Write a sonnet about a genre of RP to enter this contest!What is a sonnet? Sonnets are 14 line poems, with the first 12 lines setting up a thought, situation or problem, and the last two lines summarizing, solving or otherwise concluding the thought.
In addition, they have a rhyming challenge. There are several variants of this, but for this contest, we'll be using the Elizabethan sonnet format that goes like this:
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Where the last word of an "A" line has to rhyme with the last word of the other "A" line, and the last word of a "B" line has to rhyme with the other B line. This sounds complicated but is really simply explained with an example:
Sonnet Example #1
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? (A)
Thou art more lovely and more temperate: (b)
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, (A)
And summer's lease hath all too short a date: (b)
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,(C)
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; (D)
And every fair from fair sometime declines,(C)
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd; (D)
But thy eternal summer shall not fade (E)
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; (F)
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, (E)
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st; (F)
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, (G)
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. (G)
--William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? (A)
Thou art more lovely and more temperate: (b)
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, (A)
And summer's lease hath all too short a date: (b)
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,(C)
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; (D)
And every fair from fair sometime declines,(C)
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd; (D)
But thy eternal summer shall not fade (E)
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; (F)
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, (E)
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st; (F)
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, (G)
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. (G)
--William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18
Sonnet Example #2
So take my vows and scatter them to sea; (A)
Who swears the sweetest is no more than human. (b)
And say no kinder words than these of me: (A)
"Ever she longed for peace, but was a woman! (b)
And thus they are, whose silly female dust(c)
Needs little enough to clutter it and bind it, (d)
Who meet a slanted gaze, and ever must (c)
Go build themselves a soul to dwell behind it." (d)
For now I am my own again, my friend! (e)
This scar but points the whiteness of my breast;(f)
This frenzy, like its betters, spins an end,(e)
And now I am my own. And that is best.(f)
Therefore, I am immeasurably grateful (g)
To you, for proving shallow, false, and hateful. (g)
--Dorothy Parker, Sonnet for the End of a Sequence
So take my vows and scatter them to sea; (A)
Who swears the sweetest is no more than human. (b)
And say no kinder words than these of me: (A)
"Ever she longed for peace, but was a woman! (b)
And thus they are, whose silly female dust(c)
Needs little enough to clutter it and bind it, (d)
Who meet a slanted gaze, and ever must (c)
Go build themselves a soul to dwell behind it." (d)
For now I am my own again, my friend! (e)
This scar but points the whiteness of my breast;(f)
This frenzy, like its betters, spins an end,(e)
And now I am my own. And that is best.(f)
Therefore, I am immeasurably grateful (g)
To you, for proving shallow, false, and hateful. (g)
--Dorothy Parker, Sonnet for the End of a Sequence
You will not be required to write in iambic pentameter for this contest.
Rules
- Much like the genre jumble art contest, you'll be picking one or more genres of RP (fantasy, sci fi, historical, feral, romantic, high adventure, etc.) and writing a sonnet about it!
- The sonnet must be entirely your own work.
- Please keep your subject matter PG13 and in line with all of our site rules for public portions of the site.
- You may enter a max number of 3 times.
- If more than one of your sonnets happen to win, you still only get one prize.
- Contest runs from April 24th until May 10th
- After the contest closes a team of judges will rate the poems and prizes will be handed out. Good luck to everyone!
Prizes
- A real life RPR tote bag full of toys and treats
- Wand of Epicness
- Greater Oil of Epicness
- Dragon's tooth
Deadline
The last day to submit your poems is on May 10th.
This contest is being managed by Loki. Please direct all questions to her.
I'm guessing that you mean May 10th, not March, unless you're inventing a time machine for us?
You're totally right! 
Thank you!
Thank you!
No problem, I didn't think it would take me that long to write three poems...
So here's the first one after a few drafts.
Dragon's Flight
(In reference to my character Synnove and her dragon companion)
Dragons take flight
High about the land
To Impossible heights
Seeking justice at hand
Clouds obscure vision
Racing against enemy gale
Each turn a chance of collision
Waning faith in beast's scale
Screams of terror come
From the human fearful
Cold air makes them numb
Making her tearful
Friendship forged in flame
Making one another tame.
