The Chronicle's National Poetry Month Contest Options

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The Chronicle's National Poetry Month Contest

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Excerpt:

"In honor of National Poetry Month, The Chronicle is holding a very brief poetry contest. Write a poem that is inspired in some way by any element of John Keats's 'On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer'--by a phrase, a memory his poem prompts, his reference to a new planet, a modern-day parallel you spot, anything. Just keep your poem to no more than 28 lines (twice what Keats needed, after all).

"We'll post submissions here. And for the April 30 issue we'll choose one poem, or perhaps several, to publish in print and online. Anyone is welcome to contribute, so let your colleagues, students, and poet friends know.

"You'll have to work fast, though, because the deadline for submission is April 20 at dawn. E-mail your poem to lawrence.biemiller@chronicle.com, with 'Poetry contest' in the subject line."

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On First Looking Into Chapman's Homer

Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne:
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez, when with eagle eyes
He stared at the Pacific--and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise--
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

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