Poetic ars nova Season # 2 - Mortality

Poetic | ars | nova | Season​

no. 2
[entries are due on September 25th]

MORTALITY​

What, I like pretty colors. >:L

Anyway, welcome to the second PanS! Normally I would something witty, but apparently that leads to rants and my rants tend to go on forever. Did you know that sometimes I even make a whole paragraph length sentence because of h- And I know, stopped being funny after the first word, Plums ;~;

Moving along, your theme this time around is Mortality.

You'll write a poem about someone or something displaying their subjection to life. What does that even mean? Well if I told you, it wouldn't be fair. >:3 What you take out of it is the important part here, and how you want to work that in your poem. But as a possible inspiration:

• Free form is allowed
  

• The poem must follow the Creativity Corner's rules and regulations

• If you wish to know the criteria used for judging, you may see it HERE

• You may post in this thread, but please keep it spam free. Discussion is permitted

NOTES: Freestyle poetry, in contrast to the first round of PanS, is allowed in this round. The criteria can be found by scrolling down on the link given that directs to the Faq. Please read the criteria if you want to have a good chance of winning. All three aspects must be met at least to some degree.

 

It sucks but here it is :D

Alive

Here
And Now
Worry about
Tomorrow Tomorrow
Live
Now
Think about
The future
Later
And
Think about Tomorrow
Another day…​

 

Hmm, sorry for any Doctor Who spoilers if you haven't been watching.

Spoiler

I fly around the world so high
never before have I realized
just exactly what it is like
to live in fear, now i'm afraid to die

This time I believe
there's no way out indeed
guess I have to play along
but why was it River Song

I only ever wanted
what was best for yall
well come on then shoot me
big universe is standing tall

Was that your plan all along
it isn't right no it's just plain wrong
forget it it's in the past
looks like the final reel's been cast

The sun is setting now upon
the TARDIS don't be alarmed
I know my dearest friend
now coming is the end

To this life that we live
on the brink of despair
helping all of the people
tell me, my help is where
​

 

-bump of life-

Plums here. Just reminding those that are working on entries and those who may want to enter or those who didn't even see this and make me sadfaec that entries are due

Sunday, September 25th.

The following day, I will ask the judges for their input, and the winner will be announced shortly after they respond.

"They?"

Oh yes, you judges for this round of PanS are the fangtastic Llave de Espada, and the ever-pimpin' Clawtooth (also known as Makise Kurisu-TINA).

Anyway, I look forward to seeing you enter if you wish, and I wish you all good luck. c:

Cheers,
Plums

fangtastic hahahahahaha plums y u so clevar

 

Seasons change
A simple sequence
One by one
Again, again.
Regret, Regret.

Winter comes
With frosted breath
We cannot grow
And so
comes death.
​

 

I Still Remember

The rain that falls from the stormy skies
matches the tears falling from my eyes.
I pack my stuff and try to breathe
as I glance at the clock and try to see
the numbers through my blurry tears
and think of you throughout the years.
And I just have to say...
Please
make it through the night.
We'll drive over five-hundred miles
just to see your smiles
when it all turns out right.
And don't get me wrong, I know that your time has come,
but before your last rest,
I have one last request,
please wait until I see right,
and try to make it through the night.
And I remember...
Sitting on your lap when I was small,
you'd hold me up in the air,
but I never was scared,
'cause I knew you wouldn't let me fall,
You'd sing me songs, and tell me stories.
You'd make me smile 'cause you hated to see me frown,
Good Ol' Charlie Brown!
I remember when you first got sick,
I was too young to understand
what cancer meant for you,
but at the time I knew,
You still were there to hold my hand.
Please,
make it through the night.
I promise we'll be there tomorrow
in joy and in sorrow
when it turns out all right.
Now don't get me wrong, I know that you'll soon be gone,
and though life without you will be hard to get through,
You'll finally be with the Light,
But first make it through the night.
Please make it through the night,
Just try to breathe through tonight.​

 

Am I too late? well, I'm posting it anyhow.

