[Catherine Chandler]

SONNET BAKE-OFF - CALL FOR BALLOTS

As all thirteen finalist sonnets in this year’s bake-off have now been posted, the call for ballots begins today, April 6, and will continue until noon (EDT) Wednesday April 8. I will post the results on April 9, and reveal the names of the finalists at that time.

Please enter your ballots on this “Call for Ballots” thread, naming your first, second, and third choices.

The finalists are:

Wede Away
Navy Housing
Cardio
A Visit on All Saints Day
Into His Hand
Waialeale Crater
Café Noir
The Switches
After She Left
Um Português
Women's Work
Winter Wheat
Bed-time Story

Thank you!

[Maryann Corbett]

Thanks again, Catherine, for all your hard work.

I wonder if you would tell us more, at some appropriate time, about one of your criteria for selecting these sonnets: "true to the spirit of the sonnet" was the way you phrased it, I think. It strikes me that this could mean different things to different people, and I'd like to know more about what it means to you.

[Janet Kenny]

This is very hard. Each choice has a ghost alternative hovering beside it. I should have said thanks Cathy for a difficult job well done. (I've changed my vote because I forgot an unforgettable poem. Sorry.)

1. Um Português

2. Navy Housing

3. A Visit on All Saints Day — and Bedtime Story

[Shaun J. Russell]

1. A Visit On All Saints Day

2. Bed-Time Story

3. Um Portugues


I was more impressed by the diversity of the offerings than I was by their overall quality. Each work had its own flaws, but there were some definite standouts despite this. Thanks for doing all the legwork, Catherine.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

1. Bed-time Story

2. Um Português

3. A Visit on All Saints Day

Many memorable moments, but these three dazzle.

My great appreciation to all participants.

Cally

[Lance Levens]

1. A Visit on All Saints Day
2. Navy Housing
3. Wede Away

Thanks to all participants, but a big thanks to Catherine for her hard work.

[Rose Kelleher]

1. Into His Hand

1. Into His Hand

1. Into His Hand

Not that there weren't others I liked! But this one doesn't have any votes yet, and I feel strongly about it.

[Michael Cantor]

1. Um Português
2. A Visit on All Saints Day
3. Navy Housing

[Bruce McBirney]

Hard to choose, but I'll go with:

1. Into His Hand

2. Um Portugues

3. Cardio

I enjoyed reading the whole slate of sonnets, with their great variety and different strengths. Thanks, Cathy, for taking the laboring oar on this and for your fine, thoughtful introductions to all the poems.

[David Rosenthal]

1. A Visit on All Saints Day
2. Um Português
3. Navy Housing

David R.