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Having a dickens of a good time - Suzette Richards's Blog

About Suzette Richards
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Mission statement: I don’t use AI to generate or even tweak my poetry, because I am a better poet than it.

Poetry has been my passion since my retirement from an accountancy based career a dozen years ago. I currently live in South Africa and this rainbow nation has inspired many of my poems. I also have British nationality and embrace their grammar and spelling, but I read widely and am not fazed by strict grammar rules: A pavement/sidewalk; glasses/eyeglasses; judgement/judgment, et cetera; they are one and the same to me when I read poetry. To date, I have self-published a number of books, including the poetry anthology by international poets, © Time, 2014 ISBN 978-0-620-60578-6, and have been cited in many international publications, both poetry journals, as well as in scholarly handbooks. Some of my short stories have been published in international electronic publications, and one of my novellas had been short-listed for an Afrikaans SA publication.

I serve on the Board of Advisers, of Taleemi Baithak.

I have a number of poetic forms to my credit, notably, Suzette Prime (listed here on PoetrySoup), as well as Suzette sonnet.

My most recent books which include examples of my poetry as well as notes regarding poetry - available directly from me:

  1. © The Eutony of Words, 2018 ISBN 978-0-6399382-0-2
  2. © Docendo discimus, 2021 (Revised 2023) ISBN 978-0-620-95432-7
  3. © Flight of Thoughts, 2023 ISBN 978-0-6397-8880-7
  4. © Downtown - Poetic Devices, 2023 ISBN 978-0-7961-1968-1
  5.  © Rocking Poetry, 2033 ISBN 978-0-7961-2824-9
  6. NEW: moonwake - Suzette Prime poetry, ISBN 978-1-0370-1836-7(PDF). It is a collection of 61 Suzette Prime poetry spanning from 2012 (when I designed the poetic form), up till now.

Having a dickens of a good time

Blog Posted:12/6/2023 1:10:00 AM

Tiny Tim, from A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Image generated, by Suzette Richards 7 November 2023


Dear Soupers

Congratulations to the 10 winners in my Metaphorical Realism in Suzette Prime contest. I will contact the top THREE WINNERS to obtain their written permission to include their poems in the book, Rocking Poetry, by Suzette Richards 2023 – a PDF copy of said book will be send via e-mail to these winners.

Thank you to all who had supported my contests this past year. Winning or losing, I salute you for making the effort. I do hope that I have inspired some poets to step out of their comfort zone and write poetry they otherwise would not have attempted. The winners in each category can rightly be proud of their achievements. Those poets, who did not make the cut in my latest contest, please check your poems against the contest requirements as I, as a rule, do not indulge in post-mortems – the TICK LIST is a handy aid that I have included since the second contest that I have sponsored.

Every single contest I have hosted relied on tried and tested poetic forms and poetic devices – none were thumb sucking concepts to bamboozle you. Over thinking and the lemmings effect seem to have contributed to much confusion amongst poets. The themes were my original ideas in the format of contests held internationally and perhaps not what some Soupers might have been used to. I have often challenged preconceived ideas – this had proven to be the most difficult part of hosting the contests.

In order of contests presented, ending on the 6th of the months listed:

  1. May: A shape/concrete poem; a single line rich in imagery; or a Heroic couplet/verse. Topic: Graffiti.
  2. June: Wueju (a 5 word per line quatrain – jueju). In imagistic monosyllabic words.
  3. July: A syllabic ‘sonnet’. Topic: The moon by day.
  4. August: A Vignette (type of prose poetry). Topic: Relativity/Time – a snapshot in time.
  5. September: A 5-line verse in iambic pentameter hypercatalectic: hendecasyllable (11 syllables). Topic: The introduction to a hypnagogic dream.
  6. October: Free verse (or a poetic form of your choice). Topic: Etymology of your name.
  7. November: Alexandrine couplet. Topic: Eidolon – the Halloween edition.
  8. December: Suzette Prime. Topic: Metaphorical Realism per picture prompts. As I am the designer of Suzette Prime, I have been strict in the CORRECT EXECUTION of this Syllabic verse, established in October 2012, the core elements being that each line must add up to a prime number (11 max was allowed for this contest), PLUS a philosophical statement (Metaphorical Realism took the place of the requirement of a philosophical statement for this contest).

As with all designed poetic forms, in practice the PRESENTATION is often open to interpretation by the poets, but there were strict guidelines for this contest, including the exclusion of certain words, namely, real and really. Also, simile and symbolism were excluded.

 

Wishing you all a dickens of a good time over the festive season while I coddiwomple towards the New Year.

