Here's what you have to do this time.

1. Choose a poetry topic.
2. Choose a style eg. rhyming, sonnet, stream of conscious.
3. Choose a poet (optional).

Then, whatever choices are made, whoever is brave enough to attempt them can go at it.

More than one Ficter can take up your challenge, unless you have selected a particular poet that you want to hear from.

The more people who request, and the more Ficters who go at it, the more fun we'll have.

Good luck to us all!!

OOOOOH!! I LOOOOVE THIS ARGY.... but who to pick.. who to pick.. what to pick.... hmmm....

1. falling in love with life
2. rhyming
3. ARGY (but i wont turn away anyone else who does this... that would be cool too!)

good luck! yeeeaah..... fun! man... i had to pick a cheesy one. hu? he he he....

mons

okay, okay.. here's another! i toooold yoooou i'd pick on you! weeee-heee!

1. Autumnal theme
2. NO STUCTURE!
3. Gabber

okay... he he.... this is fun. you know, i can't think of anything that would be hard for any of you to do.... hmmm... *continues thinking*

mons

Life Love

I was thrust into this world
Blood and mucus, fists all curled
I cried not knowing what life was about
Now that I have grown
Made a name all of my own
My head's no longer filled with any doubt

I love this life
Love being a wife
Love most of the people I have met
I love getting lost
Love counting the cost
I love it that I have not one regret

Hurt doesn't scare me much
I'll face its painful touch
Because there's something I have come to know
Although some let me down
And treat me like a clown
Pushing through that is what helps me most to grow

I love my job
Love being a slob
Love cleaning everything up when I'm done
I love that I'm a nerd
Love not running with the herd
But most of all I love when life is fun

There ya go, monsie, hope that wasn't too trite for ya.

I've got one:

1. The Albatross Revisited
2. Epic poem (doesn't need to be too long, though)
3. Anyone can have a go, but I'd be especially interested to see what zoomy would come up with

holy moly...
but you know i can't pass ashot at revisting colerige, don't you?
i'll give it a run for it's money this weekend.

damn--i'm challenged...

1. the place where you live
2. rhyming couplets
3. mons--get your map out sweetie--this one is for you...

I responded promptly zoomy! but the scrolls wouldn't let me in! i blamed it on argy and ame. anyhoo--here you go. hope it was what you wanted. you PINPOINTED my weaknesses! where i live! and RYHMING! YOU'RE EVIL!

Somewhere in the Southwest

The bowl of this valley holds me close
Within a dry desert extending for its long lost coast
Having no relief from any such neighboring sea
I can hear the ground ache for relief quietly

And as I travel the vein of this humdrum state
More dryness and cacti surround me of late
I begin to wonder what keeps people here
Aside tradition, family and perhaps a little fear

Off the trodden path I unintentionally fell
On my trip through what was an unmapped miracle
When I stumbled into a few unfettered wilds
That opened my eyes left me lost and beguiled

It started in the unregulated beauty of the sunset
A sky bathed in gold blush where earth and fire met
And midnight peaks over the opposite horizon
It was breathtaking to watch the symphony of the falling sun

Caverns of darkness reaching deep into the earth
Stalagmites and stalactites content in their dark births
They stand and hang patient in being discovered
A calm quiet in the underworld where silence still shivered

Soaring into the sky the mountains seem impenetrable
Jagged shadows over rolling hills whispering pasts inaudible
Yet carved into the sides of these great soaring beasts
Are the homes of the Natives that prayed to ancient priests

The truth of their words are spoken in forgotten streams
In the songs of the forests that laugh lightly in the breeze
In the hidden greens of this lost not so little or dry state
In the pastoral scenes I hadnt noticed as of late

It wasnt my valley that plead in thirst quietly
It wasnt the heart of the land that begged for the sea
It was my own that ached for a different coast
Or perhaps for this valley to let go and not hold me so close.

*Folds up her map* aaah, don't ask me where these places are again. i already forgot. thanks for the challenge.... i'll REMEMBER THAT!

mons

[ October 13, 2002, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: mons ]

ArGy!

Not trite! Cool, very cool. it was lighthearted yet serious, and i loved it. and i like the part that kinda sing-songy you know:

I love this life
Love being a wife
Love most of the people I have met
I love getting lost
Love counting the cost
I love it that I have not one regret

i wanted to see what kinda lighthearted stuff i could get out of you! and i liked it. but i likd the introduction, the thought that babies cry cause they don't know what's going on. and then we spend the rest of our lives crying until we find out--live with no regrets, that's the purpose of life.... to love it, to love, and live with no regrets. well, that's what i got out of your poem anyway! thanks for hitting up the challenge argy!

mons

No structure? Does that mean I do whatever I want, except no rhyming? ('Cause heh, I hardly ever have structure if I'm not rhyming...I think. *cough*)

*laughs* And no, you found my weakness, monsie... seasons... Course, a long time ago, on another ficters challenge, I took on the winter theme, so maybe I can pull this off.

