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

Poem

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Wolf Avatar
April 19, 2019 at 6:21 PM
Cute as a button, Janece, and twice as clever. bravo, Gershon
Terry Avatar
April 19, 2019 at 7:16 PM
My lament against the system. It seems I was born to debating rules and regulations.
Nau Avatar
April 15, 2019 at 10:40 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!
Terry Avatar
April 16, 2019 at 10:49 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
One Avatar
March 4, 2018 at 10:21 AM
Your poem made me smile, great idea for the contest..
Terry Avatar
March 4, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Thanks, Silent One. I really didn't have anything under 24 lines so thought I would improvise. Lol
De Beaulieu Avatar
March 3, 2018 at 8:18 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.
Terry Avatar
March 4, 2018 at 12:43 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
Gauthier Avatar
March 3, 2018 at 5:04 PM
Adorable rant, Janece. Think less epic and more bites! LOL
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