Discovered in Poetry...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

There's a new Dialj guest challenger coming up in February, but I thought we might start 2011 a little before that, by granting a request to probodie, who was hoping for a challenge for Valentine's Day... *g* And this year I thought I might combine it with another idea that's been wiggling around, and so we have... the Discovered in Poetry challenge, which also has the advantage of being as pro- or anti- or un- Valentine's Day as anyone might like!

For those who are Valentine's-minded (and perhaps those who are not...) here's a wee history of Valentine's Day - it begins quite promisingly with the Roman Lupercalia, where "young men would strip naked and use goat- or dog-skin whips to spank the backsides..." well, and then it's a fertility thing, but I bet it was occasionally... well, adapted too... *g*

It's an old tradition - and Shakespeare himself brought poetry to it in Ophelia's lament in Hamlet:
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.

Then "In 1797, the The Young Man’s Valentine Writer is published, suggesting appropriate rhymes and messages, and as postal services became more affordable, the anonymous St Valentine's Day card became possible."

But the challenge doesn't have to be about Valentine's Day, though we'll make that our deadline - midnight on the 14th of February 2011 in your time-zone, and if you happen to move to Pago Pago for the duration, then that's fine. *g*

But otherwise it's about the lads and poetry - Alone and palely loitering...... ...to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship.........rage, rage against the dying of the light......The boy stood on the burning deck... *g* Do they read it, do they write it, do they simply live it? What d'you think...?

If you'd like to join in it'd be fab if you commented below to let us know there might be goodies, and if you'd like a prompt then please do comment below and a prompt shall be yours! And if you'd like to sneak quietly into the comm with something poetically-related (whatever it might be - story, vid, art, poem - anything at all!), between now and the challenge deadline, then that would be good too.

Finally - do remember when you're posting to put "trailer information" (see the User Info page) at the end of your post, and under a cut so as not to spoil those who don't need it, and yet be easily found by those who do, and most of all, to enjoy all the thoughts of the lads you'll have while working out your plot!

Would anyone like to play? *g*

Comments

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Poetry in motion, even?

Excellent theme, Pros and Valentines day go so well together!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Our lads are so poetry in motion, aren't they... though they're not bad when they stand still, either... and when they lean... *g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Well, hee, I guess since I suggested it and you have been kind enough to go with it, I should at least have a bash.

*g*

(and I shall endeavour to get the posting correct this time *g*)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do like a girl who knows her responsibilities... *vbg* Yeay!

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

I'm not good with poetry, so yes, please give me a prompt and I'll have a go at doing something. It's been far too long since I've done anything with the lads.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Hmmn, if you're not keen on poetry though, how about, for your prompt, a little something from the glorious Spike Milligan...

Bump

Things that go 'bump' in the night
Should not really give one a fright.
It's the hole in each ear
That lets in the fear,
That, and the absence of light!

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

ROTFL That's brilliant! And it's already poking me with a scene, so I think it's a fabulous prompt. Thanks!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent - just what we like to hear! *g*

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I seem to be struggling a bit at the moment, I'm afraid... but I'll certainly read with joy!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, life is like that sometimes, isn't it... Here's to some peaceful reading in your future!

ETA - ooh, would you care to give me a poetic-ish prompt, if you have a moment for such thought?

ETA again - thank you! I'm posting them here as well so that I'm outed in public as having prompts, and therefore should try writing to them... *g*

“When I look on you a moment, then I can speak no more, but my tongue falls silent, and at once a delicate flame courses beneath my skin, and with my eyes I see nothing, and my ears hum, and a wet sweat bathes me, and a trembling seizes me all over” (Sappho)

or

i like my body when it is with your
body. It is so quite a new thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body. i like what it does,
i like its hows. i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,
i like,, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big Love-crumbs,
and possibly i like the thrill
of under me you quite so new
(e.e. cummings)

[ladyhawke2.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a try but I'm not promising anything, is that ok? I've written a bit of poetry in the past, so if I can get past the writers block I might get something on the page.

May I have a prompt please?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ooh, an actual poem?! How fab... Okay, then perhaps your prompt should be something... how about a quill and ink?

[ladyhawke2.livejournal.com]

Don't hold your breath, it's been a long time since I wrote anything. I will try though, and thanks for the prompt. Wheels are already turning.

[hambelandjemima.livejournal.com]

Okay, so you lured me in with the naked young men indulging in some spanking... *g* I'll have a play with the Lads and see what occurs.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Yeay the Lupercalia! *g*

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

Do songs count as poetry? I've got a little inspiration running around in my head.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Anything that's inspired by the idea of the challenge counts, poetry or not, so yeay - go for it! *g*

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

Do we wait until the 14th to post? or can we post anytime? I've written a little something and I'm afraid if I think about it too long I'll chicken out and not play!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

"between now and the challenge deadline"!!

Go for it! *g*