~Gabber

You got that right GABBER! no rhymin! just free stylin without it. i thought that would be hard for you since everything you write is so sing-songy pretty. so yes whatever you want just no rhymin.

wooo-hooo! i found your weakness. have at it. have fun... looking forward to what you do with this.

mons

wow--i've been there!!!
very, very nice.

Yet carved into the sides of these great soaring beasts
Are the homes of the Natives that prayed to ancient priests

The truth of their words are spoken in forgotten streams

this reminds me of a time i was camping in the Santa Clara Pueblo campground. i really did hear voices in the sound of the stream that ran past our site. it was an amazing, timeless place.
this piece captures that...

Albatross, revisited

A story of how I was cursed
I beseech you all to hear,
but know that if you now do thirst
‘tis time to fill your beer.

Through sliding doors, down gleaming aisles
I ventured forth one day
my daily sustenance to procure,
keeping hunger’s pangs at bay.

My thoughts had turned to melons
as they were my favorite fruit
so I headed for the produce
through the wine department en route.

There among the bottles--
Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz—
a man both old and weathered
caught my eye and made me pause.

I don’t know what it was about him
but I knew I had to stop.
“Okay then, man, just spill it.
So, what the story, Pop?”

“So you know I have a tale to tell,
‘tis bold of you to inquire.
With luck, my story will not bore
but some small wisdom inspire.”

He spoke of his senseless killing
of a huge, seafaring bird,
of Ghost Ships, Death and dancing snakes.
I hung on every word.

He spoke of complicity and guilt
and of two spirits’ debate
over why he’d slain the innocent bird
and what would be his fate.

He spoke of blessing life in death
and salvation gained through prayer.
Respect for every living thing,
the moral of his tale so rare.

‘twas then the rumbling in my gut
revived my original task
time for my dinner, briefly postponed
because I had to ask.

The old guy thanked me for stopping
and took my hand into his own
“This story now is yours to tell.”
And with that, I was alone.

And so now it’s me who’s lurking,
for better or for worse,
in grocery stores and online chats
succumbing to his curse.

Now I retell this story
to the unsuspecting wench or knave.
A sadder and a wiser girl,
and yet happy Coleridge is in his grave.

So if you find this offering lame
don’t start a Zoom embargo
‘twas but a challenge I ne’er could pass.
Place all the blame on Argeaux.

Poets, poets everywhere
but man, does this one stink,
poets, poets everywhere,
I should quit now, I think.

[ October 14, 2002, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: who's zoomin' who? ]

*grins* I was worried about this challenge, but somehow I pulled it off...lol, maybe because somehow I always relate something to myself. And I found a way to do that with an autumn theme.

~Gabber
============

"Strip Me Bare"

Resting back against that trusted bark
Watching the leaves fall ever so gently
Showering around me in shades of autumn hue
Stripping the branches bare
Reminding me of natures cycle
When darkness falls away
Plants a seed
And is reborn light.

Maybe in the same way this is my season
A chance to be reborn
To breathe new life again
Strip me bare of these fruitless pursuits
Make the hurt and the guilt fall away
One by one till theyre all gone
I want to look through changed eyes
See myself in a whole new light.

It may take time
To last through winters plight
Nothing comes easy
Harsh winds will blow
But if nature is determined to make it through
I too have got to brave the storm.

In an effort to overcome,
This life and many others endure the ache
To destroy the things old and worn
Rebuild a life renewed and strong.

Nature please take me in your hand
Teach me your ways
So that I may stand tall
Till the flowers and the leaves once again emerge
Whether in the forest or in me
For theres a time when all must be stripped away
A time to grow, to be replenished
To cease and begin...
And its that time for me.

--10/14/02 Copyright Keri S. (Gabber)

Argy  you rock, my friend, you absolutely rock. I loved your poem on loving life. Heck, you just made me love life by reading it, and appreciating all that it's got to offer. I think I'm gonna save that one...

mons  I was actually impressed with your rhyming this go a-round! I think you pulled it off, hehe, although you're prolly scared you didn't. Gotta give you props though, I would have a heck of a hard time writing about the place where I live. Very cool though, I got the whole description now of your area.

And YES, writing this poem was very hard to do without rhyming it all. I swear, I was rhyming it in my head and then I woke up or something and went "Keri! No! It's not supposed to rhyme" and I had to start all over again. So hopefully, you'll be pleased with the outcome and heh, maybe it won't be so sing song-y.

zoom  *gets up and clap* You go, zoomie! I swear, I read Argy's challenge and went "Huh?" so I have so gotta give you props too because I wouldn't have even known WHERE to begin! I am very impressed, very very impressed. That rocked!

Man, I need to come up with a challenge for someone...hmmm...

~Gabber

1.Spiraling towards insanity
2.Free flowing thoughts
3.OPEN

Gabber--

i was going to take some time for this to stew... but i can't wait. that was amazing. you lived up to the "challenge" and flew beyond it. wow.... i mean wow... that's an immediate response--breathtaking. i've only read it twice... but then again... i know i'm up for a few more reads... just cause. wow. i'm gonna... i'm gonna go think now. thank you.

mons

Heh heh! zoom, that was truly precious.