Spoiler

Default Bathroom Scene

I remember once that i said that i'd go
somewhere, cool and pretty.

and i would dream.
dream of good things.
about places, about love, about futures.

and I would smile for a while, and in my
head I thought, "wow, I must really be decided"


but I really wasn't as much as I tried to fool myself everyone into believing.

there was the morning light,the sky
the stars and the night.

but they may as well be paper; crafted for no amusement of my own. through the bathroom window.

no words ever so bitter. Drown that toy duck in your self-pity.

I am was used to be considered myself king. A king of what? of my domain and my life. but take it, I don't mind.

I was pretty certain I was alive. 'cuz when the knife pressed down, there actually was some blood.

Not blue. No glitter. just normal, living human blood.​

 

If Chev can post, then surely I can forsake my obligations to school for a bit longer and make this happen~ :=D:

Spoiler

The birds still sing their sweet old song
And dogs and cats still walk along.
Why is it that life seems so sweet
Before death wins and comes for me?

Short but sweet, as they say... and it probably makes no sense, but i'll leave it to individual interpretation~

 

Hey guys, sorry this was a bit late. I got a bit busy and couldn't contact the judges sooner than I did. But no fear, your PanS results are here!

After a long convo with the judges on MSN about their choices, we came down to a winner. It was a long bitter road, but all of us ultimately decided upon:

Spoiler: The Winner

Marushi

Our judges had this to say:

Spoiler

I chose marushi’s poem because I really felt she captured the essence of the theme. The subject of the poem, trying to get to see one’s loved one one last time before they fall victim to diease really emphasised the theme because mortality is very much an issue of time. We have little time here on this mortal coil, and yet we use it so very much, we cherish it and when it is about to run out, others around us spend their time with us in our final moments. It also added a note of uncertainty to the poem, especially with cancer, it can never be known how long one has left, and the ambiguity added a poignant note to the narrative.

In addidtion, I really liked the sort of homage to the style of Tennyson in “The Lady of Shalott” with the repetition of “Make it through the night” in the final line of each stanza. I can concede that it could’ve been better structured, separating into stanzas as opposed to one long one thus:

Yet it is a learning experience, and I really adore the effort put into this poem, both in rhyme scheme, sentiment and relevance to the theme. This is why my vote goes to Marushi.

Spoiler: Honourable Mention

Britishism

Spoiler

The picture of mortality was beautifully drawn out to me by the topic of seasons in this poem. Not only that, but also the structure and the usage of words brought about a “circular-like” feel to the poem, much like the repetitive seasons throughout the year.

My favorite part is the last stanza:

“Winter comes
with frosted breath
we cannot grow
and so
comes death.”

This was the part that hit it home the most. Not only are humans mortal, but the seasons are subject to such a thing as well. In the seasons, there is a time for renascence, or “birth” (spring), a time for prime quality and display (summer), a time for a slow, yet beautiful degradation (autumn), and then the time of foul gelid air and death (winter). Much like the seasons, the human cycle is uncannily similar.

The poem is short and simple, but sometimes life seems too short. In “short”, I felt the poem itself was mortal. It started and then ended quickly.

There is grief and sorrow for the death and mortality, one must realize that the cycle does not end. The essence of mortality is also the aspect of birth, not just death.

Overall, we all thought the poem was great and captured mortality well, but had it been a little longer and conveyed more of a story, it would have pushed it over the edge.

As always, there will be a pin reward. It's still currently in the in works, so please continue to be patient.

Didn't win this time? Do not fret! With more contests in the future, get those creative juices flowing!

Another amazing turnout this time around You guys are going to make me cry. ;~; All of you did really great, and are fantastic writers. c:

Ninjaedit powers activate! Don't forget that the third season of our writing contest Prose of the Season will be beginning soon in the Original Work Section - this month run by yours truly, Clawtooth aka Makise Kurisu. Get your creative juices flowing with a task that may shock, surprise or even frighten you. I hope to see you there!