Season’s Greetings

Suzette



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Date: 12/6/2023 1:12:00 PM
Have a nice time venturing into the New Year. What a great word (coddiwomple). Wishing you all the best in the future, Suzette!
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Richards Avatar
Suzette Richards
Date: 12/6/2023 8:10:00 PM
Thank you, Anaya:)
Date: 12/6/2023 6:29:00 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your poetic knowledge and expertise... I have learned a lot. God bless you.
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Richards Avatar
Suzette Richards
Date: 12/6/2023 6:37:00 AM
Trust me when I say that I have learned as much from the contestants by them challenging many of my preconceptions.

My Past Blog Posts

 
Klein’s Vase Verse - A New Poetic Form Freer than Free Verse
Date Posted: 5/7/2025 12:54:00 PM
Free Verse – How Free is It?
Date Posted: 4/26/2025 11:37:00 PM
Gender Influences on Contests
Date Posted: 4/20/2025 2:54:00 AM
Memento on the Moon
Date Posted: 4/9/2025 12:26:00 AM
Tariffs on Penguins Limerick
Date Posted: 4/4/2025 7:02:00 AM
Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/25/2025 1:55:00 PM
Blood Moon Eclipse - Light or Shadows
Date Posted: 3/11/2025 12:46:00 AM
A Timely Intervention
Date Posted: 3/2/2025 12:42:00 PM
On a more serious note
Date Posted: 2/23/2025 5:40:00 AM
Weekend Wacky Limericks
Date Posted: 2/22/2025 3:34:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe – The Bride Trilogy challenge
Date Posted: 2/14/2025 12:37:00 AM
Saints and poets maybe
Date Posted: 2/9/2025 4:24:00 AM
According to the poem’s meter is stressed
Date Posted: 1/25/2025 9:53:00 PM
Poison - an analogy
Date Posted: 1/12/2025 11:08:00 PM
Be Happy and Merry
Date Posted: 12/21/2024 9:45:00 PM
Which is worse - AI or Plagiarism?
Date Posted: 12/8/2024 11:13:00 PM
Bring in the Clowns
Date Posted: 12/2/2024 12:04:00 AM
Cyber bullying
Date Posted: 11/29/2024 1:22:00 AM
Future Trends in Poetry
Date Posted: 11/26/2024 11:15:00 PM
Jack and Jill
Date Posted: 11/22/2024 9:52:00 PM
Counterintuitive versus Juxtaposition
Date Posted: 11/8/2024 10:11:00 PM
Sunday Simile Smile
Date Posted: 11/3/2024 1:39:00 AM
The Philosophy of Meliorism
Date Posted: 11/2/2024 12:26:00 AM
Illuminating Poetry
Date Posted: 10/26/2024 1:35:00 AM
When Words are not Enough
Date Posted: 10/19/2024 10:22:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
5/7/2025 Liquescent Marmoris Otherfamily,introspection,
5/7/2025 No Way Out Otherintrospection,surreal,
5/3/2025 Starlight Eyes Otheranalogy,introspection,per
4/30/2025 Purple - An Analogy for Deception Suzette Primeanalogy,
4/27/2025 Cultural Mores Mirror Free verseintrospection,
4/26/2025 An Ode to Daisies Odeflower,introspection,
4/23/2025 Oenomel Free verseanalogy,childhood,mother,
4/17/2025 Left Unspoken Quatrainmom,
3/24/2025 Memento on the Moon Alexandrineanalogy,introspection,
3/11/2025 In a Pickle Free verseanalogy,satire,
3/10/2025 Light and Shadows Suzette Primeanalogy,philosophy,
3/9/2025 Thinking about Aladdin Sane Free verseanalogy,
3/6/2025 raven Haikunature,symbolism,
3/1/2025 Kiss the Ring Free versesatire,
2/26/2025 Giving a Cat a Pill Limerickcat,humorous,
2/22/2025 A Fly on the Wall Free versepolitical,satire,
2/21/2025 A Vine in Winter Free verseanalogy,winter,
2/21/2025 broken blood moon Haikuanalogy,moon,nature,
2/16/2025 Cyril Ramaphosa Clerihewafrica,humorous,
2/16/2025 The Soldier’s Covenant Prose Poetrybaby,war,
2/13/2025 Undergrowth with Two Figures - Van Gogh Free verseanalogy,
2/11/2025 A Blues Sonnet for Jan Sonnetafrica,conflict,endurance
2/7/2025 The Bride's Dreams Prose Poetrydream,love,
2/7/2025 The Bride Prose Poetryfeelings,flower,sunset,
1/22/2025 The Reluctant Bride Prose Poetrylost love,
1/10/2025 humanity Suzette Primephilosophy,science,
12/22/2024 A Woman's Longing Otherlonging,love,water,woman,
