September 2007 IBPC Nominations, October Competition Options

[Michelle]

I would like to nominate Kay's poem, Ghost Under the Eaves, for it's unusual topic and the excellent images that prompts the reader to feel the soft and sensual message in the piece. I feel this will be well recieved at IBPC.

Ghost Under the Eaves by Kay

She makes love to me everyday.
When she slips inside, I am a pink melon,
asking for a kiss to bruise the gods.
My belly feels light.

I remember being eleven,
kneeling at the feet of Our Lady of Guadalupe--
praying for breasts, for the map of a man.

Then, I found her:
soft around the mouth.
A flutter in my ribs,
a ghost under the eaves.

This post has been edited by Cleo_Serapis: Sep 29 07, 09:21

Reason for edit: Revision

[Michelle]

Kay, you must verify the poem meets this criteria:

The work is the original composition of the poet.
The work has not been previously published.
The work has not been nominated by another participating board.
The work has been reviewed as "best and final" to assure the latest revision is judged.
The email address on file is up to date.
*Note: We must provide the author's real name and email address with the nominations, so please make sure your profile information is up to date. If we cannot reach you, your nomination will be null and void.
Obtain permission to submit the work (if selected to represent MM).
Obtain author's real name (per IBPC rules).
By all means, please post a reply to accept or decline the nomination.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks for the nomination of Kay's poem! I'll send along the permission PM to her after I've posted the POLL for the Sep comp. I've edited the title description of this thread to reflect this nomination for NEXT month's comp (since it's the 20th already).

Stay tuned!
~Cleo

[AMETHYST]

I would like to nominate "The Last Bus Home" by Judi for the depth of humanity it offers and how the poem captures that inner turmoil of someone aging and living with the difficulties of alzheimers and/or dementia. What I felt this poem offered that simular poems on the subject never quite embrace is the blending of those moments between oriented and disoriented, times of reality and illuionary and how although this Main Character might (with the ending words) not quite know the truth of her time and place, she is fully aware that she needs to hold on to her past through the photo -

I don't think that this only effects persons with alzheimers or dementia, but anyone who has is looking back on how things were and are sort of lost inside themselves with the here and now. Judi has done a wonderful job of presenting this softly through her poem.

Hugs, Liz

The Last Bus Home by Judi

Each day at two, I read to her, she sits
there with her thinning hair in wisps around
a wrinkled face. Old age has trapped her in
this place; she cries at night and thinks no one
can hear. A picture taken long ago
is on her stand, I wonder if it's wise
to focus on the ravages of age.
I see her gaze at it, then look away.

At three I bring her tea and Lorna Doones,
She drinks, then pats my hand and says "I love
you nurse, now get my coat and purse for I
must go --the last bus home is leaving soon
and there's no time to stay here in this room!"

[AMETHYST]

I would like to nominate Chime of Life by Lori Kanter for foundation of meaning and skillfully drawn images that are unique and fresh to the ear and mind. The poem has such powerful lines such as 'From rays of dawn to blackest night" and 'whose wisdom-laden words compose--' the ideas expressed in this poem are strongly clarified and inspirational while at the end of the poem, there is a sense of underlying magic to the tick of the clock on the wall.

The poem holds for me a sense of mystery and it was a pleasing, lovely poem to read!

Good Luck! and Hugs, Liz

Chime of Life by Cleo_Serapis


A response to "The Old Clock on the Stairs" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.


From rays of dawn to blackest night
the chime of life is always bright
upon the face of charity.
It simmers like a potpourri
of potent scents attracting those
whose wisdom-laden words compose --
Forever - together!
Together - forever!

Through lifelong feats of honesty
we're moved by those whose quality
ideals will tend to make us flock
collectively, reset our clock.
Intent on keeping these alive,
we operate with utmost pride --
Forever - together!
Together - forever!

