Twenty Lines

Just have to vent and have my say;
Although, I won't get my way.
Rules are rules, no matter why
and breaking them will never fly.

On many a contest, I must pass
because the rules my lines surpass.
Alas, my poems are all too long;
To cut them short would just be wrong.

How can I say all that I mean
if limits are put on my thought stream?
I love the words that freely flow
across the page and down below.

When pen to paper I do touch,
sometimes the magic's just too much.
If I'm not done when the cows come home,
at least, I'll write my epic poem.

I pen this poem with tongue in cheek;
It's poetic justice that I seek.
Why can't my lines run twenty-four?
Quoth the sponsor, "never more".


March 2, 2018
For contest 405, max. 20 lines
Sponsored by Brian Strand

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 4/19/2019 6:21:00 PM
Cute as a button, Janece, and twice as clever. bravo, Gershon
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Terry Avatar
Jan Terry
Date: 4/19/2019 7:16:00 PM
My lament against the system. It seems I was born to debating rules and regulations.
Date: 4/15/2019 10:40:00 AM
GOOD ONE! Boy there wasn’t a 20 line limit when I last had to take leave from PS. Someone has become lazy. That really stifles creativity and leaves out a lot of poetry. WHAT are they thinking! Let all enter and if it’s far too long then they will push it to the bottom anyway. I LOVE YOUR PROTEST! I could never have entered Time Machine which had so much work and research. Argh! A world that wants everything short and fast!
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Terry Avatar
Jan Terry
Date: 4/16/2019 10:49:00 AM
You always make me laugh, Edlynn. Thanks for the read and comment. It's great to hear from you again. Hope life is treating you well. Hugs, Jan
Date: 3/4/2018 10:21:00 AM
Your poem made me smile, great idea for the contest..
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Terry Avatar
Jan Terry
Date: 3/4/2018 12:37:00 PM
Thanks, Silent One. I really didn't have anything under 24 lines so thought I would improvise. Lol
Date: 3/3/2018 8:18:00 PM
Janece Terry, nice to meet you. There is a limit to how many words to write? Some poems are meant to be long. I seldom wrie a long poem. Have a nice evening my friend.
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Terry Avatar
Jan Terry
Date: 3/4/2018 12:43:00 PM
Thanks for your comment, Darlene. It's nice to meet you too. The limit of 20 lines is for most contests. Can you imagine if someone entered a poem like Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat? Lol. I just have to learn to be more concise in my poetry. Hugs. Janece
Date: 3/3/2018 5:04:00 PM
Adorable rant, Janece. Think less epic and more bites! LOL
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