MM's IBPC Noms and selections for November Comp, No Poll Required, one was declined to send Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

I'd like to nominate Leo's poem, A British Squaddie's Lament as it is a stunning portrait of war; one that should receive a wider audience IMHO. Please have a read yourself.

Good luck, Leo!
~Cleo


A British Squaddie's Lament by Leo Wyatt


_{Notes: Post Traumatic Distress Disorder (PTDD). The good villagers of Wotton Basset line the streets almost every day, to welcome,'home' the bodies of our young soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of these daily deaths are caused by the detonation of IUD's – Improvised Underground Devices. 'Squaddie', is the popular name given to our ordinary serving soldiers, and is used with a certain amount of pride by most people in UK. Not all squaddies are saints – but many are Heroes.}



I'll feel no more the heat of the sun;
nor Serg'nt Major's sudden rages;
now my bloody legs have gone;
paid the price of Battle's wages.
Khaki lads and girls, foresee
lives destroyed by PTDD.

I'll hear no more my Nation's cry;
nor Politicians' brave urging.
Now I lay me down to die -
rag-heads need our purging.
Queen and Country, I foresee
won't give a damn for PTDD.

I'll heed no more, in flashback form,
my best mate's fragmentation.
They hide them well – those IUD's,
all, primed for disintegration.
Wooten Basset will never see
those coming home with PTDD.

No 'friendly' Exocets harm me!
Nor no Napalm embalm me!
Ghosts unlaid, I abjure thee,
to come not near me.
Quiet convalescence have.
And honourèd be his grave.

[Sekhmet]

Dear Cleo - I thank you most humbly for this nomination, and I am absolutely delighted that, 'Squaddie' found your favour - but feel that it would be inappropriate to accept this competition nomination for two separate reasons.
First - as I confessed in my description of the poem, (To be found under the title.) 'I have leaned heavily on Shakespeare's, 'Fear No More the Heat of the Sun.' to write this'. So - I owe my inspiration, form, and even some reworked phrases to Good Old Will. Secondly, it would not feel right to gain in any way, (even poetically) from the writing of a lament for the deaths, and the horrific injuries sustained by our young men and women serving in Iraq.
I have been so pleased by the nomination - but sorry - I don't think I will accept it.
Many. many thanks,
Leo
.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Leo,

I can completely understand your reservations. I do hope more read this poem (when dsurfing our site) so it can receive a wider audience.

Best wishes,
~Cleo

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello,

I'd like to nominate JustDaniel's English Sonnet, My Book for the next IBPC competition. I found this remarkable, and after several reads, love the twist when I realized it was a 'match'...

Very clever!
Good luck!
~Cleo


My Book by Daniel J Ricketts, Sr.


The jacket on my book is soiled and worn
but it's as special now as on the day
you gave it to me. It has long adorned
the shelf beside the window to the bay.

An ordinary child would probably
have lost it long ago; I wasn't one:
I heard you say so often -- notably
a bird-brain. Hearing that was never fun.

I cried a lot and often beat my head
against the wall to take away the pain,
but nothing seemed to help like jam and bread
with peanut butter; I'm okay again.

That day, spilt gasoline all over me,
you handed me the book, Light one and see.

<sub>© MLee Dickens'son 14 Aug 2009

constructed around 10 words from Donald Justice's Counting the Mad:
jacket, day, long, window, ordinary, one, bird, cried, wall, bread</sub>

[JustDaniel]

Thank you so much for the surprise nomination, Lori. I've never written a sonnet quite like this one. It is a bit quirky, isn't it! But I've met this person and others like him. Some lived with us.

deLighting in and accepting the possibility of nomination, Daniel

[Psyche]

I would like to nominate Wally's poem, The Legacy.

The fantasy quality, sea imagery, inner rhymes and word usage are, to my mind, beautiful.

Syl***


The Legacy by Walter Schwim


A Kiss,
stolen between the land and sea, with
spray - salty on your lips
and sand, slipping through our fingers,
building tiny stalagmites for laughing children.

Silken Hair,
restless as the wind and waves,
washing treasures to our tingling feet
and your eyes that
boldly rob the ocean of its fire
while Poseidon roars inside his cowry shell.