(I'll just update this when I finish the other two)
High School AU
This one was a lot harder to do at the end. I knew what I wanted, but it just wasn't going. I might revise it before the time is up.
New uniform sharply pressed
New school, new day, same old feelings
No matter how many schools I'm always stressed
With new schools wheelings and dealings.
All the kids laugh and stare
Thinking I'm some brooding freak
But this guy, he seems to care
He makes my knees go weak.
But I'm supposed to be straight
Why does he make me feel like this?
Meeting him was like fate
It's like I already longed for his kiss.
Oh look! The next season is about to start
I guess we'll see if the writers pull them apart.
Drop the Bomb
Who doesn't love zombies?
The bang-bang of nail into wood
Is a welcome distraction
Of the constant reminder of what we should
And a whisper of group sanctioned inaction.
The safehouse can only hold up so long
With zombies banging on each wall,
I never thought I could be so wrong
I write my last will and testament in untidy scrawl.
They're coming for us now,
And we're low on ammo,
Each zombie pushing the next like a plow,
Our only defence now guns that go blammo!
They'll tear us piece from piece,
But maybe this bullet will find me peace.
So here's the first one after a few drafts.
Dragon's Flight
(In reference to my character Synnove and her dragon companion)
Dragons take flight
High about the land
To Impossible heights
Seeking justice at hand
Clouds obscure vision
Racing against enemy gale
Each turn a chance of collision
Waning faith in beast's scale
Screams of terror come
From the human fearful
Cold air makes them numb
Making her tearful
Friendship forged in flame
Making one another tame.
(I'll just update this when I finish the other two)
High School AU
This one was a lot harder to do at the end. I knew what I wanted, but it just wasn't going. I might revise it before the time is up.
New uniform sharply pressed
New school, new day, same old feelings
No matter how many schools I'm always stressed
With new schools wheelings and dealings.
All the kids laugh and stare
Thinking I'm some brooding freak
But this guy, he seems to care
He makes my knees go weak.
But I'm supposed to be straight
Why does he make me feel like this?
Meeting him was like fate
It's like I already longed for his kiss.
Oh look! The next season is about to start
I guess we'll see if the writers pull them apart.
Drop the Bomb
Who doesn't love zombies?
The bang-bang of nail into wood
Is a welcome distraction
Of the constant reminder of what we should
And a whisper of group sanctioned inaction.
The safehouse can only hold up so long
With zombies banging on each wall,
I never thought I could be so wrong
I write my last will and testament in untidy scrawl.
They're coming for us now,
And we're low on ammo,
Each zombie pushing the next like a plow,
Our only defence now guns that go blammo!
They'll tear us piece from piece,
But maybe this bullet will find me peace.
I feel like I just have to enter this, if only because no one else is. Poem in progress.
I'm sure we'll get a flood right before the deadline. 
Cacophony wrote:
No problem, I didn't think it would take me that long to write three poems...
So here's the first one after a few drafts.
Dragon's Flight
(In reference to my character Synnove and her dragon companion)
Dragons take flight
High about the land
To Impossible heights
Seeking justice at hand
Clouds obscure vision
Racing against enemy gale
Each turn a chance of collision
Waning faith in beast's scale
Screams of terror come
From the human fearful
Cold air makes them numb
Making her tearful
Friendship forged in flame
Making one another tame.
(I'll just update this when I finish the other two)
So here's the first one after a few drafts.
Dragon's Flight
(In reference to my character Synnove and her dragon companion)
Dragons take flight
High about the land
To Impossible heights
Seeking justice at hand
Clouds obscure vision
Racing against enemy gale
Each turn a chance of collision
Waning faith in beast's scale
Screams of terror come
From the human fearful
Cold air makes them numb
Making her tearful
Friendship forged in flame
Making one another tame.
(I'll just update this when I finish the other two)
This is neat! Which RP genre is it representing?
((May or may not be entering this just because I super want a bag of RL goodies. I'm still saying that you should make RL grab bags available for purchase during an Epic Week some year, Kim ))
In honor of last year's bug adventure (and this goes into scifi or modern. Yay techy RPs~) :
The Big Squish
Lark! There in the shadows it moves,
Exciting squeals of horror and despair.
