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Rules For The Sake Of Rules

Blog Posted:6/21/2023 4:57:00 PM

So, tell me what the bloody hell

Was wrong with what was working well?

Someone with not much to do

Came up with some dumb ado.

Changing all the contest rules

Will see us looking like we're fools.

There's so much that you could improve

To keep us Soupers in the groove.

But rules just for the sake of rules

Like we will follow just like mules,

Frankly Soup, you're out of line

For messing with what worked just fine,

When what would be satisfactory

Would be no need for category!

Post Comments

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Bill
Baker

Date: 7/3/2023 4:37:00 PM

I've never entered a contest here at poetry soup., but have many other places. I've paid up to $25 per poem for some contest ... Every contest I've entered has stated in the rules for acceptanc, no name, date, or addition information are the poem will not be judged. It's a way for poems to be judged without knowing who wrote the poem. They ask for that information seperate from the actual poem. Just some information, to consider. Thanks for asking the questions in your blog, Terry. Have a great July! Bill

R. B.
Cawis

Date: 6/22/2023 2:16:00 PM

Nice hit buddy... I pour the same blood on it...

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:34:00 PM

Thanks, Roger. As I said… it seems like a rule for the sake of a rule. Terry

Kim
Rodrigues

Date: 6/22/2023 12:13:00 PM

I like that it presents a cleaner poem…only the essentials to look at. What I do miss is being alerted to a contest that I did not see. …ooh, that looks like a good one…let me check that out. A sponsor can still remind people that they will be checking syllable counts and rhymes with certain sites.

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:32:00 PM

I deffo get your point, Kim. But I frequently but little notes before or after my poems, often because I’m not sure if a word or phrase is used on both sides of the Atlantic. Weirdly, it seems that that is still okay.

Constance
La France

Date: 6/22/2023 11:01:00 AM

Terry, I know change is hard but I am sure PS has a good reason for having to change the rules that we are unaware of. They want nothing in the entry area except the poem itself, is that so unreasonable. I actually do not mind putting my details in the Poet's Notes so they end up on the top of my poem instead of the bottom (which the contest sponsor cannot see) I think it looks good. As a contest sponsor myself, I am having no problem detecting if a poem is new or not by the posted date right beside the name of the poem, so that is going smoothly. So, I think just give it a chance, I am sure poets will get used to it no time. However, I will say that for non-paying members it is a real issue.

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:29:00 PM

I’m not averse to change, Constance, but in this case I don’t see the point. As I intimated, my biggest beef is the categories. Rarely, is there an appropriate one for my poems, so nowadays I just find a category with at least a tenuous link. Terry

Eve
Roper

Date: 6/22/2023 8:13:00 AM

I agree

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:24:00 PM

Great minds, Eve.

Anne-Lise
Andresen

Date: 6/22/2023 6:39:00 AM

100% agree...couldn't have said it better !!!

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:24:00 PM

I’m sure you could have done, Anne-Lise, but thanks all the same. Terry

Tania
Kitchin

Date: 6/22/2023 3:53:00 AM

The rules really don't make sense in regards to no dates or contest info on our poems since we can simply remove that info if we choose to submit poems to the anthology.

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:23:00 PM

Now that’s radical… ha ha!

Jan Allison
Date: 6/22/2023 7:40:00 AM

it would be far more sensible to do this Tania - if folk wish to submit to the anthology admin should stress the importance of doing this or their poem wont be considered - its not rocket science and would mean the contests can continue as they are

Lin
Lane

Date: 6/21/2023 6:24:00 PM

I’ve written it in comments and in a post of a string of Monoku… “If it ain’t broke….” And it wasn’t. Your points are all good ones, Terry, but they will do as they please. It’s all wrapped up in the Anthology… their money maker.

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:16:00 PM

In the last anthology, I had three poems and I automatically deleted all superfluous information. Didn’t need telling. Ho hum!

Jan Allison
Date: 6/22/2023 2:36:00 AM

But people have paid for the privileged of hosting contests and may not wish to be included in the anthologies, surely my idea of removing all un necessary details is the solution. I still want to be able to date my poems when they were written

Jan
Allison

Date: 6/21/2023 5:55:00 PM

lol Terry I couldn't have put it better myself!. As far as I can see it's only because of people submitting poems to the anthology and having additional info with their poems which has caused soup admin to have problems - it beggars belief that admin don't insist on this all being removed if people want to submit their poem into the book and leave things well alone for the contests. why spoil something for the masses when its been that way for years. I dont like the changes and have no intention of submitting my poop to spoil their books lol:-) hugs jan xx

Terry Flood
Date: 6/22/2023 2:21:00 PM

God forbid that somebody publishing a book finds themselves having to proofread and edit… that would never do! Bet you’re glad you didn’t bother with all that palaver for your book, Jan…… Oh, you did… well blow me down with a feather.

