[Tim Murphy]

DG, all. The most fun I had in the ten or so years I ran this place was when I persuaded Leslie Monsour to host our Women's Poetry Forum. I rounded up the usual suspects. The Sphere's search function defeats me, but Alex just sent me the link, and I urge everyone to visit this page:

http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/search...earchid=399387

This was really the high point of my service as your Lariat, though Mike Stocks, judging one of our bake-offs was a close second. Rhina won! but his essay on my entry, Bull Rider, was published in his native Scotland. Mike's essay and seven pages of commentary: http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/showth...ht=Mike+Stocks

My congratulations to Rhina.

[Erik Olson]

After much deliberation, I shall go with:

1. Process of Elimination
2. X
3. Garden Sonnet

I feel solid about my choices. Congratulations to the winner, whomever you are, and many thanks to the distinguished guest and Alex.

[James Brancheau]

X. It's a list poem that's just random enough. At heart, it's a narrative. Beautiful (or maybe I'm just divorced).

Saturday. Maybe I can guess who wrote it. In any case, the shift from the goings on to the statue was very sharp.

Jitterbug. I was thinking private wars, given their display there. And maybe history. But liked it quite a bit.

JB

Sorry. I misclicked. This should be on the voting thread.

(Thanks Alex!)

[Brian Watson]

1. Saturday Night in Kirriemuir
2. X
3. Fourth Dimension

Not proposing this as a universal yardstick or necessarily the most important aspect of a sonnet, but part of the appeal of these three is that their language is so natural, and unstrained by form. I liked the cryptic crossword cleverness of some of the lines in X, and the exuberance of Fourth Dimension.

[Aaron Poochigian]

Midnight EST is fast approaching.

Before I close the polls, I should clarify a few matters. You may opt to alter your votes on the basis of this information:

First, this contest employs a "weighted-point" vote system:

First Place: 3 points
Second Place: 2 points
Third Place: 1 point

Second, in those instances when a member has indicated a tied vote (i.e. two or more sonnets as first and/or second and/or third), the points will be divided between the tied sonnets. Thus, for example, 1.5 points will be awarded to each of two tied first-place sonnets.

As always, feel free to send me a private message with any questions.

[Jennifer Gordon]

Erm, I wasn't thinking of, of genuflecting, but...thanks for the opt-ion.

[Aaron Poochigian]

The polls have been closed for one hour and nineteen minutes, and I am now tabulating the results.

[Alex Pepple]

Thank you to all who voted! Thank you Top Secret DG!

This voting thread has served its purpose and is now closed.

Cheers,
...Alex