who thinks the way a thousand poets think.
I like all the poems for what they are, not because a judge says they are better than other entries in a written competition.
I never get to see the other entries, so how could I agree or disagree with his or her decision.
I enjoy the poetry for what it is... not for who the author is. They are all different.
As an individual, if they don't grab me in the first couple of stanzas I don't bother with the rest of the poem. That's my prerogative. Not all poems suit me, nor do they suit all the judges. (and vice-versa)
Certain subjects have always suited certain judges over the years. It was always said that my old mate, the late Colin Munro (ABC Radio and sometimes Bronze Swaggie judge) loved a poem as long as it mentioned 'Stockwhips'.
The same could apply to a judge who loves horses, dogs, history, romance -- you name it.

As for Mal McLean's concern over Catherine Clarkes use of the apostrophe in the word 'mystery' giving us 'myst'ry' reminds me of a time when I pursued the same idea to drop a syllable.
The judges critique I received advised me to forgo the apostrophe as, for example, the word spelt correctly is still pronounced 'mistry' not 'mist-er-ee'

Joe

[David J Delaney]

I'm sorry Frank but I beg to differ mate.

mys·ter·y2    /ˈmɪstəri/ Show Spelled
[mis-tuh-ree] Show IPA

Origin:
1325–75; Middle English mistery < Medieval Latin misterium, variant of Latin ministerium ministry