Lin Lane
Date: 6/21/2023 6:26:00 PM

Admin would be doing everyone a favor by paying attention to you and Terry. It shouldn’t be all about the Anthology but money talks. ;-(

My Past Blog Posts


Terror Bugs: A Freezer Mice Adventure - Apology Date Posted: 3/27/2024 3:54:00 PM
Fixed But Broken - AKA Better Than Nowt Date Posted: 12/18/2023 3:21:00 PM
Let Me Write That Again… Date Posted: 7/11/2023 3:59:00 PM
Rules For The Sake Of Rules Date Posted: 6/21/2023 4:57:00 PM
Lose That Bloody Eye Date Posted: 11/24/2022 4:17:00 PM
Catonita Strikes - A Freezer Mice Adventure Date Posted: 8/30/2022 4:33:00 PM
Giving Ghost a Face Date Posted: 8/22/2022 11:21:00 AM
There Finally Is A Tiger In My Trifle Date Posted: 7/7/2022 3:59:00 PM
Me? I’ll talk to anyone Date Posted: 6/30/2022 1:10:00 PM
Turbo Cat goes Nitro Date Posted: 2/3/2022 4:53:00 PM
Blimey, The postman Brought Me A Doorstop Date Posted: 1/5/2022 5:16:00 AM
Happy New Year Date Posted: 12/31/2021 4:13:00 PM
No God Of Mind (There’s A House In My Ghost) - explained Date Posted: 11/4/2021 12:49:00 PM
First novel: Freshly squeezed Date Posted: 9/20/2021 3:27:00 PM
Threesome - a collaboration Date Posted: 7/13/2021 1:19:00 AM
Frankys Party: Massive whoops! Date Posted: 5/22/2021 2:41:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
5/4/2024	Screwed up	Limerick	animal,
4/28/2024	Hitting Balls With Sticks - Golf	Rhyme	golf,
4/24/2024	Basket Case	Limerick	horror,writing,
4/18/2024	That Sound	Rhyme	age,pain,
4/17/2024	Useless	Rhyme	inspiration,muse,write,
4/10/2024	The Beer Monster	Rhyme	drink,surreal,
4/9/2024	A Decidedly Short Interview With A Black Hole	Limerick	death,space,
4/6/2024	A King’s Ransom	Rhyme	metaphor,symbolism,
4/2/2024	The Powers That Be	Rhyme	mythology,
3/27/2024	Terror Bugs: Part 1 - A Freezer Mice Adventure	Narrative	adventure,
3/27/2024	Terror Bugs: Part 2 - A Freezer Mice Adventure	Narrative	adventure,
3/27/2024	Terror Bugs: Part 3 - A Freezer Mice Adventure	Narrative	adventure,
3/27/2024	Terror Bugs: Part 4 - A Freezer Mice Adventure	Narrative	adventure,
3/27/2024	Terror Bugs: Part 5 - A Freezer Mice Adventure	Narrative	adventure,
3/27/2024	Terror Bugs: Epilogue - A Freezer Mice Adventure	Narrative	adventure,
3/25/2024	Cat Bungler	Limerick	bird,cat,
3/23/2024	Ten Hungry Vultures	Couplet	bird,silly,
3/19/2024	Huh	Rhyme	language,
3/11/2024	Evergreen	Personification	flower,
3/9/2024	Love Bird	Limerick	anger,bird,humorous,
2/29/2024	Shades Of Doubt	Rhyme	christmas,war,
2/15/2024	Rum n Raisin 16 - Rhyme Time	Rhyme	cat,poetry,
2/13/2024	Valentine’s Bridge	Rhyme	valentines day,
2/12/2024	Mary Had A Little Pram	Couplet	humorous,
2/11/2024	Rum n Raisin 15 - World Wide Web	Narrative	animal,cat,dog,humorous,
2/8/2024	My Way Or N A	Limerick	humorous,
2/7/2024	The Mouse And The Moon	Rhyme	animal,horror,
2/5/2024	The Naked Grape	Rhyme	humanity,
2/4/2024	Jack Frost’s Low Blow	Rhyme	humorous,
1/31/2024	The Germs And The Bugs	Rhyme	health,sick,
1/29/2024	Nibbles McCheesy	Rhyme	animal,cat,
1/18/2024	The Skin They're In	Limerick	animal,love,
1/17/2024	My Bawdy Valentine	Limerick	lust,valentines day,
1/15/2024	Centre Ground	Limerick	humorous,
1/14/2024	Old MacDonald Had A Plan	Rhyme	food,nursery rhyme,
1/13/2024	Ducks For Breakfast	Rhyme	bird,
1/12/2024	Five A Day	Rhyme	drink,food,fruit,health,
1/10/2024	He Didn’t Panic- Aboard The Titanic	Rhyme	ocean,
1/8/2024	Sky Ted	Narrative	fantasy,nursery rhyme,
1/3/2024	Afters	Rhyme	christmas,
1/1/2024	The Brave Brussels Sprout That Saw Christmas Out	Rhyme	christmas,courage,food,
12/30/2023	Yellow Peril	Rhyme	humorous,
