EIDOLON – Who is the judge? - Suzette Richards's Blog

No information I include in any of my contests on the contest pages is ever superfluous. I despair of the literacy level* as the majority of entries have not made it through to the 2^nd round of judging.

Please note that I am the judge in this contest and the judging will be strictly in accordance with the contest requirements as set out in detail for your ease of reference on the contest page. No third party’s opinion will sway me in the least when I am judging each entry – I always judge without fear or favour. The onus is on each poet to avail himself of the many recourses available on Poetry Soup, especially the Dictionary when certain terminology is unclear, for example, ‘internal rhyme’. So, if you elect to lend your ears out to a third party, it is at your own risk.

From my first blog pertaining to this contest:

I have also included a handy TICK LIST. If you wish to stand a ghost of a chance of a placement in this contest, please adhere to ALL the stipulations, including the Do’s and Don’ts Rules.

However, if you used this contest merely as a writing prompt, all is well in the soup bowl …

The requirement of polysyllabic/multi-syllabic words in the rhymes used, the final syllable of the rhyming words falling on the 6^th and 12^th syllable in each line, is a contest requirement that I as the contest sponsor had introduced, and MUST be adhered to – the standard alexandrine allows for the use of single syllabic words in the rhyme schemes, but it is NOT accepted in this contest. The enjambment is a standard poetic device when more than one alexandrine (a 12 syllabic line) is used. Under Types of Poetry here on Poetry Soup it is described as being a ‘longer phrase of 24 syllables’, where I am calling it an ‘unrhymed alexandrine couplet’ – it is six of one and half a dozen of the other. You have two distinctive rhyme schemes to choose from and the GLOSSARY where they are described in detail needs to be read with attention.

Thank you

Suzette

*Definitions of common terms used may be found in the Dictionary here at Poetry Soup. Terms such as 'stanza', 'internal rhyme', 'enjambment', 'couplet', etc are readily explained and it will only advance your poetry if your literacy level with regards to poetry should improve. A tip: Write down the words and/or phrases used in the numerous online poetry contests (here and elsewhere) and build up your own 'poetry library'. It will also motivate you to read the contest requirements with attention. It is a win-win situation.