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Notes About The Poem

Sour Grapes

I penned a great poem for a contest
Glowing comments stated it should place high
When winners appeared I became distressed
I'd failed to place and released a sad sigh  
 
I silently seethed, didn’t breathe a word,
I held back tears, eyes started to glisten
The placing by this judge was so absurd
I held my tongue as no one would listen

The sponsor had been blatantly unjust
All the winners ignored one simple rule
'Winning’ poems used words of such disgust
That judge proved to be a dim-witted fool
 
I’ve now completed my sour grapes sonnet
If I’m on Mark’s list, I’ll eat my bonnet!

Sour grapes Sonnet Contest

* didn't counted as 2 syllables not 1 as per how many syllables
Poem written for sour grapes contest theme and is not aimed at any particular sponsor 


8/16/18
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Gauthier Avatar
September 14, 2018 at 8:09 PM
Awesome poem, Jan. Sounds so familiar. I particularly love your last stanza. Priceless!
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 12, 2018 at 4:43 PM
How was the taste of your bonnet Jan! Hehe! So happy you got on the winner's list with this clever sour grapes! Congratulations my friend! : )
Haight Avatar
September 12, 2018 at 3:46 PM
Love what you did with the theme, Jan! Congratulations on your win! Hugs, Sandra
Sinha-Roy Avatar
September 12, 2018 at 1:03 AM
Congratulations, Jan on your win.
Rowe Avatar
September 11, 2018 at 10:32 PM
I loved the tongue-in-cheek take on this (and all) contests (and the disclaimer at the end). Congrats on your top finish... now about that bonnet. LOL
Canerdy Avatar
September 11, 2018 at 10:19 PM
Excellent, Jan! CONGRATS! Janice
Wood Avatar
August 22, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Oh yes Jan! I really like this little sonnet and I think you have read the intent of the sponsor spot on. Better get some good sauce for that bonnet of yours because I think you have a winner here! Regards, Dean
Lindley Avatar
August 21, 2018 at 6:11 AM
Great entry my friend!! I have seen very biased judging lots of times. I have seen poems that the requirement was rhyme, the top winner in the contest had very little rhymes and the few that they did have were "near-rhymes". Sponsors that BLATANTLY ignore their own contest requirements in favor of placing certain poets high are doing neither Poetry or this site any favors, IMHO.
Marcum Wong Avatar
August 19, 2018 at 5:25 AM
Don't become disheartened Jan. I just counted 8 N/A's I have gotten since July. There's so many great writers here and that includes you! I love your creative sonnet that speaks for a lot of us! : ) xxoo
Flaherty Avatar
August 18, 2018 at 4:08 PM
Love it Jan so very sad but true. I myself have just recently received some Lovely comments from Poets saying the same type of things about my work. Like they deserve more comments or placing but hey ho onwards and upwards it doesn't stop us or slow us down
Flaherty Avatar
August 18, 2018 at 4:14 PM
Also Jan I wrote a poem called Feather Field of Dreams which in my humble opinion I think is the happiest or best thing I have ever wrote. Please will you take a listen and tell what it is missing .
Buck Avatar
August 17, 2018 at 2:34 PM
Jan: I've never entered a contest for lots of reasons, only one being that all judgement of poetry must by nature be subjective. :o) Maybe I don't understand "real" poetry or the meaning of subjective. Keep them coming. Yours are always "the best". :o) But I'm not very "objective". oldbuck
Krutsinger Avatar
August 17, 2018 at 5:59 AM
You have expressed sour grapes magnificently Jan. This poem is a winner in my book! As always, my friend!
Wigley Avatar
August 17, 2018 at 2:13 AM
Yes, Jan, I was looking at my N/A list recently, sometimes one feels like not bothering, but I don't want to lose faith in myself. And don't you dare either :) . Viv x
Allison Avatar
August 17, 2018 at 2:25 AM
my n/a list outweighs the winners but I still plod on with some contests, the most important thing is I am being creative (even if my poems are considered to be a load of poop lol) hugs jan xx
Faulkner Avatar
August 16, 2018 at 2:44 PM
Yes sometimes I think the rules are too arbitrary or too strict (why does it have to be a new poem, if an existing one fits the parameters?) But really enjoyed this one!
Allison Avatar
August 16, 2018 at 5:19 PM
I don't mind writing a new poem Michelle but when you see folks not follow the rules and place high and you follow the rules exactly and get an n/a then it galls. I enter fewer and fewer contests for many reasons but when you get n/a after n/a with a sponsor you know it's a pretty pointless so i may just write inspired by there theme:-) hugs Jan xx
Lane Avatar
August 16, 2018 at 8:06 AM
I am so in line with Tim on his comment. It's not sour grapes when you're justified. I've witnessed far too many of those blatant blunders by many who host what are called 'contests.' An aptly expressed sonnet, Jan.
Allison Avatar
August 16, 2018 at 8:38 AM
blatant blunders you said it lol:-) hugs Jan xx
Smith Avatar
August 16, 2018 at 7:26 AM
That's why I don't enter. Too subjective
Allison Avatar
August 16, 2018 at 8:38 AM
I enter fewer and fewer Tim and when you see rules not being followed by both sponsor and poet and poems still placing highly it makes some of the contests just a joke. I know many have just given up even entering. hugs jan xx
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