Cleave Poetry
Poetry Contest
Write a cleave poem. On the left is a poem that stands on its own, on the right is a poem that stands on its own, separated by a dash or dots. Then comes the hard part. A third poem exists when the lines are joined and read and makes a complete third poem. It can rhyme or not, up to you.
example separated by a dash
Immortality by Rick Dale
I want to care -- I want people to think
I do --I really give a shit
or maybe I think I'm supposed to care -- It's only a phantom
all that guilt-driven shame -- the constant harping
heaped on me -- dosed in good measure
by a well-meaning but fascist parent -- applied with 'love'
comes to fruition --leaving welts
late in life-- on tender skin
Too late --"Not enough," I scream
The 'what is' and the 'what should be' -- unnecessarily
wage war in my crimson thoughts -- But they do make it seem like
I really really don?t give a good goddamn -- at times
about much of anything others think of me --yes, not even you
yet I still act like I do -- understand completely
Am I in control? -- A lack of empathy
Or is it she-still? -- Shrew-bitch!
And the gray elephantine weight of it all -- Bearing down unmercifully
colors and smothers my every labor -- crushing any effort
to write, speak, move, feel -- to love!
If I could drive a stake -- with abandon
through the heart of darkness -- to the hilt
I would-ending it -- forever
But there is immortality -- with her blessings
and her name is 'mother' --Amen
=============================================
larryp wrote Through Ancient Portals
peering through ancient portals-- seeking things lost to the soul
my mind?s eye lingers --amidst the scattered debris
where decaying morsels --of broken hearts
lay in fragments, shattered, and-- I wonder at the number
abandoned through the ages, --left to venture alone
even to the final death, --without the joy of knowing love
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool which is based on the number of entries. The second and third place winners will each share the remaining prize pool. The prize pool is currently 24.00 member dollars. There are 12 spots still open. If all open spots are used the prize pool will be 72.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 2 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Monday, February 29, 2016.
Full Contest Listing
example separated by a dash
Immortality by Rick Dale
I want to care -- I want people to think
I do --I really give a shit
or maybe I think I'm supposed to care -- It's only a phantom
all that guilt-driven shame -- the constant harping
heaped on me -- dosed in good measure
by a well-meaning but fascist parent -- applied with 'love'
comes to fruition --leaving welts
late in life-- on tender skin
Too late --"Not enough," I scream
The 'what is' and the 'what should be' -- unnecessarily
wage war in my crimson thoughts -- But they do make it seem like
I really really don?t give a good goddamn -- at times
about much of anything others think of me --yes, not even you
yet I still act like I do -- understand completely
Am I in control? -- A lack of empathy
Or is it she-still? -- Shrew-bitch!
And the gray elephantine weight of it all -- Bearing down unmercifully
colors and smothers my every labor -- crushing any effort
to write, speak, move, feel -- to love!
If I could drive a stake -- with abandon
through the heart of darkness -- to the hilt
I would-ending it -- forever
But there is immortality -- with her blessings
and her name is 'mother' --Amen
=============================================
larryp wrote Through Ancient Portals
peering through ancient portals-- seeking things lost to the soul
my mind?s eye lingers --amidst the scattered debris
where decaying morsels --of broken hearts
lay in fragments, shattered, and-- I wonder at the number
abandoned through the ages, --left to venture alone
even to the final death, --without the joy of knowing love
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool which is based on the number of entries. The second and third place winners will each share the remaining prize pool. The prize pool is currently 24.00 member dollars. There are 12 spots still open. If all open spots are used the prize pool will be 72.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 2 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Monday, February 29, 2016.
