(Above - Albert Einstein's final blackboard and his office as he left it)
What to Submit?
Blessings, fellow Soupers! Please submit one NEW, dated, (June 19, 2018 or after), original poem, ANY RHYMING FORM with exact rhyme ONLY, (words with tenses like "er" or "ing" must rhyme fully, meaning the initial syllables - adding tenses to non-rhyming words does NOT create true rhyme, and will be disqualified ... please give attention to meter), on the theme of your "mortal muse" ...
If you knew the time of your passing from this existence, what would be your FINAL work? What would you like to make your final poem? This does not have to be an epitaph or a final message to loved ones, as those things are generally taken care of in other ways, (although those would be wonderful also), but what poem would you write to be left behind as your last?
Would it be a prayer? A message to others about how to live life or write or love? Would it be a statement about the world and what you wish could change? Might it be a message of regret or wisdom? Perhaps even a poem about poetry itself and what it has meant to your life, or a verse about what you've accomplished, HAVEN'T accomplished, or wish you COULD have accomplished ...
Maybe it would be a message to a lost love, to your loved ones or children, or to the ones you hope to see in the next level of existence, (if your beliefs are such). Perhaps even a last rant or vent to humanity. Whatever you'd like to leave as your very LAST poem, if you could. It must be at least TEN LINES or more, no limit, and must be dated, though NOT marked with your name in ANY way ...
Spelling and grammar may affect your placement, but will not disqualify you. However, as in my last two contests, if it's clear you haven't read the directions, (and these are simple this time), you will be summarily N/A'd, as it is extremely unprofessional to enter a contest and take up that entry slot without taking the time and effort to know the rules, as the sponsor takes the time to do so for a REASON ...
Please Soup Mail me if any questions, and make it light, funny, joyous, angry, deep, heavy, dark, emotional, or even goofy - whatever you would wish for your last poem, even if it's just something that represents a topic you'd like to write about one last time ... and have fun! I love powerful, deep works of emotion, but I love joy and laughter as well. Thank you!
Prizes
First Prize, Most Glory
Second Prize, More Glory
Third Prize, Glory
Every poem that is valid per the rules and directions WILL be placed!
English Language
Poems should be in English. Poems translated from other languages are not eligible, unless you wrote both the original poem and the translation, and spelling and grammar will affect placement.
A Note to Poetry Contestants
You are welcome to enter this contest, whether or not you won a prize in one of my previous contests, but this must be a NEW poem. Thank you for entering!
- The Bard
(As my dear poet friends Gershon W and Daniel T have taken to calling me ... and it IS the origin of my family name!) :-)