Here are the results of the Writer’s Digest Poetic Form Challenge for contrapuntal poem. The entries were great, but there were fewer than normal. As such, I only selected 5 finalists.
Here is the winning poem:
Naming Seasons, by Jane Shlensky
sometimes I’m fisherman
fat pink apple cheeks
sometimes fish
swell on the trees
or snap of line
dapple of sunlight
or rippling chill
blush of frost
or morning mist burned clear
crisp bite of October sky
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Congratulations, Jane! I really enjoyed the way that combining a poem about individual identity with the simple joy apple picking could lead to a much more complex exploration of identity.
Here’s a complete look at my Top 5 list:
- Naming Seasons, by Jane Shlensky
- My Uncle Has Hidden Depths, by Tracy Davidson
- Deep Sleep, by Rob Keim
- Finding the Creek as it Flows, by Taylor Graham
- Rhinestone Memories, by Lelawattee Manoo-Rahming
Congratulations to everyone in the Top 5! And to everyone who wrote contrapuntal poems!
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Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer’s Digest Writing Community, which means he maintains this blog, edits a couple Market Books (Poet’s Market and Writer’s Market), writes a poetry column for Writer’s Digest magazine, leads online education, speaks around the country on publishing and poetry, and a lot of other fun writing-related stuff.
He loves learning new (to him) poetic forms and trying out new poetic challenges. He is also the author of Solving the World’s Problems.
Follow him on Twitter @RobertLeeBrewer.
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Lovely! Congrats Jane and top five!
Love Naming Seasons! Congratulations, Jane. So well deserved. Congratulations to all those who won and to all those who responded to this challenging prompt.
Jane, this poem is so good that it could be used in a textbook as an excellent example of this form. I loved your poem. Congratulations. Well deserved honor.
Congratulations, Jane, on your winning poem, which is, for me, as crisp as your final line. Congratulations also to everyone else who handled this (for me) daunting form successfully.
I like your poem ‘naming seasons’ Jane. Congrats!
As I am new. Wondering when new prompts will start again.
Congratulations, Jane. Your poem is beautiful and it works really well, so seamless. Congratulations to everyone else in the top 5 list. I am so proud to be among you. Thank you, Robert.
Thanks so much, Robert. That one did bear a good bit of thought, as I recall. I’m gratified to be among such good and adventurous poets. Congrats to the top fivers.
Congratulations to Jane. I’m happy to be in the top 5, found that one a tough challenge. But then it’s good to be challenged!
Congratulations, Jane.
Nice work, everyone.
I couldn’t come up with a poem and I remember there was some confusion on the due date.
Love autumn, October, love your poem, Jane!
Congratulations to all the winners!