12/28/2023	He-She-It-They	Rhyme	humorous,
12/26/2023	I Resolve	Rhyme	change,
12/25/2023	My Christmas Roast	Rhyme	christmas,
12/25/2023	Burp	Rhyme	christmas,
12/23/2023	Rum n Raisin 14 Pt 1 - The Flight Before Christmas Pt 1	Narrative	cat,christmas,dog,
12/23/2023	Rum n Raisin 14 Pt 2 - The Flight Before Christmas Pt 2	Narrative	cat,christmas,dog,
12/18/2023	Who’s The Daddy	Rhyme	education,
12/16/2023	Desert Dare	Monorhyme	humorous,
12/16/2023	Sink or Swim	Monorhyme	vacation,
12/14/2023	Slimy Or Spiny	Rhyme	cat,dog,nursery rhyme,
12/13/2023	Santa Goes Electric	Limerick	christmas,humorous,
12/12/2023	A to Z of Knowledge	Abecedarian	education,
12/11/2023	Ring	Rhyme	humorous,sleep,
12/7/2023	Scary Tale Of New York	Lyric	america,horror,
12/1/2023	Rum N Raisin 13 - Return Of The Robber	Narrative	animal,cat,dog,
11/29/2023	Unsigned Bullet	Acrostic	hero,war,
11/28/2023	The Sum Of All Parts	Monoku	humor,
11/27/2023	DIVORCE	Acrostic	divorce,
11/27/2023	Clangers - Turn Left At Mars	Monorhyme	planet,space,
11/23/2023	Maladjusted	Rhyme	childhood,divorce,
11/21/2023	Rum n Raisin 12 - And Walnut Makes Three	Narrative	cat,dog,leadership,
11/16/2023	Pat the Potato	Rhyme	food,humorous,
11/15/2023	Rum n Raisin 11 - One Hundred Million Years BC	Narrative	adventure,cat,fantasy,tim
11/10/2023	War - a Dead Loss	Sonnet	war,
11/9/2023	Thanksgiving Sinner	Limerick	bird,humorous,thanksgivin
11/7/2023	A Rum n Raisin Special - Seeking Milton	Narrative	cat,remember,
11/3/2023	Mesmer-Eyes	Than-Bauk	cat,
10/31/2023	Little Green Heroes	Rhyme	adventure,humorous,
10/28/2023	Rum N Raisin 10 - Three Months of Crazy	Narrative	cat,christmas,firework,ha
10/24/2023	Colin the Caped Cabbie	Narrative	hero,humorous,
10/19/2023	Shock-Tober	Rhyme	halloween,october,
10/18/2023	Gulp	Personification	fish,
10/18/2023	Fine	Monoku	feelings,health,
10/16/2023	Flat Forty-Five	Limerick	love,lust,marriage,
10/11/2023	Halloween Sidewalk	Rhyme	halloween,
10/7/2023	Space Junk	Rhyme	education,space,
10/6/2023	Silent Partner	Rhyme	poets,relationship,silenc
10/5/2023	Ants Ants Ants	Rhyme	angst,humorous,insect,
9/30/2023	Sometimes There Are Just Too Few Syllables	Etheree	addiction,humorous,
9/29/2023	The Landlord Calls	Monorhyme	animal,
9/26/2023	Paula the Pangolin	Rhyme	animal,
9/23/2023	Hairy Fairy	Rhyme	fairy,humorous,
9/22/2023	Girls	Acrostic	beauty,girl,woman,
9/21/2023	Vampire	Pleiades	fear,
9/21/2023	What Was I Thinking	Monoku	humorous,
9/21/2023	The Change In Me	Rhyme	fear,girl,
9/20/2023	A Rum N Raisin Special - Origins	Rhyme	birth,cat,
9/19/2023	Lawyer	Pleiades	humor,
9/18/2023	Rum N Raisin 9 - France Or Bust	Narrative	adventure,animal,cat,
9/12/2023	Rum N Raisin 8 - All Growed Up	Narrative	cat,
9/11/2023	Emu	Pleiades	bird,
9/11/2023	Butterfly	Pleiades	butterfly,
9/11/2023	Albatross	Pleiades	bird,
9/8/2023	World War 3 - Who Ordered Mushrooms	Rhyme	war,
9/5/2023	Rum N Raisin 7 - Paws	Narrative	cat,
8/30/2023	Rum N Raisin 6 - Dances With Wasps	Narrative	cat,
8/25/2023	Rum N Raisin 5 - No Need To Cook	Narrative	cat,food,
8/24/2023	Quite a Handful	Limerick	fruit,humorous,

My Photos

ps_4296f3ab-9cba-4fba-a45b-e5f759d6d565.jpeg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Fact Or Factoid	Epigram	humor,sound,
Way To Win	Limerick	analogy,life,success,
Getting Old Is Getting Old	Rhyme	age,old,
To Plow and Seed	Free verse	farm,history,nostalgia,

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Ed Morris	United States	Read
Gershon Wolf	United States	Read
Rico Leffanta	United States	Read
Tom Cunningham	United Kingdom	Read
David Mchattie	Canada	Read