12/19/2024 Where Tides once Gossiped Sonnetemotions,imagery,inspirat
12/14/2024 Dandelion Suns to Moons Sonnetflower,life,metaphor,natu
12/2/2024 Aging rocks Crystallineage,
11/27/2024 Divine Madness Sonnetreligion,
11/26/2024 fierce sun Tankaintrospection,nature,summ
11/15/2024 The Event Horizon Verselife,memory,
11/11/2024 Less is More Crystallinephilosophy,
11/9/2024 Jolted by Twilight Suzette Primenature,
11/5/2024 as long as - Monokunature,
10/31/2024 Burning Love Letters Free verselost love,nostalgia,
10/23/2024 yellow light Haikuanimal,spring,
10/21/2024 twilight silence Tankanature,
10/20/2024 Swans Pleiadesbird,
10/18/2024 wAlls In dAlI Ekphrasisart,philosophy,
10/15/2024 Here we go again Limericksatire,
10/15/2024 Haunted Cemetery Rhymehalloween,humorous,
10/12/2024 My Truths Verseliterature,myth,relations
10/10/2024 BALLAD OF ELEANOR RIGBY Balladmusic,
10/8/2024 Life is a garden Suzette Primeanalogy,birth,death,flowe
10/2/2024 Avarice Enclosed Rhymeanalogy,
9/28/2024 Stranded in Peace Quatrainnature,
9/26/2024 Insidious AI Concreteintegrity,poems,poetry,po
9/13/2024 Pie-in-the-sky Versesatire,
9/3/2024 The Scent of Words in the Air Shapeinspiration,poetry,
8/15/2024 The Co-dependent Pantoumaddiction,
7/25/2024 a loveliness Senryulanguage,nature,
7/10/2024 Mother said --- Versehumorous,mother,
7/8/2024 The Earth from a Distance Sonnetnostalgia,
7/5/2024 Lingering Dusk Free verseallegory,analogy,flower,n
6/14/2024 A Child of Light Otherdaughter,
6/5/2024 Cave canem Suzette Primefear,
5/31/2024 Layers of Life Enclosed Rhymelife,remember,
5/13/2024 Love Lauded in Song Free verseromance,
5/13/2024 The Truth in Time Sonnethorse,mythology,
5/9/2024 Silence of the Sea Otherpeace,
5/6/2024 Love Sonnetlove,pain,
4/6/2024 From Purgatory to Paradise Haibunafrica,nature,
2/23/2024 The Last Leaf Tankaautumn,feelings,friend,im
2/20/2024 To everything there is a season Otherlife,nature,seasons,
1/29/2024 On a Thesaurus Diet Suzette Primeanalogy,nature,philosophy
1/23/2024 The Wind Teased Sijoloss,
11/3/2023 Moonwake Suzette Primemetaphor,nature,philosoph
10/16/2023 The Rocking Chair of Memories Suzette Primeanalogy,memory,metaphor,p
9/10/2023 The Dilatory Thought Verseintrospection,
8/25/2023 Through the Keyhole Iambic Pentameterdream,fantasy,
8/8/2023 View From Basement Flat Dramatic Verserelationship,
7/27/2023 When Doves Cry Terzanelleeulogy,
7/26/2023 You Shall Reap What You Sow Ekphrasisart,
7/8/2023 Graceful Lily Sonnetpoetess,
6/21/2023 Thalassophile Alexandrinesea,
6/14/2023 Recombobulating Chaos Free versenature,
5/25/2023 The Seeds of Time Quatrainanalogy,introspection,met
5/24/2023 The Moon By Day Sonnetromance,
5/8/2023 Discord and Peace Ekphrasisanalogy,anger,angst,child
4/22/2023 If a Tree Should Fall Suzette Primedream,philosophy,
4/19/2023 Like Burnt-Out Logs Heroic Coupletemotions,simile,
4/18/2023 An Attenuated Tree Branch Personificationimagery,metaphor,nature,
4/12/2023 Verismo Suzette Primeanalogy,introspection,met
4/6/2023 A Tree Tankaanalogy,image,nature,
4/5/2023 The Welkin - and - the Influences Juejuanalogy,nature,
3/19/2023 Alone Suzette Primeanalogy,inspiration,metap
3/9/2023 A Waste of Space Proseculture,introspection,lit
2/15/2023 Passion - Metaphorical Realism Suzette Primeart,extended metaphor,pas
1/30/2023 Dare To Take a Stand - Zettie's Sonnet Sonnetmetaphor,
1/30/2023 I Dance With Shadows - Yclept Sonnet Sonnetanalogy,city,dream,metaph
1/29/2023 An Evanescent Life - Xaxa Sonnet Sonnetdeath,extended metaphor,l
1/25/2023 Dusk At the Beach Sonnetbeach,friendship,
12/9/2022 By the Silvery Light of a Moon Sonnetmythology,romance,
11/12/2022 Either Way Sonnetanalogy,nature,parody,sat
10/6/2022 Redamancy Lament Suzette Primeafrica,analogy,grief,lost
9/23/2022 You Are the Music Sonnetlove,poetry,
9/9/2022 Thank You Ma'Am - In Memoriam Queen Elizabeth Ii Sonnetdeath,funeral,grief,in me
7/20/2022 Ignorance Is Bliss Quatrainwisdom,