It cannot be damaged by trampling hooves,
Only precision and vigilant care.
No hope is held for tech and wires,
The destructive creature shuts down the call.
A monster made from Hellbone and fires,
The life of the living about to fall.
But perched there on the swiveling seat,
The hero waits for the time to pounce.
He knows the destroyer will be beat,
At last, the flying fingers trounce!
Now, thanks to the hero's mental brawn,
The bug is dead. The threat is gone.
))In honor of last year's bug adventure (and this goes into scifi or modern. Yay techy RPs~) :
The Big Squish
Lark! There in the shadows it moves,
Exciting squeals of horror and despair.
It cannot be damaged by trampling hooves,
Only precision and vigilant care.
No hope is held for tech and wires,
The destructive creature shuts down the call.
A monster made from Hellbone and fires,
The life of the living about to fall.
But perched there on the swiveling seat,
The hero waits for the time to pounce.
He knows the destroyer will be beat,
At last, the flying fingers trounce!
Now, thanks to the hero's mental brawn,
The bug is dead. The threat is gone.
As chief bug smasher, I approve!
Kim wrote:
Cacophony wrote:
No problem, I didn't think it would take me that long to write three poems...
So here's the first one after a few drafts.
Dragon's Flight
(In reference to my character Synnove and her dragon companion)
Dragons take flight
High about the land
To Impossible heights
Seeking justice at hand
Clouds obscure vision
Racing against enemy gale
Each turn a chance of collision
Waning faith in beast's scale
Screams of terror come
From the human fearful
Cold air makes them numb
Making her tearful
Friendship forged in flame
Making one another tame.
(I'll just update this when I finish the other two)
So here's the first one after a few drafts.
Dragon's Flight
(In reference to my character Synnove and her dragon companion)
Dragons take flight
High about the land
To Impossible heights
Seeking justice at hand
Clouds obscure vision
Racing against enemy gale
Each turn a chance of collision
Waning faith in beast's scale
Screams of terror come
From the human fearful
Cold air makes them numb
Making her tearful
Friendship forged in flame
Making one another tame.
(I'll just update this when I finish the other two)
This is neat! Which RP genre is it representing?
Fantasy/adventure is the closest I got. I'm thinking I need a scifi one and maybe a superhero one. We'll see how I feel once I'm awake.
The Doubutt Lore
Twisting and turning through glorious halls
It's neighing and prancing with haste
Praying and hoping there aren't any balls
But a fountain from which there is life to taste
No slime cubes, you shan't take this loot!
It's for warriors, brave without fear
So here we go to find our route
Towards the cannon we steer!
Their cries for help reach way up high
In there it goes with one final shove
It has aided the battle from the sky
Praised be the Doubutt we all love!
Now the castle is quiet once more
So written was the Doubutt lore
This is for the Fantasy genre!
Twisting and turning through glorious halls
It's neighing and prancing with haste
Praying and hoping there aren't any balls
But a fountain from which there is life to taste
No slime cubes, you shan't take this loot!
It's for warriors, brave without fear
So here we go to find our route
Towards the cannon we steer!
Their cries for help reach way up high
In there it goes with one final shove
It has aided the battle from the sky
Praised be the Doubutt we all love!
Now the castle is quiet once more
So written was the Doubutt lore
This is for the Fantasy genre!
This one's in honour of my current D&D group. You guys are rad.
The Pirates of Zephyr's Bane
They say a pirate's blood runs black as coal.
They seek those with gold to snag,
Leaving behind death, their dark toll,
Pledging allegiance to the black flag.
A ship stolen from the law,
Claimed as their own.
A chance these free men saw,
Their destinies now set in stone.
The captain's words soar,
Instilled in the crew's mind.
'Our legend be told forever more!'
Their former lives left behind.
From this day on the pirates sail the seas,
Bound by none, doing as they please.
This one's for the Fantasy genre as well.
The Pirates of Zephyr's Bane
They say a pirate's blood runs black as coal.
They seek those with gold to snag,
Leaving behind death, their dark toll,
Pledging allegiance to the black flag.
A ship stolen from the law,
Claimed as their own.
A chance these free men saw,
Their destinies now set in stone.