As if timepieces on the wall
they churn their gears as muses scrawl;
we wind them up with practiced skill
then shine their case with cultured will.
As charismatic acts tick on
in wonderment, we’re always drawn --
Forever - together!
Together - forever!

Copyright © Lorraine M Kanter

[Judi]

Oh Liz, Thanks so mucy for your nomination...I wrote this during the time I was working in the County Home which is a very sad place indeed...The lady's name was Martha...a delicate old lady with braids down to her waist. We got reacquainted every night when I had to re-introduce myself to her...she was a sweet little lady.

[Eisa]

I would like to nominate 'Out Of View' by Amethyst (Liz) found in Seren's. I love the turn at the end of the poem and it's subtle sense of humour. Well thought out!

Out Of View by AMETHYST

I remember you, well rounded
and reserved. A proper boy
mother would serve apple pie, topped
with vanilla swirl. If she only had seen
that gleam of seduction
sashaying against the cinnamon air,
the quick toe-touches of footsie
and glints of wet
after your lips pressed mine -
she too, would remember you well.

This post has been edited by Cleo_Serapis: Sep 21 07, 06:49

Reason for edit: Updated Revision

[Judi]

Are you the original author of this poem? Yes

Has this poem ever been published? No

Has this poem been nominated by any other participating board (of IBPC)? No

Has this poem been reviewed as "best and final" to assure the latest revision is judged?Yes

Is your email address on file up to date (what is it)? on file

Do you accept the nomination to submit the work (if selected to represent MM)? Yes

If yes to above question, what is your real name Judith Anne Labriola

[AMETHYST]

What a beautiful story to compliment a very powerful poem! God Bless You Judi and the kindness that you shared with her... I feel so warmed by knowing this information. How often is there someone in a facility like this and special relationships between care taker and patient are developed and no one gets the priviledge of seeing such beauty -

Hugs, Liz and Good Luck!

[Kay]

Thank you for the nom!

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thanks very much for the re-nomination of this poem, Liz.

I'm almost there with the final revisions ~ Daniel has just made some good suggestions so I need to ponder them and ask for others' input please.

Stay tuned!
~Cleo

[Psyche]

I would like to nominate Mistral's poem, Wedding Night, because of its highly original theme and deftly handled quatrain rhyme scheme, all of it with stunning imagery & beautiful poetic vocabulary.


Wedding Night

Sylvia

Wedding Night by Mistral

Beware the night when full moon fades
behind a veil of darkened cloud
which shields the ominous cocoon
with gleaming star-shaped daggered shroud.

Watch out when shafts of light rip skies
to strike upon a sleeping shore.
As one by one the moonbeams crash
they slowly waken earthen core.

Take heed and flee from irate fiend
who climbs, in anger, up through earth
to spew his furied flames of hell;
a heinous mountain giving birth.

Be cautious in the wake of flares
of searing ash and molten rock
as Earth’s deep core rises to meet
his bride, the moon, in grim wedlock.

And there they dance, in heavens high;
the toxic twirls of smoke encase
the golden globe of doom as she
surrenders to her groom’s embrace.

[Cleo_Serapis]

I would like to nominate Sue's Realities posted in Herme's Homilies. This sonnet is a poignant one IMHO, one that will linger in the mind long after your read. I was pleasantly surprised to find it about faith, life after death ~ an enlightening pleasure.

Realities by heartsong7

He traveled through a tunnel to the light;
enveloped by it, sensing no alarm,
enraptured and without a will to fight
for earthly life, he drifted safe and warm.
A silhouette appeared against the glow,
an apparition reaching out to wave
and beckon “Follow me, it's time to go.”

He turned and saw the children mark his grave;
saw little Billy sobbing uncontrolled;
saw Michael, standing stoic-faced and strong,
support their keening mom who, unconsoled,
despaired at how they'd ever get along
without the man whom all adored. He knew
they would and whispered, "Love will see you through."

This post has been edited by Cleo_Serapis: Sep 29 07, 09:08

Reason for edit: Revised

[heartsong7]

Thank you, Lori. That you feel this sonnet deserves a chance is high praise to me.