Sunshine,
warm on sanguine skin,
lungs filled
with virgin air - un-breathed,
in a green forest, resting within my soul.

Your Smile,
cascading naked over marbled pebbles,
claiming my heart as
the mountain murmurs blackly
beneath our unshod feet.

These, I'd take with me.

Soil,
steeped in blood, inherited with sweat;
a lifetime’s toil for
fledgling fiscal dreams and
prayers - ever unfulfilled.

Promises - made in faith,
broken in sickness and in fear
of foe and fate.
Curved sWords,
fired in anger at vulnerable emotions;
parried with semi-truths and deception,
finally manoeuvring into shadow.

These,
(and sorrow’s Tear as well)
I gladly bequeath to those –
who stay.


© Walter Schwim 22 October 2009

This post has been edited by Cleo_Serapis: Nov 2 09, 06:34

Reason for edit: Revised version posted

[Psyche]

I would like to nominate Bev's poem, She for the November IBPC comp.

I think it's a striking poem (turns out she'd had a bout of shingles...poor thing!), but it's a great piece on the subject of pain, to which many of us can identify...mmm..... Pain can really disable one, ask Liz if she's around!

Anyway, there go my 2 + 2 cents for the IBPC!!

Syl***


She by Beverleigh Gail Annegarn


She arrived in the night
hauling her basket of agony.
Slowly, she unpacked
her heinous wares
next to my bed
then thrust her
needles and swords,
sharp and piercing
into my flesh.

She dragged barbed wire
across my back, until I cried,
but still did not stop.
Then continued to stab the wounds,
leaving them suppurating.

Desperately I searched…
respite did not come.

She moves with me, depleting energy,
rendering me spiritless.

I am at her mercy.

Copyright © September 2009, Beverleigh Annegarn

This post has been edited by Cleo_Serapis: Oct 30 09, 09:55

Reason for edit: Revised version posted

[Thoth]

Dear Sylvia,
Thank for the nomination, it probably still needs a few tweeks and my FF is still formative.

I am honored.

Hugs,

Wally

1. Are you the original author of this poem? Yes
2. Has this poem ever been published? No
3. Has this poem been nominated by any other participating board (of IBPC)? No
4. Has this poem been reviewed as "best and final" to assure the latest revision is judged? Not yet
5. Is your email address on file up to date (what is it)? yes - thothofafrica@yahoo.com
6. Do you accept the nomination to submit the work (if selected to represent MM)? Yes
7. If yes to above question, what is your real name? Walter Schwim

[Cleo_Serapis]

Wally!

Just le me know by Monday if you'll have any revisions to this piece.

Best of luck!
~Lori

[Peterpan]

Congratulations on the Nomination...looks like the African's are taking IBPC on again!

Bev

[Thoth]

Hi Lori,

Here is my Final Revision.

Many thanks,

Hugz,
Wally

The Legacy

Final Revision 1 November 2009

A Kiss,
stolen between the land and sea, with
spray - salty on your lips
and sand, slipping through our fingers,
building tiny stalagmites for laughing children.

Silken Hair,
restless as the wind and waves,
washing treasures to our tingling feet
and your eyes that
boldly rob the ocean of its fire
while Poseidon roars inside his cowry shell.

Sunshine,
warm on sanguine skin,
lungs filled
with virgin air - un-breathed,
in a green forest, resting within my soul.

Your Smile,
cascading naked over marbled pebbles,
claiming my heart as
the mountain murmurs blackly
beneath our unshod feet.

These, I'd take with me.

Soil,
steeped in blood, inherited with sweat;
a lifetime’s toil for
fledgling fiscal dreams and
prayers - ever unfulfilled.

Promises - made in faith,
broken in sickness and in fear
of foe and fate.
Curved sWords,
fired in anger at vulnerable emotions;
parried with semi-truths and deception,
finally manoeuvring into shadow.

These,
(and sorrow’s Tear as well)
I gladly bequeath to those –
who stay.


© Walter Schwim 22 October 2009

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thanks Wally!

I'll be sending the poems along after I return from work this evening.

Best of luck!

~Cleo