Daniel Turner Poet Sonnet

To Judge Or Not To Judge

How pompous we must be to self appoint
To sit in judgement of a gifted peer
Discerning if a writer makes his point
Within the guidelines spelled out loud and clear

In robe of terry-cloth, beneath a lamp
Proofreading poems from our reclining bench
Where technicalities decide a champ
We scrutinize and give them not one inch

And even though we feel we're qualified
To judge a poem, one need not pass a test
We tend to let our conscience be our guide
Then have the gall to say, "this one is best"

There's nothing like a poet with a grudge.
Now ask yourself, to judge or not to judge?


                5/2/2021
   by Daniel Turner

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Linda Alice Fowler March 27, 2023 at 6:21 AM LOL dear Daniel. I color-code my poems on my computer by year. I have five categories. One is for Win, one is for NA. I have a lot more NAs than Wins. LOL It doesn't stop me from writing! Love this poem :) Alice Linda Alice Fowler March 27, 2023 at 9:18 AM I know, but it's an eccentricity of mine. I like to organize and backup. I can't help myself. :0 Daniel Turner March 27, 2023 at 6:25 AM Thank you, Alice. LOL I don't even keep up with it. You are member. There is a tab on your member's page that tells every contest and every placement of yours. I appreciate your kindness. Have a geat day, Alice.

Sara Kendrick March 17, 2023 at 10:52 AM That is a cute one. A judge with a grudge. LOL..Thanks for sharing and for dropping by my page. Sara Daniel Turner March 17, 2023 at 10:05 PM Thank you, Mrs Sara. You make me blush reading my older poems. i take that as a big compliment. Have a super weekend Mrs Sara:)

Fin Chuuk February 24, 2023 at 5:20 PM I would only say a FABULOUS poem, Danny! Now I might have to bother you sometime near the future for some of your great knowledge on Sonnet. :) Daniel Turner February 25, 2023 at 12:43 PM You may soup mail me anytime, Fin. I am no expert but I will help any way I can:)

Indiana Shaw February 27, 2022 at 3:49 PM Daniel, poetic rules, or poetic content, for that there should be 2 prizes, honorary mentions go a long way to save judges from poets holding grudges, the thought of that has me laughing, brilliant sonnet . . . ; )

Eve Roper May 30, 2021 at 12:00 AM Congratulations on your win, my friend. <3

Bj Legros Kelley May 10, 2021 at 1:18 PM Oh, I feel this!!! I sponsored a poetry contest for the first time recently and had a horrible time 'judging' it! I had a panel of kids and hubby help me because I loved ALL of them, because they were each a heart and mind behind each piece. Oh, I just don't know if I can ever go through the judging of a contest again! I am still waffling over the whole thing, lol! Judging my contest was agonizing! I love your poem. I admit relinquishing the gavel to my family :-D Daniel Turner May 10, 2021 at 1:37 PM LOL I didn't mean to give you a panic attack. Thank you so much for stopping by to read and comment, BJ. I have judged a few but it has been a while. I remember it well.

Margarita Lillico May 10, 2021 at 8:51 AM Smooth and clever...'NOT ONE INCH' Be aware of a judge with a grudge:) M. Daniel Turner May 10, 2021 at 11:16 AM Thank you, Margarita. I hope my skepticism isn't showing. lol Certainly a privilege for me to have you stop by and read. I appreciate your time and your support:)

Janis Medders Tobechi May 5, 2021 at 5:55 PM I love it Daniel. It is in true sonnet form and well written as well as timely said. Best wishes for the contest. Daniel Turner May 6, 2021 at 6:31 AM Thank you, Janis. I appreciate your support. Great to see you again:)

Terry Miller May 5, 2021 at 5:27 AM This is a great poem: I aspire! Daniel Turner May 5, 2021 at 5:31 AM Thank you, Terry. I appreciate your kind comments.

Gershon Wolf May 3, 2021 at 5:29 PM Whoa! You really makei a person-poet-judge take a deep breath with this one. Scorching, anlaysis; a must-read, methinks. Bravo, Gershon Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 6:52 PM Thanks Gershon. great to see you again. My attempt at humor:)

David Mchattie May 3, 2021 at 5:12 PM Judge not or ye be judge. Wise words indeed. You make a good point. Life is too short to criticize someone after they've gone to the effort to produce a work. I do draw the line at propaganda. Well penned my friend. Have a great day. Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 6:51 PM Thank you, David. I appreciate your visit and sharing your thoughts. Have a wonderful evening (here).

Scott Thirtyseven May 3, 2021 at 4:27 PM Enjoyable read Daniel. Only the brave sally forth to the task of judge. Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 6:49 PM Scott, I have done it a couple of times but it is tough to pick a winner! Great to see you. I appreciate your kindness and your comments.

Andrea Dietrich May 3, 2021 at 2:46 PM by the way, I LOVE the ending couplet because I have been many years on the N/A receiving end of judges with grudges. One person came right out and pretty much told me that I'd never get a win from them. (simply because I already have "too many wins" in her pompous opinion) Good grief. Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 6:48 PM I guess people just don't notice the pronouns our and we. which include myself. Yes it is a parody. So good of you to stop by and visit. I hope you and yours are well.