My Photos


Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
I To Poisonous Honey Free verselife,
The Usurper King Dramatic Monologueidentity,satire,
O April Free verseappreciation,april,beauty
Summer Peak Haikusummer,
O Charming Rhymehumorous,valentines day,
Prime Crime - Bt Than-Baukdream,horror,
The Grey Suzette Primeintrospection,
Unsure the Shore Sonnet8th grade,beach,bereaveme
Earth Prayer Verseprayer,
Hall Pass Sonnetlove,
Fiery Events Haikufire,love,
Best In Show Dodoitsuwinter,
The Wait Rhymebody,devotion,truth,
Love In Love With Love Sonnetlove,spiritual,
When the Chemistry Is Gone the History Does Not Matter Free verselove,
Telegraph Pole Potd Imagismimagery,
Lit By Love Quatrainloss,love,strength,
Floating Shards of Dream Free verseanalogy,lost love,pain,
Courtney Mae Or Courting May Sonnetmay,
Blemished - a Coin Poem Otherpain,
Poet's Honeymoon Collaboration With Joanna Daniels Rhymefantasy,imagination,
Rebirth Me Prose Poetryhope,mental illness,
Pulchritudinous Rhymeart,
Bantu Free versepoetry,
Ashes - Edvard Munch Ekphrasisart,inspiration,
I Died Sonnetallusion,anger,angst,
The Forming of Thoughts Rhymeangst,
A woman called house Free versehome,
Salvations Rests Behind True Faith's Gold Door Sonnetappreciation,art,bible,ch
The Cold Embrace of Death Ekphrasisart,
Debacle Rhymeconfusion,evil,history,
Pearl-Prayer Sijoemotions,heaven,life,long
Vanishing Point Free verseangst,anxiety,heartbreak,
apologies for the truth Suzette Primephilosophy,senses,
Love Hurts - Bound by Love, Broken by Fate - POTD Balladfate,lost love,rainbow,ro
The Narcissist Who Saved Himself - Cynthia Howard - collaboration with Ink Empress Ekphrasisart,
thoughts drift to sirens Free verseart,
To Whom Does This Come Haibunanalogy,deep,i am,
Les peupliers bleus - Andre Brasilier Ekphrasisart,
No Longer Quatrainbetrayal,recovery from,
Clover's In the Bottom Right-Hand Corner Doing the Best with What Circumstance Brought Her Ekphrasisart,extended metaphor,
Amberina Ballerina, Whatever Verseintrospection,
Domenico Gatti - Purita Ekphrasisart,
Humanity Rhymehumanity,perspective,scie
Undergrowth with Two Figures Ekphrasisart,love,nature,paradise,
Roots and Dandelion Dreams: A Mother's Heart Ekphrasisheart,love,mothers day,na
Misty Blues Quatrainlost love,solitude,
Sea Shore Night Sijonature,sea,
Not for Contest - Impact of AI on poets Rhymeart,
Reason I Believe Free versehow i feel,
Yesterday's Wishes Free verseanxiety,

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
James Marshall Goff United States Flag United States Read
Richard Lamoureux Canada Flag Canada Read
Susan Woodrow Fiji Flag Fiji Read
Robert Lindley United States Flag United States Read
Brian Strand United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Susan Ashley United States Flag United States Read
Andrea Dietrich United States Flag United States Read
Eileen Manassian _Not Listed Flag _Not Listed Read
Christuraj Alex India Flag India Read
Quoth Theraven United States Flag United States Read
Runa Pradhan India Flag India Read
Christopher Flaherty United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Sara Kendrick United States Flag United States Read
Hilo Poet United States Flag United States Read
Judy Reeves United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Mark Frank South Africa Flag South Africa Read
Gordon Mcconnell United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Joanna Daniel India Flag India Read
Di11y Da11y United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Frederic Parker United States Flag United States Read
Mark Massey United States Flag United States Read
Timothy Ray United States Flag United States Read
Charlotte Puddifoot United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Christina Bowring United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Arlo Parker United States Flag United States Read
A Yorkshire Poet United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Thomas Lee Rhymes United States Flag United States Read
Sam Kauffman United States Flag United States Read
Linda Alice Fowler United States Flag United States Read
David Crandall United States Flag United States Read
Maria Williams Australia Flag Australia Read

Book: Reflection on the Important Things