So, you're cursed to repeat the "Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner" to any who will listen? Poor sod.

You did the original poem justice. Caught the same rhyme scheme and everything.

This is great, too:

A sadder and a wiser girl,
and yet happy Coleridge is in his grave.

Love your work.

thanks. i had to take the humorous route with the epic form--otherwise it might've been as painful a read as the original. i've half a mind to turn this into a Coleridge challenge, and see what you do with Cristabel, revisited...

Okay, I finally decided on who to pick on, heh heh...

1. Hmm.... for some reason something along the lines of "Save me" is hitting me. In other words, you're wanting to be saved from yourself.
2. Rhyming...since I haven't seen this from you yet.
3. Chiana. GO FOR IT, GIRL!!

mons wow...ya know...I think that's the most "complimentary" you've ever been with one of my poems. I guess I must have risen up to what you were or weren't expecting. I'm glad you liked it, 'cause ya know, I actually liked it too...didn't expect to, since autumnal themes are not usually my kinda thing, but I ended up liking what came from it. Breathtaking? Wow...I think I'm gonna go soak this all up for my ego, thank you. Nah really, thank you.

~Gabber

[ October 15, 2002, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: Gabber ]

Saving Me

The ground swallows me whole
I can't see how I got here
I have lost all control
I don't know how to fight fear

But I pushed all my nourishment away
and I broke all the rules of the land
My ego wouldn't let me stay
so I banished myself to the sand

No roots that can feed me
Haven't the strength to rise
There's no sun that I see
and the moon won't hear my cries

I thought I was all I would need
to survive life in the earth
I am nothing but a seed
without growing I have no worth

Will you be my liberation
or are you just a passing worm?
Will you free me from damnation
or will I have to serve out my term?

Have no friends to save me
I ran them off first
I don't deserve to be free
My bubble has burst

I wake up in confusion
I'm a plant that has grown
broken is the delusion
that I could have done it alone.

Thanks for the challenge Gabber! BTW, Argy, Mons, Zoomy, and Gabber You've all done stellar jobs on your challenges. You are some tough acts to follow!

Yall make this rhymin' simon want to pack up her Big Chief tablet and go away...these are all great. Parts of each one are incredible. If I didn't live with Coleridge's great great granddaughter I wouldn't have even know what the hell you were talking about Argy.

Anyway, from an oxymoron's perspective you all should challenge each other more often it brings out the good stuff ya know.

Chiana!

thanks, and great stuff you've written yourself! i think the winner for me in this one, was the seed comparison. i mean, BANG just captured it. you're in the ground... i'm thinkin death, end.. yadda yadda yadda.... and then turns out your a seed.... not growing but a seed which harbors potential. i really liked that, it was unexpected to see a likeness to life after so much "end" you know? anyhoo... talkin about hittin up the challenge!! thanks for joining in on the fun!

Gabber...

i reread your poem to get a less first off impression, and i STILL like it. but i pinpointed it to the last stanza. it was exquisite. the flow, the wording, the message... came across the smoothest. had music WITHOUT the rhyme. i love that, its unexpected and cool.

Zoomy zoom zoom

hey, thank you. glad you liked it. means a lot to say that i could capture the ineffable. and i liked your poem... there was something about the character that you gave it that i swear i see a jaded person sitting at a bar toiling over the burden of passing on this story. but not jaded as in ugly or terrible just kinda like "rolled out of bed aaaah-god i forgot about that" type of character. i loved that. captures a bit of your quirks... if that makes sense? aaaand... to return the favor... this challenge is for you......

1. hopeless romanticism (not in the negative sense )
2. rhyming (cause it's harder to NOT sound cheesy in rhyming a love poem he he he)
3. well.. for the reading impared ZOOM this one's for you! so take out your cheesy love smile and FRAME IT IN WORDS! he he

mons

Chiana  That was awesome...so cool...now I know what a rhyming poem looks like from you! Hehe... and honestly, I didn't really realize how "fitting" the topic was for you until I read all your replies to your poem, with what's been going on for you...so I guess maybe it was fate that the topic kept hitting me over the head for some reason. Honestly, awesome... you took it somewhere I didn't even THINK of, and I love that! I was just re-reading it, trying to pick out some fave lines, and I can't even do it...because there are a few stanzas I wanted to pick out and be like "THESE!" LOL, but I think that's a little over the top, so just know I really liked that, and I'm glad you accepted the challenge.

LE  don't go away! You've got just as much to contribute and just as much of a voice as the rest of us do. And as I can see, there's even a contribution from you waiting for me to read after this, so keep that up, keep that coming, always enjoy seeing something from you.

I like these challenges...more people gotta think new ones up!

mons  *has to laugh* Well, I'm glad you haven't decided to leave your initial response of liking it, otherwise I just might have to be completely crushed for a moment. Really? Wow, that's cool...lol, I mean the fact that it feels like it has music without the rhyme...very cool...wanted to do that, glad I did, thanks for narrowing it down monsie.

~Gabber

I've got another request.

1. Growing.
2. Stream of consciousness.
3. lesbianerector