What to submit? Continuing with the theme of LOVE for this month.
Write one Sedoka on the topic of LOVE letters between lovers.
Title of your poem: Redamancy
Special instruction(s)
You are required to write both halves of the Sedoka. In both these verses, the final lines are the crux of the matter under discussion.
FIRST TERCET (a 3-line verse): The 1st letter addresses a lover (it may contain a question/statement/observation, etc), with strong emotional undertones; and
SECOND TERCET (a 3-line verse): The 2nd letter is in answer/response to the content of the first letter. It gives a fresh perspective on the topic and is softer in tone and, therefore, provides a natural turn by the change in mood. Per my example poem: from being accusatory, to being placatory.
Poetic design
- It is a syllabic verse and, therefore, contains no rhyme or metre.
- It is a traditional Japanese poetic form consisting of two tercets (three-line stanzas/verses). Each tercet follows a specific syllable pattern: 5-7-7.
Example poem
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/redamancy_in_venice_1622070
Presentation
The two verses must be set apart by white space (a double space). Capitalisation and punctuation marks are the prerogative of the poet but are used sparingly.
Judging criteria
CONTENT is important and the contest requirements must be met in full.
Optional reading
1. Sedoka (A poem where the head is repeated) - Japanese Wiki Corpus
2. The Definition of Sedoka under Types of Poems here at PoetrySoup, is an overview.
Feedback
The judge’s decision is final and brief feedback (no critique) will be given on the winning entries only—directly on their poems. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the results posted.
Prizes
First Prize, Glory
Second Prize, Glory
Third Prize, Glory
Twelve Honorable Mentions
Preparing Your Entry
Submit one copy of your poem online. Format your poem. Please make your entry easy to read — no illustrations or fancy fonts.
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.
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.