Welcome to The Terrible Poetry Contest, a family tradition since about thirteen weeks ago.
Writing poetry is a daunting idea. We get in the mood, think of a lyrical phrase, and then run up against a metaphorical wall mid-stanza. While I have written a how-to on composing poetry legitimately, that’s not what this contest is about.
The Terrible Poetry Contest is a chance for writers of all shapes, sizes, and ability levels to make a rude literary gesture to all that is good and decent about proper writing and contests. It’s a chance to do everything your poetry teacher told you not to. It’s a chance to shine when other contest-hosters left you alone in the dark.
If this is your first time, review my how-to on terribleness so you know what to expect. Then, read the following rules and please, please, please share something truly terrible:
- Topic: Motivating Lazy People
- Keep the length between 5 and 150 words.
- Rhyme if you want to; don’t if you don’t feel like it.
- Just keep things terrible. Make your listeners finally get off their lazy backsides just to do anything besides sit through another stanza.
- Keep your poem PG at most.
You have till 8:00 a.m. MST next Friday (February 22, 2019) to submit a poem.
Post your poem in the submission form below, or include or link to it in the comments much farther below.
Photo credit:
Ken Treloar
Tom Morel