Andrea Dietrich May 3, 2021 at 2:44 PM DAnny boy, yes, I saw this one last week and I see that you want it taken humorously, from comments below. Indeed, some parts were really funny, like judge sitting in terry cloth robe by his lamp. maybe some are sitting naked. hahaha. (to judge erotica). This works very well as a parody, Danny.

Joseph May May 3, 2021 at 10:25 AM it is not easy to judge contests, but apart from grammar and flow etc, sometimes it comes down to who followed the rules, You state your case well Daniel.. Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 6:45 PM Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate your time and your support. Great to see you again:)

Tom Cunningham May 3, 2021 at 4:59 AM Unless one is perfect in everything then theyre not qualified to judge anything in my book. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone comes to mind. Tom Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 7:17 AM Thank you, Tom. I do think there are qualified people who can judge things like grammar and punctuation but to judge someone's intent or creative vision is entirely a different thing. I hope you had a top shelf weekend Tom.

Victor Buhagiar May 3, 2021 at 1:40 AM I have long decided not to conduct a contest. I judge no one. Daniel Turner May 3, 2021 at 7:14 AM I understand, Victor. Thank you for dropping in. I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Jerry T Curtis May 2, 2021 at 7:03 PM P.S. Dan everyone is to serious these days, this culture is to up tight, Humor is dead for now anyway. I liked your Poem....but then again...I'm no judge..lol. Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 7:28 PM Life is too short not to laugh at ourselves. Thank you Jerry. I'm out of the judging business, myself. Nice to see you again. I hope all is well with you and yours. Can't wait for your next episode:)

Jerry T Curtis May 2, 2021 at 7:01 PM I don't see the problem Dan, since I'm the Best Poet on the Soup or in it.........but putting all seriousness aside Dan I know what you're saying..... I don't even want to create a contest....less I have to be a judge....I've for-warned contestants I am not qualified to judge poetry, but list them according to the one I like best. I've never look at art as competetor but a creator!

Terry Flood May 2, 2021 at 5:19 PM As a fellow exponent of decent rhyme, I’ve been there, done that. Got an N/A when the winner rhymes peaches with pension. But, as you’ve said to others, contests can free up a mind full of blanks. A well written ‘sock on the jaw’ poem... I wonder how John will view it. I reckon he’ll ‘get it’. Terry Terry Flood May 4, 2021 at 7:13 AM No need to fret Daniel, I got that it was tongue in cheek and I’m sure everyone else did too. Terry Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 5:30 PM Thank you for reading and commenting, Terry. It was supposed to be funny but everyone is taking it seriously. I was drilling for a laugh. Must have struck a nerve. LOL Great to see you again:)

Mystic Rose Rose May 2, 2021 at 5:14 PM It is so easy to judge when we are not sitting on the poets conscience or seat of the soul. We need to be careful not to make assumptions, nice one, thanks for sharing dear Daniel. Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 5:17 PM I hope you noticed out beside my poem i put it in the category of humor. It is a little tongue in cheek humor not meant to be taken seriously, Vie. Wonderful of you to drop by to read and comment. I hope all is well with you.

Connie Marcum Wong May 2, 2021 at 2:36 PM You know how I feel about judging poetry Daniel. One should only be in competition with themselves. Merit should be considered if it is one of his or her best when judging. The outcome is totally subjective when entering a contest, I agree. You express this so well in your poem my friend. Thank you for the comment about my birthday you left in John’s poetry tribute. Have a beautiful week my friend. Blessings xxoo Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 2:52 PM Thank you Connie, It is great to see you out and about. i hope you are feeling much better. i always enjoy your friendly visits and your wise comments. Be well my dear friend. I meant every word!

Gordon Mcconnell May 2, 2021 at 1:25 PM Good piece Daniel with a good point to make indeed, Hope you're well and had a nice weekend. Take care, Gordon Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 2:29 PM Thank you, Gordon. I did have a nice weekend. it is raining today which makes for a beautiful day tomorrow. One of these days you are going to have to soupmail me and tell me all about Scotland. I am a curious sorta fella:) Take care and have a great week:)

Ilene Bauer May 2, 2021 at 1:04 PM well said, daniel! i rarely enter contests anymore because i often read all the "winners" that came out ahead of me and i usually think mine was better. it's all subjective, of course, and occasionally i give in to temptation, but most of the time i'm sorry afterwards... Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 1:14 PM Thank you, Ilene. I don't enter very many any more but when my muse is sleeping, sometimes a contest or two will awaken it. Of course everyone wants to win but if i do not, oh well! LOl So nice to have a visit from you. How did your horses do?

Regina Mcintosh May 2, 2021 at 12:05 PM Wow. Gifted you are! A wonderful and true write. Love it so. God bless you always. Love, Gina Daniel Turner May 2, 2021 at 12:47 PM LOL Thank you, Gina. I appreciate your kind comment. Stay safe young lady:)

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