I love poetry. My favorite is love poetry. My very favorite is selfless love poetry. Think of Sydney Carton from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens.
"It is a far, far better thing I do than I have ever done.
It is a far, far better rest I go to than I have ever known."
He was able to love completely, totally, unselfishly, selflessly, and gave his life to save the husband of the woman he loved.
No animosity
No self-pity
No regrets
This is what I am looking for. I want love poems to someone who you would gladly spend your life with, but will let them go with just as much love. Maybe it is someone of a different age group, a different religion, already married, the same sex and they aren't gay, whatever the reason. I am not looking for love that is unrequited, but that is ok, too.
Remember the Sting song: "If you love somebody set them free." That is what I am looking for.
Here's the twist! I am not looking for unhappy poems. I want poems full of "sorrowful joy" to steal a myrataal phrase. Just like in Sydney Carton's quote above. Whover gives me an inspirational cry will undoubtably win.
I did not write anything to use as an example for this page, so I am going to just post the last paragraphs of the book, which are the thoughts of Sydney Carton delivered as a soliloquy. I am not requiring writes for the contest to be about this.
"I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy, in that England which I shall see no more. I see Her with a child upon her bosom, who bears my name. I see her father, aged and bent, but otherwise restored, and faithful to all men in his healing office, and at peace. I see the good old man, so long their friend, in ten years' time enriching them with all he has, and passing tranquilly to his reward.
"I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. I see her, an old woman, weeping for me on the anniversary of this day. I see her and her husband, their course done, lying side by side in their last earthly bed, and I know that each was not more honoured and held sacred in the other's soul, than I was in the souls of both.
"I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name, a man winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine. I see him winning it so well, that my name is made illustrious there by the light of his. I see the blots I threw upon it, faded away. I see him, fore-most of just judges and honoured men, bringing a boy of my name, with a forehead that I know and golden hair, to this place-- then fair to look upon, with not a trace of this day's disfigurement --and I hear him tell the child my story, with a tender and a faltering voice.
"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."
Rules:
Free Verse Poetry and Prose
Write whatever you are insipred to.
Don't give me anything sucky.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 18
- Rewards: Gold: 1500, Silver: 1000, Bronze: 500, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: Thank you all for wonderful entries. I have been made proud once again.
I agonized over the top two poems, but in the end I believe I chose the right one for the gold. Congratulations to evidently for "Abc".
Dalaney was at her finest with a very moving poem "Long Time Coming" and deserved gold, but will have to settle for silver on the slimmest of margins.
"Harlem's Nocturne" was a wonderfully painful poem. Very subtle in its approach to the prompt. Good, however, is good! In my contest best poem wins, second finishes second, etc. This is the third best poem in the contest without a doubt.
As always, I can only pick three for trophies. I am thrilled with the results and hope to see you all at my next contest.
Contest Winners
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• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [11]
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It may have been the blueness of his eyes
that colored every sunrise, sunset, and rainbowby michellemybelle 47 lines, 16 comments, on Oct 5 11:47 AM
• Commented on by judge. -
So many times,
I've laid down to think of you.by Praise 31 lines, 4 comments, on Oct 15 10:47 PM• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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Love this idea! Bookmarked!
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
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*sigh* I've never been able to really grasp selfless love...I think that if you really loved someone, it would be impossible to let them go...especially with a smile on your face.
Maybe I'm just a selfish person...I'll try anyways...I may actually have a situation for this...*dinging sound as light goes on*
Good luck judging!
~Praise~ -
I truly thank you for the BRONZE. It was a challenge and beauty for writing in this contest!
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PerVirtuous
Thank you for the Honerable Mention
Pleased you liked my words
Rick
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