What to Submit?
NEW RULES PER Poetry Soup Admin
NO names [OR identifying mark or text (eg your initials)] on the entry, or any quotes.
NO date written, name of the contest, and that of the sponsor.
POEMS, AND NOTHING BUT POEMS ON THE PAGE.
MY RULES: Do not centre your poem. Do not use boldface. Do not italicise your poem. Only use single space between each line.
Use Rhyme Zone at your own risk. I don't use it. You may use the syllable counters of your choice - I use 3 diffent ones if I should be in doubt. Please NO NOT append this information as a footnote. PS wants poems ONLY on the page - and I agree with this ruling. Thank you.
Write one Suzette sonnet VARIANT on the topic of THE MOON BY DAY, but use a title of your choice other than any of my sonnets listed here on PoetrySoup or the title of the book (see below).
Prizes
1st to 3rd places: Copy of the book in PDF (approx 14 MB) via e-mail, © The Seeds of Time, by Suzette Richards 2023. ISBN 978-0-6397-9079-4.
This richly illustrated volume contains 46 sonnets (including one generated by AI) and 50 Suzette Prime poems, PLUS the three winning entries will be incorporated in this poetry anthology. By entering this contest, you tacitly agree to it that your poem may be included in the said book, but I will still seek written confirmation from the three winners via e-mail at the conclusion of the contest. These winning poets will retain their individual copyright to their poems. As this is vanity publication, ie it is not for sale, no financial compensation can be considered for these contributions. The runners-up will each receive a mention and a copy with limited illustrations (under1 MB PDF via e-mail).
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There are many myths surrounding the moon by day, for example, seeing the moon during the day could signify spiritual growth and transformation. Or you may elect to do some research regarding to why we can see the moon by day, ie a gibbous moon at sunrise or sunset; even a sickle moon overhead during daytime. Let this prompt, The Moon by Day, be your inspiration and give your imagination free rein.
© SUZETTE SONNET, Suzette Richards (9 April 2021)
It is a 14-line poem consisting of alternating triplets and couplets, concluding with a quatrain.
Rhyme scheme: aaa (b1–b2)(b3–b4) ccc (d1–d2)(d3–d4) abcd
SUZETTE SONNET VARIANT – SYLLABIC
This variant is an oversimplified version of my sonnet design. While I have dispensed with SOME aspects of the sonnet design, for example, metre and volta (turn)/pivot, for this contest, I have to insist on the use of only strong rhyme (rhyming in the FINAL stressed syllable of the words used), for example, repent = √, recent = X. In other words, NO feminine rhymes. BTW blue doesn't rhyme with hue = pronounced 'hyü. Same as him & dim don't rhyme.
UPDATE: Please see my latest blog: The Moon by Day CONTEST - STRONG RHYME
Writing & presentation of your poem
1st triplet (3 lines) in mono rhyme aaa—decasyllabic (10 syllables per line).
1st couplet (2 lines) in mono rhyme bb—Alexandrine (12 syllables per line): two hexasyllabic (6 syllables) sections per line. The 6th and the 12th syllable in each line share a common rhyme scheme. The two halves in a line are separated by a pause (similar to the semicolon used in a sentence, therefore, they are NOT run-on sentences between the two halves), and indicated by the use of a dash (–) or ellipsis (…), with a space on either side or not (the use of the space is the prerogative of the poet).
2nd triplet in mono rhyme ccc—decasyllabic.
2nd couplet in mono rhyme dd—Alexandrine: mirroring the previous couplet in design, but with its own rhyme scheme.
The quatrain (4 lines) in the rhyme scheme abcd set by the aforementioned triplets and couplets—decasyllabic. The function of the quatrain is to draw the whole poem together into a coherent whole—the climax of the poem, if you wish.
It is a continuous poem in14 lines with no white spaces (double spaces) between the triplets, couplets or the quatrain.
Presented left aligned on the page.
For an example of the design layout, see my recent Suzette sonnet written in the original poetic format: The Moon by Day (poetrysoup.com)
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Same as before, regrettably, I cannot enter into correspondence with the contestants due to unstable internet connectivity – unfortunately there is no light at the end of the tunnel regarding this situation in our country. You may leave a question or suggestion relating to the contest on the relevant BLOG posted. THE MOON BY DAY - Suzette sonnet - NEW CONTEST - Suzette Richards's Blog (poetrysoup.com)
Above all, have fun!
Suzette
TICK LIST
□ Title: Of your choice, except any of the titles of my sonnets or the title of the book.
□ Form: Sonnet
□ Topic: The moon by day
□ Rhyme scheme: aaa (b1–b2)(b3–b4) ccc (d1–d2)(d3–d4) abcd
□ STRONG RHYMES: Read it out loud to check the SOUNDS of the rhymes used
□ Syllables per line: L1 – 3 = 10 ea; L4 – 5 = (6 & 6) ea; L6 – 8 = 10 ea; L9 – 10 = (6 & 6) ea; L11 – 14 = 10 ea
□ NO enjambments between each of the two halves in the alexandrines
□ Continuous 14 lines (no stanzas)
□ Layout: As per the example poem, The Moon by Day
□ Grammar & spelling checked (no slang words)
□ Complied with ALL the rules as set at the top of the page
Prizes
1st – 3rd prize: See the top of the page.
4th … placements – at my discretion.
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. Please do not use boldface or italicise your poem. I am mildly dyslexic and these affectations of presentation make it difficult for me to read the content. Do not present you poem with double spaces between the lines – only single spaces, please, as I will be doing most of the reading on my cellphone.
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. NO SLANG WORDS.
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.