Mini-Writing Contest # 7 — August 13 to August 18
Hey everyone! Welcome back for Mini-Writing Contest Number 7. 🙂
Let’s try another kind of poetry this week – a lantern or lanturne. This is another short form of poetry written with only 5 lines. The first line is a one-syllable noun, which will be the subject of the entire poem. The next four lines will describe the subject in this fashion: line 2 will have 2 syllables; line 3 will have 3 syllables; line 4 will have 4 syllables; and then line 5 goes back to one syllable. All of the lines should be centered on the page, so that the poem will be in a shape similar to a Japanese lantern. Here’s an example that I like:
Bees—
flying,
hardworking
honey makers –
buzz.
(pg.22, If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems by Brian P. Cleary;
illustrations by Andy Rowland)
So what would you write a lantern poem about? Pick any subjects that you like to write about, try out this style in your own words, and then pick 5 of your favourites to submit. You can submit them either one at a time or all together as one entry.
Please keep in mind the following contest rules:
1. You have to live in Toronto to win this contest.
2. You have to provide a valid e-mail address so we can contact you if you win a prize (see privacy statement for more info)
3. Your entry must be submitted by Monday at 11:59pm to be considered to win.
4. Winners will be announced the following Tuesday.
Have fun!
Your name, your e-mail address, the books you read and your thoughts about them are your personal information. Why do we need your personal information here? Well, we want to publish your reviews, and we need your name and e-mail address to help administer the contest. The Public Libraries Act is the law that lets us do this. We'll be protecting your privacy every step of the way, but if you have any questions about how we're going to do that, you can contact TPL's Privacy & Records Management Officer, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M4W 2G8, 416-395-5658 or by e-mail at gnettlefold@torontopubliclibrary.ca
46 thoughts on “Mini-Writing Contest # 7 — August 13 to August 18”
Rain-
dripping,
deep puddles
shivering cold-
Jump
Sun-
burning,
piercing heat
blazing red star-
Hot
Ice-
freezing,
slippery,
deadly beauty-
crystal.
What is the prize?
Sorry if I’m being a nuisance but I was just wondering, if you’ve won a previous contest on this website, does that exclude you from the possibility of winning in future contests?
Soul-
bleeding
strings of hearts
and truths and lies-
complicated
Oops, sorry, I forgot the last line is supposed to be one syllable.
Edited:
Soul-
bleeding
strings of hearts
and truths and lies-
strange
Stars-
burning,
dreamers’ eyes
haunting the sky-
bright
Lion-
Juicy,
Best Fruit Ever,
Incredible-
Yum!
Sorry, the lion was supposed to be Peach
Scrapes-
found on
skin and scars
and memories-
sting
Snow-
mittens,
White Christmas,
snowflakes falling-
cold.
Stars-
gleaming,
twinkling,
shines through the dark-
bright.
Joy-
laughter,
happiness,
lots of smiles-
life.
Clock-
time flies,
one to twelve,
ticking, tocking-
Time
Those are great! 😀
Book-
letters,
magical,
fun adventures-
read
Night-
pitch black,
owls hooting,
streetlights turn on-
Run
Mystery-
questions,
not answered,
secrets not revealed
Why?
Eyes-
Searching
Dawn and dusk,
Everlasting
Hope.
Clouds-
Fluffy,
White pillow-
Magical dreams-
Rest.
Life-
A gift
Of tranquil-
Only live once,
Enjoy!
Name-
A sign,
A title,
Identity-
Weird
Space,
Dark and
Exotic,
Hidden secrets
Lie
Hope-
Fearless
Bravery
Spectacular
Strength
Wish-
yearning
fragment of
heart flying high-
Wow
Magic-
Belief
Forbidden
Defiance
Might
Lies-
hides pain
but hurts like
antiseptic-
Hurts
Kiss-
meaning
all and yet
nothing, baby-
love
Song-
saving
ears and souls
note by note-
more
Edited:
Song-
saving
ears and souls
note by note and-
more
Youth-
burning
countdown to
mortality-
sweet
Skin
Outside
Protecting
Your inside self
Now
Love
Heart, kiss
Full of bliss
Affects everyone
Bug
Snow
Dancing
Gracefully
Across the sky
Ground
Life
Good,bad
Taking steps
Up stairs of life
Achieve
…
…
…
Hair
Shiny
Chess
Two Sides
Black and White
The Game of Life
Mate
Haha I like this one!! 🙂
Really sorry, I missed the part about only posting five. I posted eight before, sorry. So, um if they’re still eligible, here are my top five:
Soul-
bleeding
strings of hearts
and truths and lies-
strange
Stars-
burning,
dreamers’ eyes
haunting the sky-
bright
Wish-
yearning
fragment of
heart flying high-
soars
Scrapes-
found on
skin and scars
and memories-
sting
Youth-
burning
countdown to
the rest of us-
fast
Words
Writing
Inspire
Release Outlet
Soul
Edit:
Magic-
Belief
Forbidden
Is Everywhere
Might
Frog
Ugly,
Slimy Toad;
Kissed the Princess
Croak!
Life-
Full of
Challenges,
Difficulties-
Strong
Rose-
Beauty,
Purity,
Is for someone
Rare
Calm-
Steady
Wins the race.
Stay determined-
Fame
Snow-
Falling
Down from the
Sky up so high-
Soft
Time-
Swiftly
Passes you
Lingers, outlasts-
Hope
Change-
Challenge,
Solitude,
Mysterious-
Fear
Eyes-
Windows
To Our Souls
Visionary-
Sight.
Love-
Blindly
Takes Over
One’s Wants and Needs-
Yearn.
Food–
Need but,
Some Avoid
But, it’s our fuel-
Eat.
More-
Feeling
A desire
A Phantom of-
Greed.
Now-
A Time
A Moment
Valuable-
Live.
Aw, all that time spacing the poems for nothing. Oh well, I hope you enjoy my lanturnes!
Art-
beauty,
inside ‘Earth’
within poems-
World
Dogs
Woof woof
Man’s best friend
Dependable
Bones
Box
Package
Opening
Castaphobic
Base
Nut
Weird
Lunatic
Problematic
Hard
Door
Entrance
Emergency
Separation
Nob
Rainbow
Rainy day
Colorful
Combination
Peace
I really enjoyed your poems, especially your first two. I’mean not too sure if the last two are nouns. Well thought through.
I liked your poems, especially the last one! 🙂
I like these two. 🙂
Sorry, I entered my last entry “rainbow” wrong. Here is the right one:
Dark
No light
Depression
Isolation
Shade
Fuzzy
Delicious
Dripping juices
Yummmm!
Fight
Anger
Hurt feelings
Apologize
Hug
Art-
Beauty,
Inside ‘Earth’,
Within poems-
World.
Thanks!
Sorry but um, weren’t the winners or winner supposed to have been announced already?
Sorry for the lateness of this — the winners for this week’s contest are:
Barney Wei and Ashanth. Congratulations!
Thanks again for your great entries. 🙂
Hi Barney,
Congratulations! You are one of this week’s Mini-Writing Contest winners. Please let me know what branch of the Toronto Public Library is located nearest to you, and I will send a book prize there for you to collect at your convenience.
Thanks again for your great entry.
Christine
That would be the Malvern Library.