The captain's words soar,
Instilled in the crew's mind.
'Our legend be told forever more!'
Their former lives left behind.
From this day on the pirates sail the seas,
Bound by none, doing as they please.
This one's for the Fantasy genre as well.
I am loving these. We are off to an amazing start!
In the Dark
Through darkness it prowls
From ceilings it drops
It hides in the bowels
Of Pandora's box
Nobody hears
Nobody sees
They're riddled with fears
And whispering pleas
Screams so frail
In darkness they're bound
And morning's first ray
Drowns out the sound
That's why we all dread
The monster under our bed
The genre is Horror!
Yayyyyy. Also made some minor edits to my first entry.
For clarification, this poem is about a character of mine. The character is anonymous but I promise you it's quite terrifying.
Through darkness it prowls
From ceilings it drops
It hides in the bowels
Of Pandora's box
Nobody hears
Nobody sees
They're riddled with fears
And whispering pleas
Screams so frail
In darkness they're bound
And morning's first ray
Drowns out the sound
That's why we all dread
The monster under our bed
The genre is Horror!
Yayyyyy. Also made some minor edits to my first entry.For clarification, this poem is about a character of mine. The character is anonymous but I promise you it's quite terrifying.
Had to go for a Horror theme.
Bumps in the Night
All that goop is dripping down
From the ceiling and the cracks
Farther, farther reaching ground
No time to check the facts
Hurry, hurry not much time
Around the corner here it comes
A grueling creature you may find
Let’s not stand here being bums
Running fast and getting far
Though that may be false
We should make it to the car
No more patience for this waltz
That big old house we have escaped
Only turns to a dream reshaped
Bumps in the Night
All that goop is dripping down
From the ceiling and the cracks
Farther, farther reaching ground
No time to check the facts
Hurry, hurry not much time
Around the corner here it comes
A grueling creature you may find
Let’s not stand here being bums
Running fast and getting far
Though that may be false
We should make it to the car
No more patience for this waltz
That big old house we have escaped
Only turns to a dream reshaped
That was very tense. Absolutely created the mood of the genre!
I finally feel like my other two are done enough to show so I have three now. 
Entry number 2, for the category of romance! 
Alight, mine eyes, on heaven's most
beauteous being. A creature of perfection
that lights yearning hearts to roast
upon the fires of desire in her reflection.
Be still, mine heart, yield not to the
seduction in the fluttering of her lashes
and turning of her hips as a key
moving firmly to unlock deep gashes.
Hark, mine ears, be not deceived
in the honeysuckle sweet that drips
from depths of bliss, perceived
as truth from molded lips.
Alas, mine soul, it is too late
to hide behind that safest gate.
Alight, mine eyes, on heaven's most
beauteous being. A creature of perfection
that lights yearning hearts to roast
upon the fires of desire in her reflection.
Be still, mine heart, yield not to the
seduction in the fluttering of her lashes
and turning of her hips as a key
moving firmly to unlock deep gashes.
Hark, mine ears, be not deceived
in the honeysuckle sweet that drips
from depths of bliss, perceived
as truth from molded lips.
Alas, mine soul, it is too late
to hide behind that safest gate.
Cacophony, I just found the two new ones. Very cool. I especially liked the twist in the high school one, though I couldn't figure out how to make the very last couplet rhyme. I tried all kinds of pronunciations!
Celestina, that is a fantastic romance entry. The first stanza especially reads as very classical.
I'm so excited for this contest! The entries so far have been so cool!!
Celestina, that is a fantastic romance entry. The first stanza especially reads as very classical.
I'm so excited for this contest! The entries so far have been so cool!!
Kim wrote:
Cacophony, I just found the two new ones. Very cool. I especially liked the twist in the high school one, though I couldn't figure out how to make the very last couplet rhyme. I tried all kinds of pronunciations!
Celestina, that is a fantastic romance entry. The first stanza especially reads as very classical.
I'm so excited for this contest! The entries so far have been so cool!!
Celestina, that is a fantastic romance entry. The first stanza especially reads as very classical.
I'm so excited for this contest! The entries so far have been so cool!!
That's what happens when I am working off of three drafts at once. I'll fix it once I'm at my computer proper.
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