Are you the original author of this poem?..yes

Has this poem ever been published?...no

Has this poem been nominated by any other participating board (of IBPC)?...no

Has this poem been reviewed as "best and final" to assure the latest revision is judged?...yes

Is your email address on file up to date (what is it)?...yes

Do you accept the nomination to submit the work (if selected to represent MM)? yes

If yes to above question, what is your real name? Susan Eckenrode

Final Version:

Realities

He traveled through a tunnel to the light;
enveloped by it, sensing no alarm,
enraptured and without a will to fight
for earthly life, he drifted safe and warm.
A silhouette appeared against the glow,
an apparition reaching out to wave
and beckon “Follow me, it's time to go.”

He turned and saw the children mark his grave;
saw little Billy sobbing uncontrolled;
saw Michael, standing stoic-faced and strong,
support their keening mom who, unconsoled,
despaired at how they'd ever get along
without the man whom all adored. He knew
they would and whispered, "Love will see you through."

[Cleo_Serapis]

Sue and best of luck in the polling next week!

[Cleo_Serapis]

I'd like to nominate lizbaker's poem, For Sale: Victorian Beach House for it's clever personification, smooth rhymes and fantastic imagery. Best of luck Liz!

For Sale: Victorian Beach House by lizbaker

A painted lady, primly dressed
in sun-drenched pastel hues
is up for sale. Come be impressed
by panoramic views
of rocky beaches, sandy dunes
and sparkling turquoise seas.
Come hear the soothing ebb-tide tunes
and breathe a salty breeze.
Each room is charmingly redone
in shades of sand and shell.
Wide porches tame the midday sun,
so sit and rock a spell.

You won’t be bothered by the ghosts;
in fact, you’ll find they’re charming hosts.

[heartsong7]

Lori...
I just now noticed this and while I know Liz will be very happy to hear you thought enough of her poem to nominate it, I doubt she will be aware of it in time to accept the nomination, since she is traveling and has limited access to the internet. I assume you have her e-mail address... but if so, it's a separate account that she uses for her poetry interests, so she probably won't be checking in on that one while she's away.
I'll let her know the next time we talk but even cell service is iffy.
Just wanted to let you know.
Sue

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello Sue.

Thanks for the heads-up on Liz and her traveling at present. I recall reading that and thinking that she might not see this nomination by the 20th (our end date each month).

The good news is we can always hold-over any unreplied nominations to the next month so if we don't hear back in time, I'll put a note in this tile to hold-over for the November comp since Liz hadn't had a chance to respond as of yet. I really think this is a clever poem that is worthy of a larger audience, so hopefully, it'll happen!

Cheers
~Cleo

[AMETHYST]

I would like to nominate the poem, The Crows for the originality of both subject and images ... The lead from stanza to stanza have a strong inner, underlying depth that to my own mind, serves as a kick start to something quite profound.

Hugs, Liz

Crows by Eisa

Startled by the ruckus
I watch them flock across the sky,
like black inkblots splattered
on blue embossed paper.

Flurrying to the lawn,
their kraa-kraa-kraa
penetrates. I wince.
The dog charges, scattering
the mob that surges to the trees,
chattering in protest.

Silence.

My dog nose-nudges a pigeon
in the grass; still alive
its neck is pecked and bloody.
I hotfoot for my mobile.

The Bird Sanctuary official
hurries the victim off to base
in a cardboard box.
The next 24 hours are crucial.

Radio One Lunch-time News:
A gang’s frenzied attack
leaves a lone passer-by
with critical injuries
in the Intensive Care Unit.

kraa-kraa-kraa
Crows taunt from a nearby sycamore --
wood pigeons perch in a wing-to-wing line,
prattling on next-door’s roof.
ru-hoo ru ru-hoo

[Eisa]

Permission given -- have sent the form back. Thanks for the nomination
Snow